Four Ways to Communicate More Effectively - #29
“The art of communication is the language of leadership.” - James Humes
You may think you are a good communicator.
But if you are not doing these four things, your message is probably falling short:
1. Stop worrying about what people think.
2. Capture their attention quickly.
3. Bring something valuable to the conversation.
4. Show up with enthusiasm.
Communication is not measured by what you intended to say.
It is measured by what the other person understood.
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Nobody Is Thinking About You as Much as You Are
We spend far too much time trapped inside our own heads.
What if I say the wrong thing?
What if I stumble over my words?
What if they disagree with me?
Most of the time, nobody notices the small mistakes we obsess over. They are too busy thinking about themselves.
One of the foundations of effective communication is learning to stop focusing on everything that could go wrong. Prepare thoroughly, understand your message, and then deliver it with confidence.
That confidence does not appear overnight.
It comes from preparation, repetition, and experience.
You will never become a better communicator by waiting until you feel completely comfortable. Confidence is usually built after you begin, not before.
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You Have Two Seconds
We live in a world where everyone’s attention is being pulled in multiple directions.
Emails. Texts. Calls. Meetings. Notifications. An endless stream of information competing to be noticed.
Whether you are speaking in a meeting, writing an email, giving a presentation, or posting online, people decide quickly whether your message deserves their attention.
Lead with the reason they should care.
Do not bury the most important point beneath five minutes of background or six paragraphs of context. Deliver the hook first, then provide the supporting details.
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Bring Something to the Table
Parents will understand this one.
Your child rushes into the room, overflowing with excitement, and begins telling you a five-minute story. Eventually, you realize the entire story is about a leaf they found that looked cool.
As a parent, you listen because you love them.
Most audiences will not be so generous.
People listen when they believe there is something valuable waiting for them. That value may come in the form of useful information, entertainment, a new perspective, or a tangible opportunity.
Before communicating, ask:
What will the other person gain from listening to me?
Your message should help them understand something, feel something, or do something.
When you consistently bring value, people naturally become more interested in what you have to say.
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Show Up With Enthusiasm
I am naturally one of the drier human beings to have walked the earth.
It is what it is.
This principle does not come naturally to me, which is exactly why I have to be intentional about it.
You can have the right message and still deliver it unsuccessfully.
A flat presentation, a monotone voice, or a long and lifeless email can make valuable information feel unimportant. Your audience has to remain engaged long enough to receive the message.
That does not mean you need to become an over-the-top motivational speaker.
It simply means your delivery should communicate that you care about what you are saying.
You are the expert, the leader, or the storyteller. You have been given someone’s time and attention.
That should feel like an opportunity, and your delivery should reflect it.
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Final Thought
Communication may come naturally, but effective communication is developed.
It requires preparation, confidence, clarity, value, and energy.
The better you become at communicating your ideas, the more influence those ideas will have—whether you are leading a team, raising a family, building a business, or simply trying to be understood.
Do not assume people will listen because your message is important.
Make it impossible for them not to.