Having led businesses, with a diverse range of people, at different levels and stages of their career journey, one of the things that appears to have become more prevalent in business( and that we see when interviewing people in our own business) is a reduced ability to ‘FILTER’ and ‘COMMUNICATE with EQ’ in business.
So what do we mean when we say ‘communicate with EQ’?
This is the ability to empathise, put yourself in other’s shoes and dually, understand the level and experience of the person you are in dialect with and the how messaging may be perceived/ received.
The above takes learned expertise and whilst some may be more naturally able to articulate messaging clearly, with purpose, positioned correctly for their audience and with the required consideration, for most this is an acquired/ learned skill and can be enhanced through coaching and practice.
How many times have you personally been on the receiving end of someone who lacks EQ in their communication?
When we fail to consider the following, we will fail to deliver impactful messaging, build trust and ensure that our communication is understood clearly:
- The experience level/expertise, career stage and perspective of the receiver
- The commercial outcomes desired and required actions to be taken (if applicable) by the receiver
- The personal impact of what we are communicating for the receiver (what’s in it for me?/ how does it affect me?)
- The level of formality required in your delivery (appropriate to your audience/ the receiver)
- The communication style/ learning styles of the receiver/ group and how they best receive information
Common mistakes in commercial communications, in addition to the above, include the following:
- Being too informal in your language and messaging
- Lacking Filters – including providing an in appropriate level of commercial detail (that may in fact not be appropriate for the business or individual, given their level/ experience/ ability to digest and understand the bigger picture
- Not checking understanding, through reflection, asking questions and follow up and assuming your messaging was understood correctly
- Not connecting messaging to the ‘WHY’ for people, so that they can put this in perspective and understand their part in actions and next steps
- Assuming that an email communication for important messaging (in isolation) will be read and understood and that there will be no room for mis interpretation or that these replace the need for a conversation.
Communicating with EQ is arguably the most critical leadership skill required in businesses (of all sizes and domains) and an area where we see people often struggle, with the increasing diversity and demands of leading people, in high pressure and fast moving business environments.
‘Being conscious of how we communicate and thoughtful about how we approach our interactions is the first step to enhancing and mastering these skills and this is part of the journey’
Michelle is a Co-Director/ Owner of Fusion Partners, an Executive Coach and Experienced Business leader, with a long standing passion in communication that breeds trust and success.
To find out more visit: fusionpartners.co.nz
