Page 15 - The Voice of Authority

How do you know if you’re any good as a communica-
tor? By the results you get—or don’t get. You either clar-
ify or confuse. You either motivate or demoralize. You ei-
ther gain buy-in or generate distrust.

Symptoms of Poor Personal Communication

Most of us think we’re excellent communicators. Unfor-
tunately, our own understanding or response is not the
best measure of effectiveness. Everything we say is clear to
us—or we wouldn’t have said it that way. So when we look
outward for clues of poor communication, these symp-
toms often surface:

Feeling that everyone agrees with and supports what
you say, feel, and do most of the time
Lack of input, questions, or feedback on your ideas
presented in meetings

Few or no ideas contributed in your meetings
Inability to influence others to accept your ideas or
change their viewpoint or behavior

Seeing little or no behavioral change in people you’ve
coached for improved performance
Confusion about what you’re supposed to be doing

Lack of understanding the “why” behind assigned
projects and goals
Thinking that what you do or say doesn’t really
“change things” in the long run
Nervousness or hesitancy about presenting new ideas
to your boss, client, or strategic partners
Ongoing conflict with peers or family
Frequent rework

There Is Just No Communication around Here 3