Imagine you are a leader, educator or keynote speaker. How can you use your strengths to communicate in a compelling way?
This article summarises one approach that is used by good communicators. You will, of course, adapt this approach in your own way.
Start By Setting The Context
Great communicators start by giving the context and ensuring that people can see the big picture. Here are some examples.
The leader may say:
“We as a team are aiming to achieve the following picture of success ______. So far we are doing the following things well _____. We also need to improve in the following areas _____.
“Today we are going to explore the following theme ______. The way this fits into the big picture and will help us to achieve success is ______.”
The educator may say:
“We are studying the field of ______. So far we have covered the following areas ______.
“Today we are going to focus on the following topic ______. The way this fits into the big picture of what we are studying is ______.”
Good communicators recognise that people need to see the context. They need a frame of reference. People are then more able to slot the information into the big picture.
Try tackling the exercise on this theme. Imagine that you are going to talk to a group or, if more appropriate, talk with a person in a one to one situation.
First, describe the specific situation in which you are going to communicate with people or with one person.
Second, describe the themes – or theme – that you want to cover in the communication.
If you are a leader talking with the team, for example, these include be topics such as:
How to focus on the key strategies.
How to anticipate potential problems.
How to manage our bosses at headquarters
Or whatever.
If you are a manager having a one to one with a team member, these may include topics such as:
How they can keep building on their strengths.
How they can manage the consequences of their weaknesses.
How they can decide whether or not they want to continue contributing to the team.
Or whatever.
If you are scientist giving a lecture on climate change, these may include topics such as:
How to incentivise industries to reduce carbon emissions.
How to show the economic benefits of switching to a low carbon economy.
How to take responsibility for caring for the planet.
Or whatever.
Third, describe how you can set the context so that people can see things within the big picture.
Give The First Concept
Good communicators then often introduce the first ‘concept’. This can be the first theme they want to cover.
Imagine that a leader wants to encourage their managers to act as good models for people in the business. They may introduce the concept in the following way.
“Good leaders recognise that they are always ‘On Stage’. People learn from what the leaders do, not what we say.
“Parents act as models for their children. We are obviously not parents to our staff, but people will watch us to see how we behave.
“Perhaps this sounds too demanding, because we are human beings and will make mistakes. People will, however, pick up on our mood. They will watch the way we communicate, speak and act.
“Looking back on your own life, remember how you reacted to parents, teachers and managers. You probably watched them closely to ‘read’ their emotions; then judged what it was safe to say or do.
“The way we behave can have a profound effect on the business. So in a moment I will give some examples of how we can continue to be good models.”
You will, of course, introduce the first ‘concept’ in your own way. Bearing in mind the topics you want to cover, try tackling the exercise on this theme.
First, describe the first concept you want to introduce.
Second, describe the things you can do to explain how this concept fits into the big picture.
Move To The Concrete
Good communicators move from the concept to the concrete. How to make this happen?
One approach is simply to follow each idea you introduce by saying:
For example: ___________________
This immediately forces you to give a specific example that brings the idea to life.
Providing you have thought through the idea – and know your onions – you will find the examples come easily. So just try saying ‘For example ____’ and see what pictures come to mind.
Good communicators also give examples that resonate with people and show how they can translate the concept into concrete actions.
Imagine a leader is talking with their colleagues about being on stage. They may bring this to life by giving examples about how they can behave when, for example:
* Arriving at work in the morning.
* Greeting the receptionist.
* Talking with people in the lift.
* Walking into the main office.
* Getting themselves and others a coffee.
* Answering the phone.
* Being on time for meetings.
* Encouraging people, but also sometimes giving tough messages.
* Etc.
Try tackling the following exercise. This invites you to do two things.
First, describe again the concept you want to communicate.
Second, describe the specific concrete examples you can give to bring the concept to life.
Keep Moving Between The Concept and The
Concrete – Then Move On To The Conclusions
Good communicators keep moving between the concept and the concrete. If appropriate, they also involve the recipients of the messages – their audience, colleagues or individuals – in building up a common picture. They do this:
To ensure people understand the concepts.
To encourage the people themselves to come up with concrete examples.
To ensure people see the point of moving forward along these lines and, if appropriate, to create their own actions plans for delivering concrete results.
Good communicators may wrap up the session by doing three things. They aim:
To repeat the key messages they want people to remember.
To, if appropriate, show what they personally are going to do to implement the action plan.
To, if appropriate, provide the call to action that will encourage other people to deliver concrete results.
Bearing in mind the key messages you want to communicate, try tackling the exercise on this theme. They invites you to bring together what we have covered.
First, describe how you can set the context.
Second, describe the concepts you want to cover and how you can bring each one of these to life by giving concrete examples.
Third, describe how you can conclude the session.
There are many ways to be a good communicator. One approach is it to start by setting the context. It is then to bring your messages to life by continually going from the concept to the concrete.
Posted on Thursday, March 7th, 2013 at 4:32 pm in Companion, The Strengths Blog | RSS feed
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