Communication

Home > Relating > Communication

Descriptions to Discuss

Under Skilled

• Struggles to articulate ideas or thoughts clearly

• Avoids giving feedback, fearing negative reactions

• Rarely acknowledges the ideas or feelings of team members

• Resists or neglects asking for others' opinions or inputs

• Frequently uses jargon or complex language that may confuse others

• Avoids difficult conversations

• Lacks non-verbal cues such as eye contact, body language, etc.

• Rarely or inconsistently communicates, leading to information gaps

• Neglects to use active listening skills

• Often speaks negatively, blaming or criticizing others

• Doesn’t consistently share information others need to do their jobs well

Rightly Skilled

• Clearly and effectively communicates ideas and expectations

• Regularly provides constructive feedback to the team

• Actively listens and validates team members' perspectives

• Actively solicits ideas and inputs from the team

• Uses simple, clear language that all team members understand

• Tackles difficult conversations with empathy and honesty

• Utilizes effective non-verbal communication cues

• Regularly shares relevant information and updates with the team

• Shows active listening by summarizing and reflecting back

• Maintains a positive tone, focusing on solutions rather than problems

• Keeps team well-informed of project status and changes, understanding that visibility is important

Over Skilled

• Overexplains to the point of redundancy, causing confusion

• Provides so much feedback that it becomes overwhelming

• Over-validates to the point of seeming insincere or pandering

• Constantly seeks input to the point of appearing indecisive

• Overly simplifies language, potentially sounding condescending

• Overemphasizes every communication as a "difficult conversation"

• Overuses non-verbal cues to the point of distraction

• Over communicates, sending non-stop updates and creating information overload

• Overuses active listening techniques, interrupting flow of conversation

• Overly positive to the point of ignoring or minimizing real issues

• Shares excessive, often unnecessary details about every task and project status, causing confusion and distraction

Resources to Review

1. Coaching Worksheet on Communication (Westbrook Resource)

2. Writing and Speaking at Work by E.P. Bailey (Amazon Book)

3. 101 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills Instantly by Bough and Condrill (Amazon Book)

4. The Power of Communication: Skills to Build Trust, Inspire Loyalty, and Lead Effectively by H.F. Garcia (Amazon Book)

5. Communicating for Results: A Guide for Business and the Professions by C. Hamilton (Amazon Book)

6. Failure to Communicate: How Conversations Go Wrong and What You Can Do to Right Them by H. Weeks (Amazon Book)

7. How to Communicate Effectively at Work by Susan Adams (Forbes Article)

8. Types of Nonverbal Communication by Kendra Cherry (Very Well Mind Article)

9. 5 Steps to Great Workplace Communication (Forbes Article)

10. 10 Tips for Effective Communication in the Workplace (Forbes Article)

11. Eight Strategies To Help You Communicate Effectively And Be A More Influential Leader (Forbes Article)

12. 5 Ways to Communicate More Clearly (Inc. Magazine Article)

13. Eight Ways to Communicate Your Strategy More Effectively (Harvard Business Review Article)

14. Communicating Effectively by Lani Arredondo (Amazon Book)

15. Communicating Effectively for Dummies by Marty Brounstein (Amazon Book)

16. Adapting to Different Communication Styles by A. Nierenberg (Small Business Advocate Article)