Communications Best Practices

Communication Best Practices Short List:

1. Tell them three times; to increase their memory retention of your message.
2. Talk with people, not “at”or “to” them.
3. Communicate bad news in person.
4. Connect with your audience first, then explain.
5. Listen first, then engage.
6. Listening empathatically is highly effective.
7. Communicate in writing when the information is strait forward.
8. Recognize communicating change is very challenging and needs special attention and techniques.
9. Learn when different communicate techniques - in person, by phone or by writing are the most effective.
10. Stories are highly effective because they are still the way we learn.
11. Communicate positive not negative descriptions for your desired outcomes.
12. Fine tune your message to match the audience - management, shareholders, funders, employees or others.

Related Best Practices

• Tell Them Three Times
• Communications: Rules of thumb to communicate change
• Communications: Method of delivering the message matters
• Communications: Talk with, not to or at
• Communications: Outcomes need positive not negative descriptions
• Communications: Stories help us learn and remember
• Communications: Rule of Three
• Effective Leaders Listen

Resources

• 10 Best Practices to Effectively Communicate with the Project Stakeholders, Balaji Viswanathan, ProjectManagement.com.

Author

The author of this page is Terry Gardiner

Terry Gardiner is the founder and President of Silver Lining Seafoods and NorQuest Seafoods - a medium-size Alaska seafood processing company; and currently a Board member of the Anvil Corporation, an employee-owned company specializing in oil and gas engineering.

His co-operative experiences include member director of the Commercial Fishermen Co-operative association; creation of legislation for the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank; and advisor to the US Dept of Health and Social Services for the state Health CO-OPs.

Terry served ten years as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives -several legislative committee chairmanships, Speaker of the House, Chairman of the Alaska Criminal Code Commission and board member on various state and federal boards and commissions.

His non-profit experiences include National Policy Director for the Small Business Majority in Washington DC; working with the Herndon Alliance and ForTerra.

Terry authored the leadership book, "Six-Word Lessons to Build Effective Leaders: 100 Lessons to Equip Your People to Create Winning Organizations".

For more check: Terry Gardiner Long bio