Bridging the Gap: Improving Results One-on-One
By Bud Roth
“The problem is that we don’t talk enough!” Where have you heard this before? We hear this all around us including in our homes.
My purpose in writing this article is to help you understand the value of one-on-one dialogue in order to improve relationships, gain commitment and achieve mutual success for your business and associates.
A
Competitive Edge
There are bottom line results when we bridge the gap of understanding
among the members of the leadership team as well as any associate. Daniel
Goleman’s research based books on emotional intelligence dramatically
demonstrates impressive impact on business success as well as careers.
Effective one-on-one interaction and conversations bring understanding
that generates mutual benefits and growth. It matters to your business.
Goleman states in Working With Emotional Intelligence , “In the
years to come, companies in which people collaborate best will have a
competitive edge, and so to that extent emotional intelligence will be
more vital.” Collaboration includes one-on-one as well as groups.
Practice
Makes Progress
Well, why don’t we practice what we know is effective communication?
We probably don’t know how. A great deal of my consulting practice
is executive coaching. I know that busy leaders must slow down enough
to reflect, learn, develop a plan and practice the desired skills over
and over and over again in order to change their communication skills.
You will see a different response in your associates. You can see the
business results if you implement your new behaviors with determination.
Below are some important principles that I suggest you put into action.
Principles to Practice
- Clearly communicate where you want to go and what you want to do to avoid misunderstandings.
- Don’t make assumptions that others understand you or you understand them.
- Slow down, listen and seek the truth.
- Understand the needs of others and try to align them with your vision and mission.
- Develop plans that satisfy mutual needs of the business and the associate.
- Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean.
- Encourage collaboration among your associates, and
- Have fun getting to know your people in a more meaningful way.
Don’t try all of these at once. Practice one or two of them at a time. Be consistent and persistent. I guarantee that you’ll see a positive response from others you lead..
I suggest that you practice these principles for at least 3 months. Cut them out, copy them and place them in prominent places to keep them top-of-mind. The responses you receive from your persistence should encourage you to continue your new behaviors.
Thinking
Together
In a group setting we can see that dialogue helps us think together. Isn’t
that what dialogue really is? It helps us not only understand each other,
but think together to develop new solutions or ideas. Frequently we use
voice mail, email or ask someone else to get some information that we
need. These methods don’t lend themselves to good dialogue. We have
difficulty thinking together, since these are one-way communications.
Relationships cannot be strengthened through email. Pick up the phone
or get together in person to hold productive conversations that stimulate
building trust, mutual understanding and thinking together. Please, never
underestimate the power of a good one-on-one conversation.
Other
Barriers
There are other barriers to communicating effectively that deserve mentioning.
Some of the barriers to understanding each other are anger, culture, personal
inhibitions, assumptions and not caring for others. Our role as leaders
is to remove these barriers. We want to create an environment where people
can do their work with great results. The simple steps that I describe
above help us insure the goals of both the organization and individuals
are aligned and have the potential of being achieved.
Benefits
Let’s look at some benefits to the business:
- Expectations are clear, so objectives are achieved
- Leaders and associates perform at a higher level
- Wasted effort and re-work is reduced
- Energy is refocused on customers (internal and external)
- People are more confident to take initiatives that advance company performance
- Retention
increases since needs of your key people are satisfied
If
you are having trouble sustaining the renewed, one-on-one communication
behaviors, hire a coach. Coaching helps you work better to help your business
work better.
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Information Link
Bud Roth is President of Roth Consulting Group, LLC. They focus on executing
change, coaching leaders and high performance teams and supporting expatriates.
Phone 317-843-9521 - email budroth@rothcg.com
Roth
Counsulting Group, LLC
5914 Silas Moffitt Way, Suite A, Carmel IN 46033
ph: 317-843-9521 webmaster@rothcg.com
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