Dear readers,
How many of you have heard the phrase “it is not what you say, it is how you say it”. let’s unlearn it since it is untrue. The truth is what you say is equally important as how you say it. That is called strategic communications. I have been in a situation when I communicated but the other party would not get what I wanted to convey. That is called communication barrier.
Now, how do I communicate effectively? “Consider investing in the communication tools to improve your skill-sets like canva and other relevant courses.” The Banyan Impact Fellowship team suggested during one of our monthly check-in calls before the Midpoint conference. Soon after, I submitted my application form and received a professional development grant. In April, I enrolled in several leadership courses aimed at refining my communication abilities.
Upon finishing these courses, it dawned on me that I should have acquired these skills much earlier. However, as highlighted by Sangeeta Menon in her article for the Indian Development Review, “countless stories that could have helped stakeholders understand and appreciate the work, go untold.” Why? Because investing in communication isn’t prioritized. Here, I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude to American India Foundation for the support provided in the form of this grant and beyond.
Digital Storytelling
Seven months ago, I struggled to draft a project proposal, unable to even create a single page using the design tool. It was all new to me, and I found myself unable to navigate it effectively. Fast forward to now, and I feel a surge of confidence every time I launch Canva, effortlessly designing whatever comes to mind. I recall the Fellowship team’s words: “Canva is incredible. Some even build careers around it.” It’s true – for those passionate about digital storytelling, Canva can be a lucrative avenue for earning a decent income.
The era of distributing pamphlets and erecting massive billboards is long gone. Today, people are predominantly present online. As a communications specialist, how do I engage people through the content on socials, from websites to other messaging platforms, can determine my reach and strength? What am I bringing to the table? Am I equipped with the skills required to perform a particular task decides whether I am hired or fired. Hiring managers prioritize skill sets over degrees, emphasizing the importance of practical abilities in today’s competitive landscape.
Less is more. Small is beautiful.
Effective communication is not just a skill; it’s a foundation of success in the workplace. By mastering the art of communication, you can build strong relationships, foster collaboration, and propel your career forward. Whether it’s conveying your ideas with clarity, listening actively to others, or adapting your communication style to different audiences, being a great communicator sets the stage for success in every endeavour.
Who will receive my communication is the first step in the ladder. Identify the right audience and keep them hooked. How? Follow three rules of three:
- Make no more than three points. Your audience probably can’t remember more than three things. Why bore them with the irrelevant stuff.
- Explain difficult things in a three dimensional view.
- And finally, repeat the bottom-line three times. Introduce your main point, make it familiar and then reinforce it to make it stick.
Create a development vision for your audience as real equals by instilling a sense of faith by a simple act of smiling. Tone of voice impacts someone’s mood. If someone smiles at you or you hear a smile in someone’s voice. It automatically makes you happy. What smiling or a warm/welcoming tone does is it flips the “positive switch” in your brain. When you smile at someone and ask questions that make them feel less attacked, you win your audience. Once you win their hearts and minds, your words will have an impact on them.Breakdown incoming communication with intention and do what we call “deliberate listening.” Give the speaker your undivided attention. It makes you a good communicator. The bottom-line is leverage language and linguistic cues.
Inclusive leadership
In todays’ global, diverse and competitive workforce, Inclusive leaders create an inclusive environment which increases employment engagement, fuel innovation, creativity and increase retention and positively impact the workspace experiences.
A leader is someone who develops more leaders, not the followers. In order to fully maximize and to capitalize on all our diversity in our workplaces, inclusive leaders are required. Our values, preferences, beliefs and certainly our obvious physical attributes make us different Diversity is like an Iceberg. 90% of what makes up an iceberg is beneath the surface. An only 10% of it is what we can see. Unfortunately we make sweeping judgements on the basis of what we can see through the naked eye. Without inclusion, work environment can be toxic and rigid, complacent and static. As social change leaders, we do not have to treat other humans we work with as numbers. It is an insult to them. In a team, it is no longer about my individual results; it is about the efforts of my team mates.
Safe space
According to neuroscientist Evan Gordan, five times a second, your brain is scanning the environment and asking itself, is it safe here or dangerous? The other person needs to believe that it is safe to share any concern with you. The safer they feel, the stronger the communication. Know how to bury secrets in your heart. Establish a culture of trust. Stop preaching “you should/not do this/that”. Let the other person feel owned, involved and invited, consider approaching like an inclusive leader, “Do you think, we can do this or may be can it be done this way also, what are your thoughts about it.”
Verbally berating your subordinate is highly detrimental and damages the relationship. The initial stride in overcoming such obstacles is acknowledging that individuals communicate in diverse ways. Leaders with a growth mindset approach discussions with a clear agenda, adhere to factual information, refrain from making judgments, and engage in conversations with curiosity and empathy.
Outro
In the era of AI, staying pertinent in a fiercely competitive job market requires a constant commitment to skill enhancement. Ensuring alignment with market expectations involves utilizing fellowship grants to foster both professional development and societal impact.
