Business Efficacy

Serious communicators recognize the importance of Communication P.O.S.T. when they need to hear and be heard. They look for these primary style elements:

1. Pace

2. Orientation/focus

3. Setting

4. Time

How fast or slow do you or another speak? Conflicting speeds impede effective communication. Think about your normal pace and how a faster or slower speaker makes you feel. If a conversation is important, adjust your pace to more closely match the other persons’. In a group meeting, rephrase statements at as many different paces as the members require.

Orientation/Focus simply refers to personality; i.e., social/people, facts/data, dominant, etc. Social people start with personal conversation. Fact people start with relevant information. Sales people and accountants or tech people rarely communicate effectively. Their orientations are too different. Consider the other person’s orientation and adopt as much of it as you can.

The specific setting sets its own communication style needs. At lunch or a cocktail party you would not use the same communication style as you would at a business meeting. Crises require a different style than brain storming sessions. Take the setting and contact intent into account whenever possible.

Time factors play a major role in effective communication. Standing meetings imply limited time. Sit down sessions suggest more time. A person who wants to get to the point gets annoyed by someone who won’t. Which are you? Think about the time imperative when adopting a specific style in a given setting.

Effective communicators vary their communication style to suit the circumstances and audience. Use the communication post; learn your style, observe different ones and improve your connections.