‘Our words can sometimes lose their resonance, and our style and tone can inadvertently offend. We assert when we should merely inform. We can reject when we interject. We push people away when we should pull them in.’
Effective communication is often a neglected factor in management training – yet it is an essential component of the management skills toolbox.
Good communications reduce the incidence of misunderstanding and consequent errors, and enable you to make your point quickly, clearly and persuasively. It also ensures that individual team members are more readily aligned to the vision and leadership of the organisation. This in turn serves to reduce the opportunity for disharmony, discontent or dissatisfaction in the workplace, and is supportive of a healthy working culture.
In the international arena, clear and concise communication improves understanding and helps with the accurate dissemination of information between you and your business partners, enabling both you and your team to work efficiently and effectively towards a positive outcome.
Active Listening Skills are an essential component of effective communication, engaging with the person you are listening to and responding appropriately to them. (It is an unfortunate fact that some employees may often choose to leave a company because of the poor interpersonal skills of a manager or supervisor.)
Effective communication enables senior managers to be more aware of the internal and external pressures on teams, and offers the opportunity for flexible and efficient management. The skills you will learn throughout this programme will help you in every aspect of your business life – and in a range of crucial management situations. Complex negotiating, conflict resolution arbitration and mediation are just some of the many potentially difficult situations, where the right word at the right time can truly ‘save the day’.
On the other hand, not listening and understanding your client’s needs may result in their dissatisfaction and their turning to a competitor to provide their next product or service requirement!
Remember, effective communication is a skill for life!
