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Good Communication Skills Are Vital In Every Aspect Of Your Life.
If we continue to develop good communication skills, business and personal life changing success will follow. This came home to me again recently when I was prompted to question my own communication abilities. I have been invited to be a trustee with a charity that provides small motorised sit on vehicles for hire to disabled people at public events. This is un-paid work where I am happy to give time to help. After the first trustee meeting two of the operations staff approached me to ask if we could have a separate meeting to talk over one or two issues. Of course I readily agreed and it was during this meeting I questioned my own communication abilities, and what came out was interesting. They had felt that my approach "was like a breath of fresh air" and what did I think about the first trustees' meeting?
I had some concerns after the first meeting because there are a number of split and overlapping responsibilities. More worryingly there seemed to lack of solid information on the cash position. We all know the importance of effective cash flow control and I could see that the two issues are linked. We discussed my observations and I had to concentrate on my communication skills for us to get on the same wave length. It was clear that these people who 'make it happen' are dedicated but frustrated. Their frustration is caused by some of the issues I have outlined but they saw no way out. I proposed and showed them a way that we (they) could get get control of the cash and in so doing bring some accountability into the operation. They struggled at first to understand and I soon realised that I had slipped into what is for me familiar terminology and jargon. I was not using my communication skills. We had to go over a few issues again with me taking care to be explicit. I assumed, (wrongly) that they would know what I was talking about. It was my fault for not creating understanding. What seemed second nature to me was new to them. It's too easy to overlook your own experience and fail realise how valuable that experience is. Also it's too easy not to communicate skillfully and help others to benefit from your experience. After all why was I invited to become a trustee? Because I have experience which can be of benefit to the charitable trust and the people running it. If I don't succeed in reaching understanding I am no use to the trust or its' people. This recent incident also brought home the importance of not under estimating the value of your experience and at all times making sure to reach understanding. Tip: The important thing is to never stop questioning or learning.
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