Effective Communication Begins with You

We live in a communication-oriented world, and yet all too often it feels as though many messages are falling on deaf ears. What causes this communication breakdown? Perhaps it is because our methods of conveying ideas are not effective, or maybe our recipients are not tuned in to what we have to say. In either case, there is a lack of connection that makes the message ineffective.

Consider this – renowned motivational speaker Tony Robbins once said:

 “To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.”

In other words, to reach a broader audience, we must think outside ourselves. When we look beyond our own perceptions and our simple desires to convey information or influence opinions, when we begin instead to relate to other people’s view of the world, we are moving in the right direction.

Whether your communication is taking place within your district offices, with the residents you serve, at the legislature or in some other forum, there are skills and tools that you can utilize everyday to increase the probability that your message will be heard.  Here are a few tips:

Listen: Sincere listening is the one of the cornerstones of successful communication. Why is that? Listening builds trust. Listening fosters understanding. Listening with real intent sends the message that the speaker and their message has value. Listening increases the probability that you will create a connection with your audience.

Be accessible: Effective communication means being available and willing to hear what people say. Make customer service a priority. If someone reaches out to you, try to respond as quickly as possible.

Discover the power of social media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, email, blogs… they’re all great ways to reach out to your audience. Whether you’re conveying tips, information, inspiration or a little of everything, social media should be high on your priority list when it comes to connecting with your audience on many levels.

Find other reasons to reach out: Effective communication isn’t always about sharing a particular message but rather building and fostering a connection so that your audience is already listening when you do have important information to share. An informed public is an engaged public. The more they feel like you care, the more they will care about you.