 | | Becoming a leader COMMUNICATING LIKE A LEADER | | ||
|  Developing Leadership Skills Communicating Like a Leader Leading Others Making Time to Lead Handling Difficult Employees Developing Your Team Dealing with Stress More Resources | Tips for Better Listening Listening should be an active, rather than a passive activity.
Nonverbal signals are four and one-half times more effective in conveying meaning than verbal ones, according to Professor John Argyle, author of The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals. If there is a discrepancy between a person's words and body language, listen to the body language. If it is signaling that the person is negative, defensive, or bored, you know you need to change your approach. Look for these nonverbal clues: Eye behavior and eye contact Looking at the other person during a conversation indicates enthusiasm and liking. People who maintain eye contact when communicating are perceived as competent and trustworthy. Averting eyes, shifting eyes, excessive blinking, or looking at notes for extended periods of time all lower credibility. Gestures Gestures should agree with vocal messages and seem spontaneous and natural. Unnatural movements--touching one's body, playing with objects such as pens, finger tapping, lip licking, smiling too often--indicate discomfort and a lack of confidence. Showing the palms of the hands as you speak emphasizes the truthfulness of what you're saying. Moving hands with the palm down adds authority, while making a fist conveys anger and aggression. Posture The most comfortable distance between two people is just less than two feet. When a person moves closer than this, he or she is behaving aggressively, threatening or attempting to dominate the other person.
Voice A communicator's voice affects listeners’ perceptions. Factors such as volume, rate, pitch, and pronunciation make a strong impression.
4 Professional Persuasion Tips Leaders spend a lot of time convincing others to accept new ideas or do the tasks necessary to make those ideas realities. Try these persuasion strategies with your sales associates or employees. 1. Build credibility. No matter how good your idea, no one will be convinced if they don’t trust you or think you’re manipulating them. 2. Find common ground. People need to see how an idea will meet their wants and needs—the “ what’s in it for me” approach. Take time to understand how your idea will benefit your listeners; otherwise, your message may fall on deaf ears. ] 3. Develop compelling positions, and support them with evidence. Focus your presentation only on key points that will convince your listeners; don’t worry about what convinced you. 4. Connect emotionally. No matter how good your evidence, most people make decisions based on emotion. If you excite them and create a sense of urgency, you’re half way there. Adapted from “Winning them over,” Jay A. Conger, Executive Excellence, May 2000. 10 Steps to Better Written Communication > | |