Say What? When You’re Talking And No One Is Listening

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Contrary to popular belief, “talking” is not the same as “communicating.” Also contrary to popular belief is the idea that everyone sends and receives communication in the same way. Realizing and investigating these two foundational principles can forever change the way you communicate with your employees and peers.

The ability to communicate with others is one of the most important aspects of effective leadership. Arguably, the best of leadership attributes such as, decision-making, setting strategic direction, or time management skills all don’t matter much if you aren’t able to communicate and influence those around you. Meanwhile, all too often managers and leaders are so busy leading they aren’t aware their employees or peers aren’t actually hearing what they’re saying.

When it comes to Effective Communication, Style Matters

Communication style is the way in which we share information with others through language. Although many executives and managers like to believe they are saying exactly what they mean, that’s not always true – especially when talking to someone who uses a communication style very different from their own.
Everyone has unique communication styles that are influenced by many factors such as, age, culture, and geography. An executive’s predominant communication or behavioral style affects both verbal and non-verbal communication, but also how you organize and present information, establish credibility, build relationships, manage and resolve conflict, and even how you make decisions and problem-solve.

Understanding and Improving Communication Effectiveness

Discovering the best way to communicate with employees and other team members can have a dramatic impact on a number of fronts – including business performance, job performance, and overall satisfaction. When executives identify their own working style, as well as their employees’ style, they are better equipped to leverage the talents and contributions of their workers.
That’s why more companies are utilizing talent assessments and DISC reports to provide in-depth insights into the different styles and communication preferences among workers. Understanding and appreciating the different behavioral styles of each member, and how they influence others, will drive better workplace cohesiveness, higher productivity, engagement, and performance levels.

Today’s advanced talent assessment solutions can provide companies:
• Easy-to-interpret reports that visually represent the primary behavioral styles of team members in relation to each other
• The problem-solving and communication approach of all team members, providing insight into how different styles work best together to achieve results
• Communication preferences of team members, with detailed direction on how to approach different styles including key words and phrase that facilitate effective team communication.

To learn more about using talent assessment solutions to improve communication and employee performance, contact XBInsight at www.xbinsight.com or 401.682.2859.