Be S.H.A.R.P.!
A leader is a person that motivates a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal. Most (if not all) of the time, this is done through conversations. One of the main tools that you have at your disposal as a leader is the way you communicate. It can make or break your personal brand and credibility. The ability to be concise and succinct is one of the greatest communication skills, and the cornerstone of your success as a leader.
“Everything you say, and the way you say it, becomes evidence of your competence, or lack of it.” – Deborah Tannen, Professor of Linguistics
There are persons that generate respect when the talk. People listen to them. They convey competence and confidence.
In contrast, there are others that have difficulties making their point. They ramble, repeat themselves and fail to convey their ideas in a convincing way.
Do you know what differentiates one group from the other? Are they born with their communication style or can it be improved?
The ability to be concise and succinct is one of the greatest communication skills, and the cornerstone of your success as a leader.
I propose to you the following communication techniques that will help you become a S.H.A.R.P. communicator.
- S – Slow Down. When we are nervous, we tend to talk fast. Delivering your message as a fast nervous stream of words, gives the signal that you are not competent on the topic. It indicates that you are uncomfortable, and want to cover all the content in the least amount of time. To avoid this, slow down, enunciate your words. Practice sharing your message at a slower pace. This technique will help you calm your nerves.
- H – Headline. Before your conversation, think about the message that you want to convey. What is the purpose of your conversation? What do you want to achieve with this discussion? If the other person remembers just one thing about this interaction, what would that be? Write your main idea as the Headline of a Newspaper. This article will help you. You first will grab attention with the headline, and then provide the details. Reiterate your headline during the conversation, and use it again at the end so the other person remembers it.
- A – Argument. Structure your conversation in a way that you state your argument in a clear and concise way. A maximum of 3 succinct ideas is best. Trying to make more than three main points during a conversation is usually too much. If you organize your argument as 3 main points, they will be much easier to follow and remember. After the headline, state your 3 points clearly and, if appropriate, provide details.
- R – Reiterate. Repetition is key for understanding. Instead of providing more arguments and new facts, concentrate on reiterating your headline and the main 3 points of your argument.
- P – Pause. Don’t try to fill all the time with words. Don’t be afraid of pausing. Pauses not only give you the opportunity to catch your breath, but also to assess the reaction of the other person. Silences are powerful and should be used for emphasis. They also convey confidence.
I hope these techniques are useful to you in improving your communication skills. Before your next conversation, take a moment to jot down on a piece of paper the principles to be a S.H.A.R.P. communicator, and be amazed at the results!
