How do other people see you? Do you come across as interested, energetic, knowledgeable, trustworthy and professional? How people perceive you is largely due to how well you communicate. If you’re not where you’d like to be in your work life, take a look at your communication style. Are you saying what you mean to say? What silent messages are you sending?

You’re communicating constantly. Every interaction speaks volumes. In addition to the message content and how it’s presented are the subtleties of your tone of voice, body language, the context, the receiver’s interpretation and much more.

Every interaction counts

Through your face-to-face meetings, written communications, verbal conversations and social networking, what are you really communicating? Do you come across as self-confident, experienced, reliable and a strong contributor?

The secret to great communication

Tip:  the key is to have respect - for the person receiving your communication and for yourself. If you value both, you’ll communicate with greater care.

How effectively do you communicate?

1.  Do you communicate as clearly and directly as you can? Communication is a skill that improves with practice.

2.  Are your words and the emotions behind them congruent? People naturally pick up on an apparent disconnect between the message and the messenger. Your tone of voice, body language and other non-verbal cues reveal more than your words.

3.  Do you carefully compose your messages? People tend to get ahead of themselves, particularly with email. It’s too easy to dash off a note that has been hastily written, ambiguous and replete with typos. Are your email and voicemail messages clear?

4.  Do you make it easy for people to reach you? Are you generally available? Do you encourage two-way communication?

5.  Are you a good listener? An essential communications skill. Stephen R. Covey advises in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”

As you explore a career change, look for a new job or pursue an entrepreneurial venture, every communication counts as you reach out to achieve your goals.

The greatest problem with communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished. -George Shaw

Today’s question

Are you sending out the right message, one that reflects your confidence and capabilities?