Communication best practices: West Conn presentation

Communication Best Practices

Evelyn JenkinsonDirector, Employee Communications

Western Connecticut Health NetworkFebruary 2013

or…or…““Everything I know about communication I Everything I know about communication I

learned the hard way.”learned the hard way.”

Are sought after:Writing skillsPresentation skills

Are critical for leadershipAre recognized as part of a manager/leader skill setImprove your chances of employment!Will set you apart!

Communication Best PracticesGood reasons to be a good communicator, regardless of your career choice. Communication skills :

Communication Best PracticesClassic Communication Model

At the receiving end of every organizational communication:

•What do you need/want me to do?

•What’s in it for me?


1. Know Your AudienceDemographics

Management or frontline?Language

Areas of expertiseAttention spanInterests/Needs


2. No News Is Not Good News Employees will “fill in the

blanks” for themselves No news causes anxiety;

compromises productivity; breeds distrust

Monitor and respond to the grapevine

“I heard it through the grapevine” – Marvin Gaye


3. Keep the “Noise” Down “Noise”: all of the factors that

prevent your message from being received and understood.

JargonVerbosity/lengthAmbiguity (huh?)Frequency/quantityCompetition of other

messages


4. Keep the “Noise” Down II“Jargon Gone Wild”

Workforce reductionOperationalizeLeverageImplementation/ExecutionInstrumentalAffiliate (verb)OpticsAppropriate use of

resources


“Jargon Gone Wild” “… he has been leading

supply chain strategies, integrated planning, selling applications and the overall strategic application of technology in our facilities, as well as the development and execution of PBG’s warehouse and go-to-market route engineering initiatives”

Wow. But what does he actually do?


5. Use the Right VehicleTweet?

Text or Email?Phone call?

Letter to homes?Meeting?Memo?One-on-one?

“The medium is the message” – Marshall McLuhan


6. Looks Count The appearance and format of

your communication matter You’re competing with a

bombardment of messages Get through the clutter by

being: Eye-catching Pithy Distinctive Conversational Professional Humorous (can be risky)


7. Print is NOT Dead• Print has a place in a

communication strategy• Use print judiciously:

• Recognition• In-depth information• Future reference• Personal


Some examples of print that are still viable:

• Employee newsletters• Letters of commendation• Trade publications• Invitations• Thank you notes

Written letters Written letters are still valued are still valued

and can be and can be tied to tied to

employee employee productivity!productivity!


8. Show and Tell

- Illustrate concepts- Simplify the complex- Provide a memorable

snapshot

“A picture is worth a thousand words”


“Bibi’s bomb”


9. Repeat That, Please

- Most messages require redundancy for retention- Use multiple channels and forums to communicate critical

messages- There is no “magic bullet” or single way to reach/affect all

employees


10. Develop a Two-Way Street Be the sender and the receiver, for: - Confirmation

Did you get the message? Did I use the right channels?- Feedback

Do you understand? - Continuous improvement

What can I do better to reach you?

"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." - George Bernard Shaw

Communication best practices: West Conn presentation

Business

Transcript of Communication best practices: West Conn presentation