|
|
|
|
 |
 |
||||
|
|||||
 
     |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Culture Duck Tales
September/October 2003 Express Yourself Getting your message across clearly and effectively will never be obsolete. In fact, communication skills are more important than ever. Several factors contribute to the need for effective dialogue today: the demise of hierarchical structures, the growing movement toward partnerships among organizations, downsizing and the erosion of morale, and the need to foster creativity and stimulation among today’s knowledge workers.
Talk to Me Dialogue is a two-way street. To be successful, it must focus on empathetic listening and response. Here’s a look at some ways dialogue can diffuse some of the problems many organizations face today:
Overcoming Conflict Put two employees together and conflict will occur eventually. Put a dozen or a hundred workers together, and even more trouble is bound to occur. Conflict in the workplace is a normal part of business, so organizations should be prepared to help workers resolve their differences. According to one workplace expert, managers often devote up to 20 percent of their time resolving employee conflicts. Not only does conflict create ill will among workers, it poses a major threat to productivity, profits, and employee retention. The emphasis on technology may be a major contributing factor to employee conflict. As the workplace becomes more and more impersonal, employees are simply forgetting the basics of how to treat one another. Here are a few suggestions on stopping trouble before it escalates into lost profits and mass exodus:
Do You Know What I Mean? A little girl was saying her nightly prayers out loud. “Our Father, who does art in Heaven. Howard is his name,” she recited confidently. While we chuckle at her “interpretation,” it’s a reminder of how we often misunderstand what we’ve heard. In the workplace, misinterpretation can have long-lasting negative effects on our coworkers. While some may argue that how we say things is simply a matter of semantics, changing a few words can make a world of difference in everyday interactions. For example, when you ask an associate, “Do you understand that?” you inadvertently put him in an awkward position. He may feel reluctant to answer no, since that would imply he’s “stupid.” Instead ask, “Did I explain that clearly?” If he answers no, you can offer more information and you haven’t belittled his intelligence. The same applies to seemingly harmless questions, such as “Why are you doing it that way?” “Are you finished yet?” or “Why don’t I do that for you?” These common phrases automatically put the listener in a defensive mode. Modifying your questions takes practice, but subtle changes can make a tremendous difference in how you relate to others and how others perceive you. The Beauty of Brevity An ambitious employee spent many long, hard hours preparing a major presentation. She made up elaborate charts depicting her research studies, sales goals, and customer opinions. It was a sizable account and the financial stakes were high for both her and her company. On the day of the presentation, the anxious woman was directed into the company’s boardroom to face all the prominent company representatives. Her easel set up, her speech rehearsed, she was ready to go. As she turned over the first intricate chart, however, her luck turned. The easel toppled to the floor. She quickly gathered everything up, apologized, and nervously started over— only to have the easel fall again. Thinking fast, she cleared her throat and asked for just a few minutes to explain everything without the charts. After an encouraging smile from the corporate president, she proceeded to rattle off only the essentials—the gist of what she had labored over so long. Her presentation was a success! With a little ingenuity and some fast-talking, she sealed the account. The lesson: Brevity can be a benefit. If your ideas are good and presented in a clear, succinct manner, they will likely be well received. In fact, getting straight to the point is often more effective than providing extraneous and unnecessary background information. No Excuses, Please The quickest way to achieve success is to eliminate negatives,” says marketing expert John Graham. Graham is referring to the many seemingly harmless; well-intentioned excuses people make—but which often translate into trouble:
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Henkel Corporation Home | Contact | Investor Info | Privacy | Legal | Parent Company |
