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Communicating persuasively is a critical skill for the modern employee in any role.
The ability to be heard impacts every interaction in every job function, whether communicating with clients or employees. The ability to write compellingly—for an email or a presentation—is one of the most critical management and communication skills all employees need. Lastly, the ability to listen well makes an effective communicator.
Simply put, the importance of communication in an organization can’t be overstated. It’s a skill leaders spend a lifetime perfecting, and there is a lot of ground to cover.
A good place to start could be with a familiar concept: the Power of Three. It’s the principle that things in threes have the most impact. It’s also believed that the human brain retains best in threes or fours. These are two good reasons to follow this rule of thumb for any sort of communication, whether it is visual, verbal or written.
The Three Pillars Of Communication
Before we get into what it takes to master communication skills for a manager, let’s try to understand what they are.
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Listen Up
Communication is one of those interpersonal skills for managers that are relevant in every function and every interaction during a professional’s life. It all starts with listening—whether it’s a client brief, a customer complaint or a feedback session with a manager. If we listen, ask questions and process the information received, we can act with impact. But so often, we hear only part of what’s being said and then our own preconceived notions, expectations and beliefs take over. The result is that when we respond, our efforts may not match the intention of the speaker. If you believe in the importance of communication in an organization, encouraging a culture of active and thoughtful listening is the ideal place to start.
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Written Word
So often, writing is taken for granted amongst more glamorous management and communication skills. But the ability to draft an effective email or a dynamic presentation takes a lot of practice and effort. It’s a true test of our ability to reason things out with clarity of thought. It means analyzing the subject at hand, removing unnecessary information, and presenting the facts clearly and effectively.
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Be Heard
When we talk about communication, speaking is probably what immediately comes to mind, followed by the words: “I’m not a good speaker.” Effective speaking, whether it’s before a large audience or over a Zoom call is a vital resource for effective communication for managers. But what’s most important to remember—it’s nothing to be afraid of. Verbal communication in any setting is a skill like any other that can be learned, practiced and perfected.
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Hitting The Right Notes
The ability to persuade stakeholders is one reason communication skills for managers or team members alike are so critical. One time-tested method for making an impact is Aristotle’s three-pronged approach, also known as “appeals”. These are:
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Logos
Appeal to the logic and reasoning of your audience
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Ethos
Appeal to their sense of credibility and ethics
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Pathos
Appeal to emotions and feelings
This makes logical sense because effective communication for managers does not differ from other forms of effective communication. A well-balanced, relatable story where good triumphs over evil is a classic for a reason! From children’s fairy tales to epics, the model works every time.
By learning the principles of storytelling, communication skills for manager development can really be maximized. It is never too late to improve your skills.
Master Communication Skills With Harappa
Communication skills for manager growth is a core focus at Harappa. The Compelling Communication Program is suitable for executives or managers at any stage of their careers. With over 30 hours of material spread out over 15 weeks, this is a blended, online-first offering to teach effective communication for managers. It focuses on 10 skills, including how to identify the critical ideas that need to reach the audience, effective listening and note-taking, and how to create a lasting impression.
Through the Learn-Practice-Feedback model and the guidance of expert teachers, you’ll take your knowledge from theoretical to the level of practical mastery in this most critical course that builds interpersonal skills for managers.
Explore Harappa Diaries to learn more about topics such as Who is a Project Manager, Must-Have Skills For Leadership, Top Behavioral Skills For Managers, Operational Manager Skills & Managerial Roles And Skills that will help organizations tap into their employee’s potential.
