Management Speak Top 10 Tips: It Is Not What You Say It Is The Way That You Say It

As a Manager you have a unique opportunity. You have the power to make a positive difference to each individual in your team, and at the same time, create a knock-on positive effect through them to everyone they deal with. But to do this, you need to communicate in the right way. Read on to find out my top 10 tips for managerial success through the power of speech.

Before diving straight in…

Lets get some essential information straight first – vital if you want to create a team of people who respect you as their manager.

Facts:

• People sometimes say things in a way or at a time that makes others feel worthless or resentful.
• Powerful messages often lose their impact because the recipient focuses on the bad delivery rather than on the real issue.

Knowing that it isn’t what you say, but the way that you say it may seem obvious, but there are other factors to consider:

• Modelling good behaviour is a great way of teaching your team to be mindful of their behaviour too – so it is essential to communicate in the right way.
• You can say really difficult things and still maintain a positive relationship with your staff.
• The culture you create within your team, department or organization will make a significant difference to the way people will respond to your feedback.
• When your team understand that you have their best interests at heart, constructive feedback is welcomed by all.

Think about the way people have said difficult things to you. What approach was helpful? What made you feel bad? As a Manager you have the opportunity to make a positive difference to each individual in your team and through them to everyone they deal with.

A few simple principles… My Top 10 Tips

If these are followed it can save an enormous amount of difficulty for you and for the person on the receiving end.

• Always treat people with respect. Whatever they have done or failed to do, treating them as if they are idiots will get you nowhere in the long run.

• Create a good rapport with the individuals in your team. When you need to give hard messages you will find the time taken to create good rapport and trust really pays huge dividends.

• Public humiliation is never appropriate (however tempting it may be). You make an enemy for life, you are seen as a bully and your reputation will be damaged far more than you realize.

• Consider why you are so angry, irritated, let down. The intensity of our own emotion is often more about us than it is about the particular incident we are dealing with. If you have a difficult message to deliver remember to focus on the learning you want to come out of it rather than how bad it has made you look.

• Never fight fire with fire. If you are angry or upset it is much better to walk away and deal with it once you are in full control of yourself.

• Plan what you want to say and why. Things said on the hoof often leave you with even greater problems for later. The more significant the issue the greater the need to plan.

• Choose an appropriate place and time – balling someone out in the corridor is inappropriate.

• Consider the tone of voice you use. Shouting, being dictatorial, and nagging all have a negative impact on the listener. Negative voices often bring up past issues and carry a punch with is disproportionate to the current event.

• Challenge the unwanted behaviour rather than the person themselves. That way you are dealing with an isolated issue.

• Never burn your bridges – it is a long walk round. Always look for a way forward. Involve the other person in creating a win- win solution where ever possible.