Communication: Effective Speaking Through The 3V Skills

Even these works of art can communicate better than most folks!

[This is Part # 11 of a 20 Part Series to Improve Your Strengths] — Take the Strengths TEST

Quote: “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” -George Bernard Shaw

Definition: “interchange or transfer information or ideas”

You’ve seen it before, the 7%-38%-55% rule on the 3 V’s… you know, our communication is broken down into 7% verbal (the words we use), 38% vocal (tone and the likes), and 55% visual (body language). That’s the Mehrabian theory of communication. So terribly useful, no? Moving right along…

None of that matters a lick if we don’t actually start figuring out how we communicate now and begin to transform ourselves into the grand communicator we know we can be!

With enough practice on strengthening your ability to transmit ideas and information, I’m quite positive you’ll be one heck of a champion communicator soon!

Continually Seek and Give Feedback

Ahhh, we either love it or hate it – that good old thing we call criticism, nagging, ridicule, or just plain old ‘feedback.’ This is the special sauce that can turn your communications burger into a Food Network winner if you choose to use it properly.

But how could anything negative like nagging actually help me, Richard?! I’m glad I asked! Thank you!

This is the part where you make the decision to separate the intentions from the usefulness. You are only concerned with the usefulness of anything anyone tells you. Two beasts exist in any feedback. Dodge the useless – devour the useful.

For Feedback, you must do 2 things:

LISTEN and COMMIT:

(1) LISTEN:

• Focus on the message (not behavior / attitude)
• Get at the facts
• Ask questions, as needed

(2) COMMIT:

• Agree on a safer (better) way to work
• Actually make & state the commitment
• Follow up on the commitment

Want a nice bonus?