Communicating and Connecting Are Keys to Success

Zakiyatul Mufidah

10320108

Communicating and Connecting Are Keys to Success

Do you recall a recent interaction you may have either been a part of or witnessed, where one person was clearly communicating some information and the audience clearly did not understand what was being said?  The speaking person, sooner or later, realizes from the puzzled looks or the questions being asked, that the message was not being understood. So the speaker starts again and says the same exact words, just more slowly and louder. Does this work? Does this method ever work? Of course not!

What is going wrong? It has been written in Harvard Business Review, “The number one criteria for advancement and promotion for professionals is an ability to communicate effectively.”

John C. Maxwell said, “It’s not enough just to work hard. It’s not enough to do a great job. To be successful, you need to learn how to really communicate with others.”

Before you assume this has nothing to do with you, my suggestion is to conduct a reality check for yourself.

The next time you are either giving some type of instructions, or speaking to pass on some information of importance, ask the listeners to repeat to you what they heard. Do not warn them beforehand that you will be asking them to do this or you will negate the test. They will listen closer and be more aware of your words.

The results of this little test may provide some insight for you. This will be across your life from the board room, to the charity committee you sit on, to the eight year olds on your Little League team.

Now that we are all in agreement, this may happen to any of us and it does. What do we do?

This is the topic of an entire course, Effective Communication.

Here are a few easy ways to begin your walk down the path of communicating and connecting more effectively.

• Become a great listener
• Ask excellent questions
• Understand what is important to your listeners
• Speak about areas important to you which match your listeners
• Based upon the above items, create a relationship with your listeners

These are not meant to be easy and quick solutions. You will need to put in the time and practice. With all tips and techniques which are intended to create positive change the habit of utilizing the techniques must be created.

Each of these when utilized and practiced will bring forward results that will be obvious to you and your listeners, especially if the people are the same people who you have previously spoken to. Now you will be speaking with them and they will notice the difference.

BOLDNESS, COMMITMENT AND SUCCESS

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” - Goethe.

Do you ever wonder how it is that some people are able to take an idea and just run with it? How is it that they pull a thousand little things together to make one big idea work?

It all begins with boldness and commitment. Boldness requires that we take some risks. It means that we begin to act on belief, without all the facts. Boldness is the ability to withstand the ridicule or disbelief of others. Having boldness means having courage. And that means that you can step out on a journey, with the belief that you can do something, and know that when you do, things will begin to fall into place.

Commitment is the second part of the equation. Many people are able to make the decision to be bold and take risks, but not many are able to stick with the decision. With no follow through, there is only musing, an illusive thought. Without commitment, an idea will die in your mind.

What was your last idea that you put aside? Was it something that came to you in the small hours of the morning? Did you write it down, think on it, expand on the possibilities, dream of the results and then lose your nerve? Later did you see that someone had the same idea and acted upon it, and the idea grew into a huge business? How often have you lost your nerve, or after stepping out, lost the commitment to make it work?

Did you know that every time that you have an idea the law of probabilities says that 10 other people in North America have the same idea? The person who has the success with the idea is the person who acts upon it first and fastest. This requires boldness and commitment.

So how do you start? As Goethe say, “Begin it”. Take the first step. Write it down and consider all the possibilities. Take a walk and let the idea grow. Try to let it run away with you, go ahead and get caught up in the moment. Let the idea carry you away to a place you have never been. Let it work its magic on you. Could it be successful? Only the universe knows. You will never know unless you begin it!

Successful business people often try and fail. But without that trying, the boldness and commitment they would never succeed either. Do not be afraid of failure. Boldness has greatness in it. Embrace your fear head on. Remind yourself again and again, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Then make the commitment to do everything possible to make your risk pay off. When others see your daring, your boldness and your commitment to follow through their respect and belief in you also grows. And the universe will do her part to make ensure your success.

So go ahead! Be bold! Make the commitment and succeed!

"One of the keys to effective communication and dispute resolution is understanding ourselves and how we think and also understanding how others are wired as well. Each of us has personality styles that are unique to ourselves - however there are also patterns as well. When you understand the differing personality styles and their blends - you begin to see people as they are with more understanding!