Communiquette

The Basics of Communication - Part 1 - By Joseph Abboud, PMP, ITIL

Communication is an art unto itself. I daresay that communication is the blood of life.

Therefore, Managers should work on mastering all types of communication.

To excel at communication, Managers need to comprehend at first why do they need to communicate.

The purpose of any communication is to convey a message.
Its ultimate goal is to improve relationships.

Having agreed that it is inevitable to shun communication, allow me to state what types of communication exist.

In my opinion there are three types of communication:

1- Speaking

2- Writing

3- Listening (missed this one?)

Communication differs from one "work-environment" to another. In management, it is a two-way process aiming at getting tasks done, getting information, reaching decisions, or attaining a certain understanding. 

Successful Managers recognize the existence of barriers before any communication begins.

Hence, Opinions, Attitudes, Ideas, Needs, etc are considered to be barriers/obstacles.
Admitting of their existence is the first step toward overcoming these impasses.

Clarity plays a strong role in overcoming any obstacle. In order for a Manager to use "Clarity", it has to exist first and foremost in his/her own mind. Do you expect that someone understands your message clearly when it is not conspicuous in your own mind?

Note that the Clarity of an idea will help the Manager to be concise when delivering his message.

Clarity has a connotation of not only being clear of what to convey, but also comprehending the feedback from the other party.

I term "communiquette" for a positive communication. In order to conform to communiquette, a successful Manager needs to:

•  Maintain eye contact with the person s/he is talking to.
• Sit face-to-face (showing s/he is fearless. Does diplomacy ring a bell here?)
• Show that s/he is attentive by slightly tilting his/her head.

In Part 2, I will address Speaking.