|
Micro-Messages: The Power of
Small August 2008
Did you know that up to 80% of all human communications,
whether personal or business, have NO necessary
relationship to WHAT is said or done, but rather HOW it
is said or done?
Part of strengthening a respectful and inclusive work
climate relies on your team members' ability to
effectively communicate with colleagues and clients from
backgrounds different from their own.
To illustrate this point, let's imagine that you are
about to say the following 4 phrases to a coworker or
colleague. As you explore each of the following 4
choices, try to notice the subtle differences between
each by emphasizing the words capitalized. Are you
ready?
1) I’d like YOU to call accounting to fix the error.
2) I’D like you to call accounting to fix the error.
3) I’d LIKE you to call accounting to fix the error.
4) I’d like you to call ACCOUNTING to fix the error.
Now, as you may have noticed, the impact your message
may have had on the listener was greatly affected
depending on what words you may have emphasized and by
the inflection of your voice.
Yes, it is true that “little things mean a lot.”
You can carry this philosophy over into other areas that
help you communicate such as:
- Your Body Language
- Your Tone and
- Your Proximity
Remember, it's not always WHAT you do or say, it's the
WAY you do or say it!
Keep this in mind when interacting and communicating
with coworkers and colleagues of diverse backgrounds.
This topic and more can be found within our Diversity
and Inclusion e-learning product.
To request more information or for a no-obligation trial
of our products, please email
info@knowledgestart.com or call toll-free
877.650.0454.
Who We Are
KnowledgeStart is an employee development company which, for the past seven
years, has specialized in online training for its U.S. and global clients.
We are a leading provider of award-winning e-learning programs and platforms
that maximize learning, increase collaboration and retention, and improve
competitive edge. Over the years, we have excelled in
enhancing organizational and individual productivity in topics such as
Diversity and Inclusion,
Generational Differences,
Harassment Prevention,
Business Ethics, and
Substance Abuse Prevention.
KnowledgeStart understands that every decision made by your employees eventually
crosses someone's path somehow and can often have a "ripple effect" across your
entire organization. Even the smallest of decisions can have a BIG impact on
your company and the people around you. Your workplace is an incredibly
inter-connected environment.
Through this understanding and our collective skill sets and experiences with
leading companies, we are proud to deliver innovative approaches to employee
training, compliance, and outcome measurement software.
Visit our website:
http://www.knowledgestart.com
|
