When in Rome…
by Miki Saxon
You know that old saying, ‘when in Rome do as the Romans’?
As a boss you need to apply that idea to all your communications.
Good communications start with being sure that you and whoever you are talking to are speaking the same language.
Everybody has a mental model through which they hear, so the meaning of what they hear may have little to nothing to do with what was actually said.
One of the most common errors is the assumption the person to whom you are talking has the same model as you.
An even larger error is the assumption, especially if you’re the boss, it’s your subordinate’s (or kid’s) responsibility to speak your language when, in fact, it is the higher ranking person’s responsibility to speak theirs.
There are things you can do to make sure that you are understood.
They aren’t rocket science, but you need to remember to do it.
- Start by carefully explaining your model and your assumptions when giving direction;
- give your people clear, complete information on the subject (what you want done, project outlines, etc.,) at the start, so they don’t to have to keep asking for more; and then
- check to be sure that they not only heard, but understood what you meant—not what they thought you meant.
Do it today, do it all the time; it may feel a bit awkward at first, but eventually it’ll become second nature.
Your payback will come in rising productivity, more motivated people, and lower turnover—all positively affecting your personal bottom line.
Flickr image credit: Christopher Reilly
September 13th, 2013 at 1:15 am
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