C is for Communication

In every aspect of our lives, communication, communication, COMMUNICATION is so critical!  We can almost never over-communicate and, of course, communication can take many, many forms.  A few to keep in mind:

  • One-On-One Interactions.  Whether our verbal discussions are in person or by phone, we must constantly test ourselves and check-in with others to ensure what we are trying to communicate is received and perceived the way we intended. 
  • Presentation Skills. It is so important to be able to get up and deliver a talk with confidence, with clear language and in a way that engages others.  Be prepared.  Don’t read your slides.  Make eye contact with your audience.  Modulate your voice appropriately.  Appeal to learners’ appreciation for a combination of visual (seeing), auditory (hearing) and kinesthetic (hands-on) lessons.
  • Written Correspondence.  We have many options for communicating with others through our writing – whether long-form letters, blogs or reports, or short-form emails or text messages, we must quickly capture the readers’ attention and engage them in a way that encourages them to read on and respond accordingly.

As Sylvia Ann Hewlett, author of Executive Presence, shares, we must understand that we are “always on.”  Specifically, she points out, “…when are you not on stage?  When are you not being judged?  No matter what your job title or how junior or senior you are, you are always presenting.  Whether it’s a quick email to your boss, a casual comment you make to colleagues in the hallway, or a pitch you prepare for clients, you’re conveying who you are and what authority is your due.”  So, mind your communication skills, practice them, seek to improve, and meet your audience where they are and in the ways in which they wish to be communicated with.

Happy Networking!

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