Be Thirsty for Knowledge

Excellent communicators think before they speak.

• People love to talk, but not all people can communicate their thoughts clearly.
• Top performers establish a mindset of “My mission is to communicate effectively every day.” They have passion regarding their message and take the following steps to communicate with excellence:
  • Know WHAT you want to say. Establish a clear image in your mind. No matter how small or unimportant you feel your message is, think first. Miscommunications are the number one cause of mistakes which leads to decreased productivity.
  • Be aware of those with whom you are communicating. Understand their world. Adjust your approach accordingly. Talk their language. Find your common bonds and use words the person will relate to.
  • Understand WHEN it is the “right time” to communicate with this person. Don’t expect people to always be willing and ready to accept what you are going to say. Everyone is spread thin these days. Take notice of what is going on in their world with those you communicate
  • Deliver the message clearly and with respect. Say as little as possible with the most impact. When soliciting support or motivating others to action, explain WHY your information is important. This simple detail will minimize questions and/or miscommunications.
  • Confirm that the message was understood by asking for feedback.
  • Always remember that LISTENING is essential to communicating with excellence. Take time to listen to clarifying questions as well as body language. These signs will tell you if you are communicating with excellence.

Confluent communication is free flowing communication.

• Solid relationships create a foundation for clear communication
• You must build relationships in which everyone accepts responsibility for communicating clearly and honestly.
• Be known for always sharing an honest, objective viewpoint. Don’t be afraid to offer your true assessment. Express your feelings, thoughts, and opinions honestly and let others know that they can do the same. Once you are sure you know the whole picture, tell people what you feel is right for them—not what they want to hear.
• When communicating confluently, the agreed-upon message is: We respect each other as individuals; therefore we can talk openly about one another’s behavior and not harm our relationship.
• Confluent communication creates an environment that allows people to be themselves. There are no hidden agendas and no games being played. Everyone always knows where he or she stands with one another.
  
• Top performers tell the truth. No matter how difficult the suggestions/communications may be, make sure others understand your intent is to help them and better their present situation.
• Practicing confluent communication creates a unified approach to achieving common objectives.