Communication is the Real Work of Leaders.

by Amy Matthews | Oct 11, 2022 | Blog, Business, In-Power | 0 comments

Communication and the ability to influence is the #1 skill for every single one of us. Yet often, we either don’t make it a priority, forget to share details, or avoid a conversation altogether. From my experience, it’s because we are fearful of how the other party will respond.

• Will the person get angry?
  
• Or reject us?

• Or be hurt?

If we have our druthers, most of us would prefer to steer clear of conflict and confrontation.

It’s just human nature.

We all know how it feels to encounter someone with poor verbal communication skills. We’re left feeling confused, frustrated or even worse, disempowered. You know what I mean. Instead of being lifted up, it drags us down.

A strong leader doesn’t need to be the smartest person in the room or work longer hours than others do. What is needed is to have a high degree of emotional intelligence, and bring people together around a common goal. A strong leader must use the right words to build up their team and articulate clear goals for individuals and for the organization.

In a LinkedIn survey, Emotional Intelligence ranked in the top 5 soft skills most sought after. EQ and knowing how to communicate with influence go hand in hand. Think Yin and Yang. Or Bonnie and Clyde.

Becoming a better communicator requires being intentional in both your conversations and in writing.

Here are my 6 simple and proven communication strategies for any conversation you embark on:

1. Be Prepared – Know what you want to say ahead of time

2. Be Clear – Keep it clear and concise

3. Be Confident – be strong in your point of view

4. Be Thoughtful – speak with compassion and empathy

5. Be Grounded – eliminate distractions, stay present and listen

6. Be Open – look for synergistic outcomes

Learning how to be a good communicator is crucial for your success in business and in life. It requires focus, practice, and commitment. It can be a lifelong journey so be patient and stay the course!

Remember, speaking up is a responsibility. So, use the 6 steps to be intentional and strategic in every conversation.

I’ve helped hundreds of business professionals get clear on what they want to say and how to say it, whether it be to a boss, employee, client, colleague, partner, or friend.

If you’ve been avoiding putting off a tricky conversation, sign up for a complimentary Clarity Call with me here.

Schedule 30 Min Clarity Call

And, if you missed my LinkedIn webinar, Strategic Communication: Get the Outcomes You Want, here’s the replay:

6 Communication Strategies for Any Difficult Conversation

by Amy Matthews | Sep 14, 2022 | Blog, Business, In-Power | 0 comments

Remember when we could sweep an issue under the rug, put our head in the sand and pray it would go away?

Communication and the ability to influence is the #1 skill for every single one of us. Yet when conflict arises, it’s the first thing that gets tossed out the window.

Here are a few situations I’ve helped my clients navigate lately:

👉 A client works for a large Silicon Valley company. He’s a top, individual contributor yet is being asked to lead his teammates and do the job of two people. He is stressed and sleep-deprived. We talked about what to say to his boss but he said she wouldn’t understand.

👉 A client runs the Americas division for a well-known corporation. A member of his team is not cutting it, he’s not focused on bringing in more revenue. We discussed what he needs to say to his employee. He still hasn’t had the conversation.

👉A client’s in-laws came to stay the night and forgot to mention they weren’t feeling well. Oops. My client’s entire family got Covid. She was livid…how dare they? We discussed how to have “the honest conversation” so something like this wouldn’t happen again. She decided to not rock the boat.

👉 Another client is in real estate. She has a partner and for the last five years, helped build a thriving business. She now wants to pursue another career and told her partner but now she is avoiding her. We discussed how to have “the honest conversation” to get back on the same page.

Here are my 6 simple and proven communication strategies for any difficult conversation you embark on:

1. Be Prepared – Know what you want to say ahead of time

2. Be Clear – Keep it clear and concise

3. Be Confident – be strong in your point of view

4. Be Thoughtful – speak with compassion and empathy

5. Be Grounded – eliminate distractions, stay present and listen

6. Be Open – look for synergistic outcomes

You can have a connected conversation, stand in your truth, be kind and caring – AND – get the results you want.

I have helped hundreds of professionals get clear on how to say what they want to say. whether it be to a boss, employee, client, colleague, romantic partner, or friend.

If you’ve been putting off “the difficult conversation”, book a free 30-minute clarity call with me right here.