Stop talking, start communicating

Are you too busy talking that you're not spending the time communicating?

A lot of people are so focused on advocating for their own idea, they don't take the time to think about what other people are saying, let alone listen to what the other person is saying.

Assertive inquiry allows you to not only state your position, but also encourages you to think about what the other person says. There are 3 easy steps:

1. Outline your thinking and ask the other person for a response.
2. Have the other person give their view and position, and paraphrase it back to them, so everyone is clear on what is being said.
3. Ask the other person what gaps they can see in both positions and give your view as well.

The objective is to get to a solution that is the best result, not just to get the answer you want.

Better communication leads to better clarity. Better clarity leads to better decisions and better decisions normally lead to better productivity, which ultimately leads to better profitability.

For more ideas like this please feel free to give me a call on +64 21 748 142 or flick an email to john@planaconsulting.co.nz