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Five Tips to Conquer The Communication Gap

Written by Dorothy Lazovik

Five tips

Have you ever stopped to think about your communication style and the impact it has on you and your personal brand?

Do you often run on autopilot just falling into conversational habits? Many times not even tuned into the words you are using and how your message is being received. You are more focused on getting your message out and being heard than really making a connection and creating an experience for the other person.

Your personal brand is all about the experience and how someone feels about you. People develop a feeling about you based on various elements: your energy, your attitude, your body language, how you deliver your message, your openness and the words you use.

Are you…

…a person that declares you are an innovative problem solver although points out all the problems when you are working on a project with your team? You think you are doing a good job and being helpful but your colleagues feel you are negative.

…the one that is generous with compliments yet people feel you are insincere?

…the type of person to invite someone into your office who is bursting to share a great idea to make business better but before they even finish you let them know that you have done something similar before and it won’t work? You feel good about taking the time to listen although the person that is walking out of your office didn’t feel heard.

How can there be such a big gap in perceptions? How can you begin to go about addressing these discrepancies and recalibrate to make the impression that aligns with your brand and how you want to be known?

Here are 5 tips that will help close the gap:

  1. Be clear about your brand image and how you want to be known. Choose four to six words that describe the image you want to project. Act accordingly.
  2. Consider your audience and their needs. Learn the objectives of the project and use a positive approach. You want to definitely address the issues though also offer potential solutions.
  3. Be fully present with the people you are speaking with. Eliminate all distraction and be respectful.
  4. Ask questions and engage. “Did I answer your questions?” “It has been attempted before, so walk me through what will be different?”
  5. Don’t say things to be nice. Say things because you mean them. People know the difference.

It is important to keep in mind that when you are communicating it is a two-way street and isn’t all about you. It is reaching out to give your audience what they need to make a meaningful connection.

Align yourself with what matters most to you. Live your brand fully expressed with intention and purpose to play bigger!

Are you interested in having a conversation to explore how you can define your personal brand and accelerate your growth as a leader, individually or as a team? Send an e-mail to book a complimentary 30-minute consultation.

Dorothy Lazovik

Dorothy is on a mission to shift the culture of organizations to people first! Supporting leaders in fulfilling their TO BE LIST to better deliver on their TO DO LIST. Doing the work impacts how leaders see themselves, the people they lead, the environment they create and the outcomes they achieve. Producing higher engagement, ownership and productivity. How would making a change like this elevate your business results?

Authentic Leaders Edge

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Ready to implement a model that elevates your leaders and has them taking ownership of who they are and the results they achieve? Interested in creating the environment that puts people first to increase engagement, build trust and improve how business gets done?

Let’s start a conversation. It will give you the opportunity to get your questions answered and understand if it is a good fit for you, your leaders or organization.