“As managers, we have to be conscious of the language we use. All eyes and ears are on us and choosing the right words to say is something that needs to be carefully considered when talking to subordinates.”
If you think the words you use in your communication are hindering your leadership, here's how to improve.
Good tips in how to talk to subordinates
Less misuse of terms: You don't have to use the word sublime to prove yourself a master
Language often doesn't inspire or motivate when it's not listener-centered. In other words, don't assume that employees will understand every aspect of what you're doing or trying to communicate, especially if it's a highly specialized job.
This is the sharing of a candidate - Marketing Team Leader.
He said, “I once attended a meeting with both warehouse keeper, IT and Digital Marketing. It could also be said to be an ironic meeting with all three sides. I can't remember why when my boss talked about Digital Marketing issues, which is Google Analytics, Google Adwords, cost per click... the storekeeper was dumbfounded and didn't understand anything. Then when the boss mentioned the principles of FIFO, Waybill, C/O, D/O, our Marketing and IT were dumbfounded. Although that meeting took almost half a day, the result is already known. The storekeeper had to ask Marketing, IT had to ask the storekeeper to keep scratching her head. There is nothing more exhausting than having to Google or ask someone to find out a strange or strange word.”
Speak concisely, concisely and accurately to help listeners receive the problem quickly
It can be seen that talking at length is always an obsession for listeners, more terrible when the speaker is the boss. The scary thing is that because that way of communication does not help employees receive accurate information, they will make their own inferences and then make mistakes. On the other hand, if you talk too much, you will miss your words. Because of this, respect for the boss is also shaken.
Writing here, I am reminded of a story: There was a guy who accidentally stepped on someone else's foot. Instead of yelling, he gently said, “Sorry to bother you, but your foot is stepping on mine and I'm feeling pretty sore right now. Can you lift your feet?” Sometimes long words in the wrong place prolong the pain for yourself.
Using positive words will boost the energy of yourself and the listeners
Even if we use fewer words, it won't help if we're not telling the truth. And when we're too honest, we'll often be brutally honest.
Think of a situation where when you were preparing for an important meeting that you spent weeks preparing, the boss turned to say, "Let me do the presentation, and you will edit the slides". Surely you will immediately feel demoralized. It's clear that your boss doesn't fully trust you and this makes you start doubting yourself again.
Or when your boss is annoyed by a typo in your monthly report “Why don't you look like A? I've never made stupid mistakes like this." In addition to making you feel hurt by the overreaction, your boss has also caused some friend A to get hurt. You start to envy A and resent the implication that A is better than you. Your boss has created a division in the team and you will most likely no longer work well together.
The boss's words have the ability to make employees more optimistic or can be painful, disappointing and emotionally draining. While reprimanding is necessary, feedback still needs to be communicated gently in a positive way.
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