4 Techniques to Improve Communication Skills
Communication skills are acquired more than they are inborn. You learned how to speak imitating others.
Here are 7 guidelines to follow when
communicating with your team:
A) Assume the next message you senwill be misunderstood – at least alittle bit. This will help you really focus what you say by thinking ahead of time, examining yourself first to get
the desired impact on your team.
B) Don’t worry about being completely clear – worry about being understood.
Ask yourself, “How can I send this message in a way that won’t be misunderstood or mis-interpreted.
C) The meaning of words can’t be found in a dictionary.Definitions of words are in dictionaries; meanings are in people. We don’t transmit meaning – we transmit messages (though words, behavior and body language) that illicit meaning in the minds of those we communicate
with.
D) The meaning people get from you comes less from what you say than how you say it. Tone of voice and body language deliver 80 % of the meaning received by your listeners.
E) When at least two people are close to one another, you are communicating. Even when you think you aren’t sending messages, you are. They may not be the messages you want to send,
but those near by are receiving them.
F) 80 percent of the information stored in player’s minds enters through their eyes. When words and actions conflict, your listener will believe the action.
G) Communication is a complex, ongoing, dynamic and changing process. It is not the simple exchange of words most people think. It can go wrong more times than it go right. Keep experimenting on ways that your messages will get through to your team.
Recommendation: Here are 4 ways to get more impact for your communication with your players or assistants.
1) Ask for feedback. Your assistants observe you regularly. Get their input on how well players are getting your messages. You can evaluate their communication as well. Everyone will improve when you ask for specific input. For example, your coaches can critique one another in a coaches only meeting on how a morning meeting with players went.
2) Tape your voice at team meetings. This is a good way to check your pronunciation, speed of delivery, tone, loudness and other vocal variations. Experiment with your voice to achieve new effects. Be prepared for a certain amount of dissatisfaction the first few times you hear yourself on tape. Most people don't like the sound of their own voice.
3) Record yourself on videotape. Many teams now video record practice. This is a great way to critique yourself visually. You’ll pick up on mannerisms and speech patterns (both good and bad) you never knew you had. Seeing yourself communicate in the practice setting is a great way to build on communication strengths and pare down weakness.
4) Review your communication. After both recording and video taping your voice, you will hear how you sound to other people. This will give you the opportunity to weed out undesirable words and sounds and body language
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