better relationships

Your DNA as a Leader

7:00 am

So by now you may know your Communication DNA and even that of those people in your world that are important to you, or that you need to deal with.  If you are in a position of Leadership, which I believe all of you are in one form or another then understanding your strengths in Leadership is critical.

If you missed the information about Communication DNA check out this video specifically about this concept, it will explain it fully for you.

If you are interested in taking the DNA test then get in contact with us.

You might ask why is understanding Communication important in Leadership?  It’s because great Communication in Leadership is all about ensuring you are heard and understood.  It is about ensuring your message is heard, that you are able to influence positive behaviour and change.

Each style has the capacity to be a great leader, there is no one style that is better.  The key to great leadership is self awareness, understanding that others have different needs and motivators and being able to adapt your style so that you are understood by people even if they are very different to you.

The Powerful Communicator may be drawn to leadership because they love control and to make decisions.  They love to solve issues and attack problems but need to be aware of the body count they can create with their bulldog like ways.  They do not necessarily make the best leaders unless they are self aware and can adapt to the needs of others.

The Playful Communicator is magnetic, popular and charismatic however they also need to be able to harness their strengths and mitigate their challenges.  Being overly Optimistic can be a challenge as well as following through.  Again self awareness is key as well as being able adapt to the needs of others.

The Patient Communicator is gentle, approachable, an amazing listener, able to bring much needed calm to the storm.  However, they also need to be able to communicate confidently, speak up when required and deal with issues as they arise.

The Perfectionist Communicator is great at details process and ensuring that things are done right. In leadership they need to be able to step back and look at the big picture, realise that people will never be perfect and that this is ok.

With self awareness and the right support each of the styles can be an amazing Leader.  The key is knowing and using your strengths to maximize your relationships.  It is also being able to recognise and bring out the strengths in others.  Differences should unite not separate, together we can all achieve more.

If you would like to know more about your communication DNA then get in touch.  We have many options to begin this journey of self discovery including face to face coaching, online coaching and training.

We have coaching programs that can teach you all you need to know about your Communication DNA and how to take your Communication to the next level.

Becoming a more self aware Leader, taking your communication  to the next level will make such a positive impact on your ability to lead and influence others.   If you would like to understand yourself as a Communicator and learn your strengths then perhaps you may like to read The Enlightened Communicator, available for you to review at your own pace.

You can also get in touch via our website, and Facebook so please join the conversation, we would love to hear from you!

Until next time, Care Connect and be a Conscious Communicator

Let’s change the world we live in one conversation at a time.

How To Use Your Strengths To Adapt Your Communication

7:00 am

So by now you may know your Communication DNA and even that of those people in your world that are important to you, or that you need to deal with.  You are ready for the next crucial step, being able to adapt your style to someone else’s Communication DNA.

Why you may ask?  It’s because great Communication is all about ensuring you are heard and understood.  Therefore you need to ensure that your message is received in the intended way by the receiver.

May people I have trained or coached over the years have initially had it confused thinking that what they need to say is all that matters.  “I’ll say what I need, and they will hear it.”  If that were true I’d be out of a career.

We all hear through our filters and we each have preferences for how we like to hear the messages given to us.

You need to know the needs of others so you can adapt your message appropriately.

So what are these needs?

The Powerful Communicator needs Results.  They like short sharp bullet points, Do not waffle and do not get too personal, they are task focused.  If you know them well then this may differ.

The Playful Communicator needs Recognition.  They like stories, a friendly message that is personal.  Don’t go straight into business.

The Patient Communicator needs Relationship, they like to feel understood and supported.  Do not force them to make a quick decision.  Do not force an answer, especially if there is no trust built yet.  They will say “Yes” to your face, but will not mean it.

The Perfectionist Communicator needs to be Right, they crave details and planning.  Do not go to them without the information and evidence for it.  Be neat and ordered.  Do not be too personal as they are reserved and appear standoffish.

Where you will likely struggle the most is when you are dealing with someone opposite to you; for example as a Powerful Communicator my largest challenge is adapting to meet the needs of the Patient Communicator my opposite DNA style.

I need to slow down, warm up my tone, be more personable, ask gentle question not just bark bullet points and force for my result.  I need to watch my body language, no hand son hips, but a more open gentle posture.  I need to ask questions, not tell (telling comes more naturally to me).

The opposite occurs if the Patient Communicator is speaking to me.  They need to be more direct, stay on point, don’t waffle, have strong eye contact, be confident.

The best way to adapt your style is to look at the needs of the Communicator you are dealing with and ensure you communicate in this way.  It is a matter of bridging the gap.  For example to you need to use more words, listen more, be friendly, be detailed.  This is critical while you are building trust and getting to know someone.  Once you are in a position of knowing and more understanding this is less of a requirement.

The it comes down to being aware and reading body language to ensure you are being understood, asking questions to clarify you are on the same page – this is just good communication practise.

For example, if you are a Powerful Communicator, you are naturally direct, decisive and confident.  You are the exact opposite of the Patient Communicator who is more quiet, appears less confident and seeks harmony.  The Patent Communicator may sacrifice their needs to avoid conflict.

To bridge this gap until you get to know each other the Powerful Communicator needs to be less direct, ask more questions, really listen, be friendly and gentle.  This will create an environment where the Patient Communicator will feel safer enough to open up and Communicate with you.

Having a difficult conversation, giving feedback, dealing with a strong or highly emotional issue, it is best to ensure you adapt to the needs of your listener.

If you would like some help with this process then get in touch.  You and your relationships are worth it, end the confusion now, you will not regret it.

We have coaching programs that can teach you all you need to know about your Communication DNA and how to take your Communication to the next level.

 

If Communication DNA is a new term for you, check out this video specifically about this concept, it will explain it fully for you.

If you are interested in taking the DNA test then get in contact with us.

For more information check out the article on Communication DNA

We have coaching programs that can teach you all you need to know about your Communication DNA and how to take your Communication to the next level.

You can also get in touch via our website, and Facebook so please join the conversation, we would love to hear from you!

 

Until next time, Care Connect and be a Conscious Communicator

Let’s change the world we live in one conversation at a time.

How To Disagree With Respect

9:00 am

All of us who hang out in workplaces would benefit from better communication.  Right?  When was the last time you can remember feeling misunderstood in conversation?  If you are like me it used to feel like most days….

How about respect?  Respect s all about having and showing regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others.  Having different needs as a Communicator can by default mean you come across as being disrespectful.

With Poor Communication costing business big time, up to 32% of profit.  That is a lot of money down the drain.  Understand the keys to better communication, knowing how to respect others and you can unlock a hidden profit centre in your business.

Each person in your workplace has a different Communication DNA, or different needs as a Communicator.

If Communication DNA is a new term for you, check out this video specifically about this concept, it will explain it fully for you.

If you are interested in taking the DNA test then get in contact with us.

 

Just to make it interesting, respect means different things to each Communication DNA style for example;

The Powerful Communicator is driven like to take control, they are seen as a driver and is motivated by results.  Respect for them means listening while they talk and not interrupting them.  They love to have input and a challenge.

 The Playful Communicator tells stories is distracted and gets easily bored. They are story tellers, use many words to explain a quick point, and are seen as a talker. They need to be liked.  Respect for these guys means listening and laughing at their stories.  They love space to be creative and energetic.

 The Patient Communicator is quiet, agrees even if they don’t agree, and will not get involved in any perceived conflict, they are seen as a observer.  They crave harmony.  To show respect it is about listening, not pushing them and giving them time.

 The Perfectionist Communicator is into details, can be outrageously organised loves to do lists and is a neat person.  They are seen as an analyser and need to be Right.  Respect is about not criticising their work, if there is a problem telling them privately and asking them for their opinion and ideas on planning and organising.

However, your workplace your business, will only benefit from your staff and team members learning to understand themselves and then others as Communicators and you will be well one your way to improving your Communication and productivity.

Adding to this how to show each other respect and you will see the team unite like never before.  Disrespect often occurs unintentionally.

For example, a workplace I trained to improve communication had to sales people, one a Powerful man the other Playful.  There was quite a bit of tension between the two and soon it became obvious to me why.

 What was happening was that the Powerful guy would speak and his co-worker the Playful one would get excited and jump in with his ideas.  Inadvertently the Playful Communicator was disrespecting his Powerful Colleague.

When it was made clear that the intention of the Playful guy was to help and that he was excited and wanted to contribute not disrespect then things began to shift in a positive direction.  The key was understanding intentions.  When you can get into someone else’s shoes, you can see the world briefly through their lens.

This is a very powerful way to de personalise any tension and get to the cause of the issue which is usually misunderstanding.  If you would like some help to shift some tense or negative relationships in amore helpful direction then why not consider having some coaching to uncover your Communication DNA, how this shows up for you, what your strengths are and how to adapt to the needs of others.

Are the people you work with motivated by Results? Recognition? Relationship or being Right?  For more information check out the article on Communication DNA

If you would like some help with this process then get in touch.  You and your relationships are worth it, end the confusion now, you will not regret it.

We have coaching programs that can teach you all you need to know about your Communication DNA and how to take your Communication to the next level.

You can also get in touch via our website, and Facebook so please join the conversation, we would love to hear from you!

 

Until next time, Care Connect and be a Conscious Communicator

Let’s change the world we live in one conversation at a time.

How to deal with a negative culture that is harming your business

7:00 am

Congratulations you are in Business, well done, it takes courage and determination to step up and take on a Business.  If you are familiar with my work you will know that I am passionate about helping Business owners use their Communication strengths to succeed in business.

We have spoken many times about the cost of poor communication.  It shows up in many ways but the bottom line is it costs.  It has been shown in research to cost up to 32% of profit.  For a business making $500K pa, this is $160K, that’s not small change.

One of the issues can be a negative culture.  This is where your team are not on the same page, perhaps there is negativity and stress.  Perhaps there is relationship tension between the team (people not getting on), there may be gossip, backstabbing and tearing each other down.

I spoke with a team recently and the CEO was all about their culture “ we have your back”.  No matter what, as long as the team member was following the agreed process the rest of the team had their back.  So if mistakes were made, first thought, we have your back.  They were creating a culture of excellence and honesty where issues were raised quickly and respectfully.  This will create a very positive team culture.

The opposite of this is where no one takes responsibility, a team member may see a mistake being made and turn a blind eye “that’s not my job”.  Perhaps there is nitpicking and backstabbing.  Perhaps there are negative team members.  Perhaps management are not providing the leadership and support the team needs.

The bottom line is if a team is not performing the responsibility of addressing it lands on the Leader.  In most small businesses this is the owner.

It has got to start with us.  If our team is confused, struggling, poorly performing we need to ensure that the right environment for success has been provided.  We need to ensure that the team knows what is expected of them and are given the tools to do their job well.

Once this has been provided if people continue to underperform this needs to be addressed again.  If it is a skill issue then skill can be developed.  If it is an attitude issue then the team member may need to find a better fit for them.  Regardless something has to be done and it falls on the leader / owner of the business.

As Business owners we must take complete responsibility for whatever is happening in our business good bad or ugly.

As you can see, it starts with us as the Leader.  We are essential to our business running well and we need to understand the effect we have first on the business.  A great way to understand your strengths as a Leader is to understand what makes you tick, what do you bring to the table, what is your Communication DNA?

Once we understand this we can then begin to look deeper into understand your team in the same way.  For years I have been helping business understand their Communication DNA so they can see what makes each member of the team tick, what strengths they have, how they work best and how to bring out their strengths.

If you would like to know more you can learn more about Communication DNA here.

If you would like to learn what your Communication DNA is you can do so here

If you know you need more support to unravel what is happening in your business we offer Coaching and Training services as well as our very popular online Master Communication in Your Business.

We are here to resource you so that you can create the business of your dreams, kick those goals, create a highly productive team and future-proof your business.

Until next time Care, Connect and be a Courageous Communicator.

Lets grow your business one conversation at a time.

Help! My Business in Not Productive enough

7:00 am

I am passionate about helping Business owners use their Communication strengths to succeed in business.  Business is tough so I believe if there are ways we can harness our strengths to get better results – Let’s do it!

We have spoken many times about the cost of poor communication.  It has been shown in research to cost up to 32% of profit.  For a business making $500K pa, this is $160K, that’s not small change.  Money I am sure you would like to remain in your pocket?

So you have a business and there are issues, we have said before that Communication is foundational to our success.  Additionally, that Poor Communication destroys business in many ways and today we will look at the relationship between Poor Communication and Low Productivity.

What is Low Productivity“ less than ideal output, below required productivity, low sales and low or no profit.”  In terms of staff your team may not be producing enough per paid work hour to ensure they are worth the investment.

You may pay an assistant $100 per day, yet productivity of the business has not increased in line with that investment. What can you do?

In terms of working with people and their strengths there are many things you can do to turn this around.  But here is where we need to get curious and start doing some research and asking some questions.

First of all, I always recommend we start by understanding ourselves.  What is Your Communication DNA, your needs as a Communicator?  As a Business owner the buck stops with you so you need to know this.  You need to know what strengths you bring to the table and what may be any potential challenges.

How do you communicate in your business?  Does your team know what is required?  Do they have a clear idea of your expectations?  Do you have a clear idea of theirs?

Are you approachable?  Can your team ask your questions?  Will they feel silly, embarrassed, stupid?  Do you complicate things so they leave even more confused?

Depending on your Leadership style your team will be affected in different ways.

For example the Powerful Leader is great at telling people what to do, loves to delegate and loves control.  BUT to others who do not understand them they can come off as Bossy, dictatorial, unreasonable and unapproachable.  If this is you, then your team may not feel they can ask you.  They may not be brave enough to fess up to any mistakes.

If you have a team member who is also Powerful they may not like you telling them what to do, they may need a little more freedom and control so you may have a silent tussle for control going on.

If you are a Playful Leader, no doubt you are everyone’s friend but they may not take you seriously.  Your team may be confused between friend and Boss.  Processes and organization is not always a strength of a Playful leader so your team may need processes, direction and organisation in the chaos to ensure they maximize productivity.

If you are a Patient Leader, your team will feel supported but they may lack direction.  Patient Leaders can avoid telling people what to do; as they fear it is rude and blunt (they are the opposite to the Powerful), so they say nothing.  This leaves your team lacking direction and focus.  Sometimes your team may feel like they are running the business and they may resent that.

If you are a Perfectionist Leader, there is no doubt you have high standards and equally high expectations.  This may stifle your team as they know, no matter what, they will never measure up.  There is nothing like that for a productivity killer.

As you can see, it starts with us as the Leader.  We are essential to our business running well and we need to understand the effect we have first on the business.

 

Once we understand this we can then begin to look deeper into understand your team in the same way.  For years I have been helping business understand their Communication DNA so they can see what makes each member of the team tick, what strengths they have, how they work best and how to bring out their strengths.

If you would like to know more you can learn more about Communication DNA with this free video  

If you would like to learn what your Communication DNA is you can take our test

If you know you need more support to unravel what is happening in your business we offer Coaching and Training services as well as our very popular online Master Communication in Your Business.

We are here to resource you so that you can create the business of your dreams, kick those goals, create a highly productive team and future-proof your business.

Until next time Care, Connect and be a Courageous Communicator.

Lets grow your business one conversation at a time.

What is Poor Communication costing your business?

7:00 am

You are in Business, Congratulations, it takes guts to put everything on the line and build your dream.  I wonder how is it going?  It is all smooth sailing?  Can it be really hard at times and some days you wonder what on earth were you thinking?  Do you feel alone at times like no one else knows the stress you are under?

Have you ever wondered, there has to be a better way?  You will be pleased to know that there is!

I don’t know if you are like me but when I went into business for myself I didn’t know what I was doing, I was awesome at my “zone of genius” but I didn’t know how to run a business, how to reconcile accounts, how to build a kick ass marketing plan.  I had to learn all of that.

Like you, I am sure that you are great at your genius too.  But what about the things you didn’t bargain on?  Things like managing staff, like leading a team, having difficult conversations, motivating staff and dealing with customers that sometimes feel like they are sucking your soul out of your body?  Can you relate?

When we don’t manage Communication, actually no, when we don’t Master Communication then business is hard…..

Communication is in and through everything you do, whether its deal with suppliers, staff, customers, marketing, landing the next big deal, it is all communication.  It is everywhere, so do you know your Communication genius zone?

Like your skill that is the reason that your are in business, maybe you are great with numbers, perhaps you are creative maybe you build or fix things.  You have your own skills and strengths.  Did you know you have the same skills and strengths as a Communicator?

When we don’t harness out strengths we are allowing poor communication to infiltrate our business.  This will cause havoc and cost you big time!  Now you work hard so it is not on to let any of that hard earned profit be lost to poor communication.

 

When we do not Master Communication across our business we are at the mercy of many worrying trends;

Things like;

  • Poor productivity
  • Poor morale
  • High staff turnover
  • Bad Customer service
  • Stress
  • Increased sick days

And the list goes on and on.  This ends up costing you your hard earned profit.

Imagine this, you have a new hire.  They interviewed well, once you found them.  The process of finding the right person was hard enough.  They have been with you for about 6 weeks.  You have shown them what you need them to do.  At first it was great, the possibilities seemed endless.  Then you notice it just doesn’t feel quite right….  You ask them to do a task and it seems to take forever, when you ask for it they mumble something and you still don’t have what you need.  Your frustration builds, all you can think of is “what am I paying them for?”

When you finally get the completed task it is not what you asked for at all and in fact it needs to be done again!  How could this happen, you gave clear instructions, all of this time has been wasted and now your customer will be delayed because of this stuff up!

You do not know what to do, how can you speak clearer, how can you get them to work faster?  How can you ensure what you ask for is what you get?

Has this or anything like it ever happened to you?  I see this over and over again, whether it is in an accounting practice an engineering firm a mechanical workshop.  It’s the same, how to do ensure you are heard and understood?

The key is ensuring that you are Communicating in a way that your team understands.  Did you know that sometimes it is almost like we speak in completely different languages?

Learning your communication needs, strengths and challenges will open your eyes, change your world and revolutionise your business for the better.

Over coming posts we will tease out these issues and go deeper into how they may be affecting your business and what you can do about it.

The real cost of poor communication is hard to measure as many businesses don’t have measures in place to capture this.  From my perspective the most important thing is to understand the foundation cause of the issue.  For example if it is productivity, is it because staff don’t feel motivated, are not supported, are confused, are working without the resources they need, do not know what to do.  There are many layers and it is critical to understand what is going on so you can address it and fix the problem.

You go into business to kick goals, have some freedom, create a legacy, do what you love and make a difference so let’s make it happen!

 

So, if you are keen to harness your communication strengths and Master Communication in Your business, welcome!  Things are about to change for the better.

 

Until next time Care, Connect and be a Courageous Communicator.

Lets grow your business one conversation at a time.  

Understand Your DNA and Take Your Communication To The Next Level

7:00 am

Have you ever experienced poor communication?  I bet you have……. We all have.  Becoming a next level communicator is all about knowing where you are at and adding more tools to your Communication tool box.

For example you may have a good grasp on your needs as a Communicator so the next level would be to better understand your partner for example.  Perhaps you are a Manager so the next level would be to understand the needs of your team as Communicators.

One of the foundation problems is that most people do not know their needs as a Communicator, if you don’t know what you need how on earth can you ask for it?

The best Communicators know what makes them tick, they know their Communication DNA, what makes them who they are, what makes them tick.

Next level Communicators then understand how to recognise the needs of other people and adapt their style to ensure they are understood.

So, How can you understand your Communication DNA, then take your communication to the next level?  If Communication DNA is a new term for you, check out this video specifically about this concept, it will explain it fully for you.

The foundation skill you need to master for yourself as a Communicator is to first understand your Communication DNA and what that means for you in your key relationships.  Then to understand the DNA of the others you are in relationship with as Communication is a two way street.

To be a truly great communicator you need to be able to ensure that your message is heard and understood each and every time.  The tricky part is that each communication style hears messages differently and has different motivations.

In addition, Communication is not taught in schools, not at university, certainly not in business.  After completing a behavioural science and psychology degree I still did not know what my needs were as a communicator.

Where did you learn how to speak up? Apologise? Listen, give effective feedback, have a difficult conversation, motivate someone different from you?  Listen to someone and understand even if they are completely different to you?

If you don’t know your needs, then how can you know the needs of others?

Personally we are attracted to the opposite communicators than us.  So if you are a reserved quiet communicator that craves harmony, you are more likely to be attracted to a driven loud, outspoken confident communicator.

People we have the least in common with as a communicator we choose to spend our life with.  Now this is wonderful when you understand the strengths and difference and see your differences as complimentary, but if you don’t understand each other, you are heading down a very painful road.

There are 4 Communication styles and we each have all four but have stronger preferences in 1 or more.  For example;

The Powerful Communicator is driven like to take control, they are seen as a driver and is motivated by results.

The Playful Communicator tells stories is distracted and gets easily bored. They are story tellers, use many words to explain a quick point, and are seen as a talker. They need to be liked.

The Patient Communicator is quiet, agrees even if they don’t agree, and will not get involved in any perceived conflict, they are seen as a observer.  They crave harmony.

 The Perfectionist Communicator is into details, can be outrageously organised loves to do lists and is a neat person.  They are seen as an analyser and need to be Right.

Just imagine the chaos when you don’t understand each other?

It is so common as we are not taught this is schools, many of us learn this after having gone through a loss or trauma in our relationships.

To take your skills to the next level you first need to know your starting point and then follow this road map;

Understand your own Communication DNA

Understand Others

Communicate Intentionally

Communicate Exceptionally

If you can work on these steps you are well on your way to being an exceptional Communicator and every relationship you have personal or professional will benefit.

If you are struggling, feeling overwhelmed, believe me I have been there before, I have struggled, I have been misrepresented, confused people, been confused, offended people and not understood why until I understood my Communication DNA.

If you relate to this, what can you do?  Follow the roadmap above to expand on your communication skills .  Know your strengths and know the strengths of those on your team, learn what makes you who you are, what makes you tick, your strengths and challenges.

If you would like to understand yourself as a Communicator and learn your strengths then perhaps you may like to read The Enlightened Communicator, available for you to review at your own pace.

If you would like to know more about how to learn what your Communication DNA we can work with you to assist you to understand exactly what it is that makes you tick.  We can also help you understand what makes others tick and how to get the best out of your relationships.  Interested? You can get more information here.

You can also get in touch via our website, and Facebook so please join the conversation, we would love to hear from you!

Until next time, Care Connect and be a Conscious Communicator

Let’s change the world we live in one conversation at a time.

How Your Communication DNA Can Affect Your Personal Relationships

7:00 am

Have you ever experienced poor communication in your personal relationships?  Have you ever had to walk away form a friendship or relationship because of communication breakdown.  I bet you have……. We all have.

One of the foundation problems is that most people do not know their needs as a Communicator, if you don’t know what you need how on earth can you ask for it?

Stress also changes how well you communicate so if you don’t understand your needs and are going through stress then your communication will suffer.  This is tragic as just when you need to be understood the most, your communication can fail you.

The best Communicators know what makes them tick, they know their Communication DNA, what makes them who they are, what makes them tick.

So, how can you understand you Communication DNA?  If Communication DNA is a new term for you, check out this video specifically about this concept, it will explain it fully for you.

This is the foundation skill we teach to Communicators that want to improve their ability to communicate personally in your friendships and romantic relationships.

Communication is not taught in schools, not at university, after a behavioural science and psychology degree I still did not know what my needs were as a communicator.

Where did you learn how to speak up? Apologise? Listen, give effective feedback, have a difficult conversation, motivate someone different from you, share your emotions?

If you don’t know your needs, then how can you know the needs of others?  You cannot give someone something you don’t have……  If you don’t have $5, you cannot give it to someone else, it is the same for understanding.

Personally we are attracted to the opposite communicator to us.  So if you are a reserved quiet communicator that craves harmony, you are more likely to be attracted to a driven loud, outspoken confident communicator.   Opposites attract.

People we have the least in common with as a communicator we choose to spend our life with.  Now this is wonderful when you understand the strengths and difference and see your differences as complimentary, but if you don’t understand each other, you are heading down a very painful road.

There are 4 Communication styles and we each have all four but have stronger preferences in 1 or more.  For example;

The Powerful Communicator is driven like to take control, they are seen as a driver and is motivated by results.

The Playful Communicator tells stories is distracted and gets easily bored. They are story tellers, use many words to explain a quick point, and are seen as a talker. They need to be liked.

The Patient Communicator is quiet, agrees even if they don’t agree, and will not get involved in any perceived conflict, they are seen as a observer.  They crave harmony.

 The Perfectionist Communicator is into details, can be outrageously organised loves to do lists and is a neat person.  They are seen as an analyser and need to be Right.

Just imagine the chaos when you don’t understand each other?  Particularly during a difficult time.

For example, if you are a Playful Communicator, you may begin to talk way too much, trying to be heard to be liked to be accepted.  If your partner is a Perfectionist (the opposite and who you are likely attracted to) you will become frustrated and critical, this will offend your playful mate and add to the chaos.  Neither of you understand the issue at heart or how to share your needs,  and the cycle of toxic unhelpful communication continues.

It is so common as we are not taught this is schools, many of us learnt this after having gone through a loss or trauma in our relationships.

Even as a Manager in a Business I still did not know my needs as a Communicator.  It took a workplace gossip session in the loo where I found my team on a character assassination all about me to begin to see that I was being misunderstood.  I have also gone through the very painful experience of divorce before I realised how my personal communication could really improve.

I have been there before, I have struggled, I have been misrepresented, confused people, offended people and not understood why until I understood my Communication DNA.

If you relate to this, what can you do?  Know your strengths and know the strengths of those on your team, learn what makes you who you are, what makes you tick, your strengths and challenges.

 

If you would like to understand yourself as a Communicator and learn your strengths then perhaps you may like to read The Enlightened Communicator, available for you to review at your own pace.

If you would like to know more about how to learn what your Communication DNA we can work with you to assist you to understand exactly what it is that makes you tick.  We can also help you understand what makes others tick and how to get the best out of your relationships.  Interested? You can get more information here.

You can also get in touch via our website, and Facebook so please join the conversation, we would love to hear from you!

 

Until next time, Care Connect and be a Conscious Communicator

Let’s change the world we live in one conversation at a time.

How does your Communication DNA affect your workplace?

7:00 am

Have you ever experienced poor communication at work?  I bet you have……. We all have.

One of the foundation problems is that most people do not know their needs as a Communicator, if you don’t know what you need how on earth can you ask for it?

The best Communicators know what makes them tick, they know their Communication DNA, what makes them who they are, what makes them tick.

So, how can you understand you Communication DNA and how this can affect you at work?

This is the foundation skill we teach to Communicators that want to improve their ability to communicate personally and professionally.  If Communication DNA is a new term for you, check out this video specifically about this concept, it will explain it fully for you.

Communication is not taught in schools, not at university, after a behavioural science and psychology degree I still did not know what my needs were as a communicator.

Where did you learn how to speak up? Apologise? Listen, give effective feedback, have a difficult conversation, motivate someone different from you?

If you don’t know your needs, then how can you know the needs of others?

Professionally we struggle at work to share ideas and negotiate our own needs, because we don’t understand ourselves or the needs of others.  Lets look at a typical business meeting;

The Powerful Communicator is driven like to take control, they are seen as a driver and is motivated by results.

The Playful Communicator tells stories is distracted and gets easily bored. They are story tellers, use many words to explain a quick point, and are seen as a talker. They need to be liked.

The Patient Communicator is quiet, agrees even if they don’t agree, and will not get involved in any perceived conflict, they are seen as a observer.  They crave harmony.

 The Perfectionist Communicator is into details, can be outrageously organised loves to do lists and is a neat person.  They are seen as an analyser and need to be Right.

Just imagine the chaos if you don’t understand each other?  The powerful push and make all the decisions, the playful tell stories and don’t really listen or come organised, the patient ones, sit and listen and don’t really get involved, while the perfectionist, gets stuck into the details gets frustrated that no one has done what they said they would do and in the end most people leave with the decision being made by the powerful communicator and everyone else feels unheard and frustrated.  And that is before we even get to the customers or clients!!!!!!!

Is it any wonder business loses over 30% of profit due to poor communication?  What can you do?  Know your strengths and know the strengths of those on your team

I have been there before, I have struggled, I have been misrepresented, confused people, offended people and not understood why until I understood my Communication DNA.

If you relate to this, what can you do?  Know your strengths and know the strengths of those on your team, learn what makes you who you are, what makes you tick, your strengths and challenges.

If you would like to understand yourself as a Communicator and learn your strengths then perhaps you may like to read The Enlightened Communicator, available for you to review at your own pace.

If you would like to know more about how to learn what your Communication DNA we can work with you to assist you to understand exactly what it is that makes you tick.  We can also help you understand what makes others tick and how to get the best out of your relationships.  Interested?  You can get more information here.

If you are part of a team that struggles with these skills or you are keen to take your Team’s Communication skills to a new level of capability then reach out and see how we can tailor a solution for your unique situation.

You can also get in touch via our website, and Facebook so please join the conversation, we would love to hear from you!

Until next time, Care Connect and be a Conscious Communicator

Let’s change the world we live in one conversation at a time.

3 Communication Hacks for Better Connection in your Personal Relationships

7:00 am

Would any of you in relationship (either friends or romantic) would benefit from better communication?  When was the last time you can remember feeling misunderstood in conversation?  If you are like me it used to feel like most days….

Communication is the oxygen to our relationships.  Poor Communication causes up to 68% of relational breakdown.  That is a scary statistic and can so easily be remedied.  Understand the keys to better communication and you can ensure that your relationship will be more connected, resilient and happier.  Regardless of what is happening in your world you can communicate effectively stay strong and stay connected.  How great does that sound?

However, your relationship will only benefit from you both learning to understand themselves and then others as Communicators and you will be well one your way to improving your Communication and productivity.

If Communication DNA is a new term for you, check out this video specifically about this concept, it will explain it fully for you.

In 2015 Forbes magazine released research that detailed how we can see leadership based on 3 basic communication skills.  These skills are how to Ask, Listen and Tell.

Leaders that have all 3 skills are seen by 88% of staff to be exceptional, whereas, Leaders with any one of these communication skills are seen by only 3% of staff as exceptional.

Now you might say you are not a leader however, anyone who wants to influence others positively is certainly a leader.

Let’s take a closer look at these 3 skills.  Firstly, the ability to Ask.  To ask is to communicate your needs and to clarify the needs of others.  Asking means you are not guessing but gaining clarity.  Basically it is speaking to gain more information.

Many relationships are based on assumption rather than asking.  Assumption is very dangerous and will quickly take you down a dangerous road.

Each of the four communication styles copes with this skill differently.  The more reserved styles of the Perfectionist and the Patient Communicators are more natural askers.  However, they can still struggle.  In coming articles I will outline this more.

Next let’s look at the skill of Listening.  To listen is to stop speaking, be present and take in information both verbal and non-verbal that is coming from your friend or partner.  In communication Listening is a lost art form.  Particularly in our very fast paced and busy worlds.

Listening is a rare skill, many people speak rather than listening.  Listening is crucial to your communication.  It allows you to understand where someone else is at; you gain understanding and clarity.  Also, if you are a good listener people automatically think you are an awesome communicator.

Each of the four communication styles copes with this skill differently.  The more reserved styles of the Perfectionist and the Patient Communicators are more natural listeners.  However, they can still struggle.  In coming articles I will outline this more.

Finally, lets look at the skill of Telling.  To tell is to share your idea, share with people your needs, your feelings or to direct someone.  Many people do not feel comfortable to “tell” as they feel it is too direct and confrontational.  However, this is all in the delivery.

The opposite is not telling and making people guess your needs.  This is as dangerous as assuming.  When you can master Telling people your needs in a way that is seen as informative rather than confrontational you are well on the way to becoming an exceptional communicator.

Each of the four communication styles copes with this skill differently.  The more outgoing styles of the Powerful and the Playful Communicators are more natural tellers.  However, they can still struggle.  In coming articles I will also outline this more.

These three skills are essential to you becoming a more Confident Communicator and taking your communication and your relationship to the next level.   If you would like to understand yourself as a Communicator and learn your strengths then perhaps you may like to read The Enlightened Communicator, available for you to review at your own pace.

If you would like to know more about how to learn what your Communication DNA we can work with you to assist you to understand exactly what it is that makes you tick.  We can also help you understand what makes others tick and how to get the best out of your relationships.  Interested?  you can get more information here.

You can also get in touch via our website, and Facebook so please join the conversation, we would love to hear from you!

Until next time, Care Connect and be a Conscious Communicator

Let’s change the world we live in, one conversation at a time.