Don’t Hesitate to express

We will never learn to communicate better till we say or express ourselves. The key is Not to hesitate to express ourselves,no matter how difficult the settings are. Make mistakes in our conversations, then learn from mistakes and make our conversation better and better.

Don’t worry about the detractors

I have come across detractors at every place, who would try to turn me down, try to be over smart. My learning is that don’t worry about them, don’t even hate them, because even by hating them you are giving a piece of your life to them, and they are not worth it. Let them do whatever they do, you just continue on the path of success. My experience is that in the end those kind of people fell down pretty hard.

Always keep a contributing attitude

Wherever you are, at home, at office, at a marriage party, I would advise myself to have a contributing attitude. What does that mean? That means we are always giving out, always trying to make things better by making conscious sincere efforts. Do not wait to be asked for help or to be asked for contribution, just do it. Nobody would like to part with such a person, who always contributes, makes others succeed.

Secret of a good presentation

A good presentation is actually not a presentation, it is a Dialogue, a one-to-many dialogue. How is it s dialogue? While delivering presentation, you are speaking, but you have to look into the audience, look at their expressions, are the nodding, smiling, getting what you are saying. Audience will “speak” affirmatively silently, to your messages, if they get it. In that sense it is almost like a two way dialogue, where you are speaking and audience is responding by expressions. Make your presentation a “Conversation”.

So, make your presentation a dialogue, a story. Tell that story in an interesting way. Your main message of the presentation should go through, nothing else matters.

Worst thing to do in a presentation is to cram it. We should know the topic, the overall message. The message of the presentation should be like North Star to you, should guide you throughout the presentation. Then just tell the message in as simple words as possible, as you would tell somebody in a one-to-one conversation.

Before the presentation, record your voice, try to set the Pace and Volume of your voice, by listening to your own voice. Once you are satisfied listening to your own voice, I am sure audience is going to like it.

Never bad mouth with your closed ones

Often we take our closed ones for granted and say them things which we will never say to others. Sometimes I just say outrageous things to my closed ones. After some time, it is me who get affected the most.

Don’t talk on others behalf

We do have perceptions of others, what they might like to do or not. Sometimes in a discussion, I say things on others behalf, based on my own perception and knowledge. Never ever do this, especially when we say on behalf of Not somebody close to us, or in a formal meeting. Always say, I think “that person” should comment on this.

Keep on aligning yourself with the changes happening around you

 Don't be in silos in your own department or team. Be aware of all the important things going on around you in the organization. Read important reports, webcasts etc. Keep planning and aligning your activities with the changes that are happening around you.

Clear communication

People listen to anything with the filter of their own interest on. Most of the time, They will not listen to you what you are saying in entirety rather just the piece they are interested in and will try to make their opinion on what you said. Your under-laying message sometimes gets lost in their opinion. This is another reason we need to be crystal clear, specifically to our subordinates, on communicating the main message.

Identify underperformers

Make it a habit of providing WRITTEN feedback to underperformers and persons who mis-behave in the team. It will be very useful in the appraisal round.

Keep it simple

Specifically in bigger team meetings, where you are speaking with 20+ people. Keep the agenda crisp and simple. Be to-the-point in the information you are providing. Allow limited time for questions. Do not let anybody demean you during questions/comments. Hold your position well. Try to tackle that person as calmly as possible, if he doesn’t subsides, shoot straight and ground the person.

Do not change your opinion just because somebody challenges you on that

If you have presented something in a meeting and somebody there refutes your argument, DO NOT accept that easily. You have done some background work, you have some knowledge, you have some expertise, that is why you are presenting that point. Try to clarify the person what you are trying to say. Try to question him on what other information he has, which you might have overlooked. But in any case, do not be subjugated by other immediately. If you do , it shows that you are shallow, your argument doesn’t have any weight.

Be clear in your communications

Do not worry about how short your speach is. What matters is how clear is it.

Another learning is that bigger the audience of your communication is, crisper the communication should be. If you start to dwelve into too many details, in a short speach to a large crowd, it will create a lot of confusion.

Keep in mind that your main message, whatever you are there for in a place, should go through. Rest, doesn't matter.

Unclarity in communication, or using indirect language, may lead to suspicion and in-turn to dis-trust. The behavior shows up as if you are hiding something. What ever you know, communicate that very clearly and crisply. Tell about the rest that you don’t know.

Start your Week and Day smartly

Avoid late night movies on Sunday evening. It spoils the Monday. Avoid rushing in the morning by getting up early. Avoid anything which makes you lose your temper in the morning. Don’t start too many things at a time. It is good to sit in a quiet room for first few minutes in the morning, go through the whole day schedule and next day schedule.

Treat everybody with respect, even the under-performers

Everybody has own preferences when it comes to people you go well with and the people you don’t go so well with. As a professional, you should respect all people contributing to the organization. Even with an underperformer, while doing his/her performance appraisal; never forget respect for the individual. Respect is a basic human need. It is very difficult but important to communicate somebody’s under performance respectfully.

Develop confidants

One of the factors of success in an organization is to have confidants, not sycophants, around you. We should have confidants amongst our colleagues, seniors and juniors, all 360 degrees. Confidants from support groups like HR come in very handy. Try to help or support your confidants as much as you can, without expecting any returns. You never know when you are going to need them.