Effective Business
Communication
‘Individuals & Interactions’

Question

Remember the Agile Manifesto?

Individuals &
Interactions

Over

Processes
and Tools

Is there an XP Value as well?

Communication!

“Consulting is
Communication”

Brainstorm

Excellent!

Our Goals for today
Communication
Traps
Verbal Non-Verbal
Communication Communication

Verbal
Communication

So...

“Consulting is
Communication”

But...

Most of you...

can’t be effective
consultants yet!

Why?

Because ...

You’re not married yet

I am...

I am...

e
That’s my wife

2 perfect people
in a relationship...

2 much!

i
2 much!
that’s wrong English!

watch out for such mistakes
T
i
2 much!
that’s wrong English!

On a more serious note...

Here’s a marriage scenario...

like
Here’s a marriage^ scenario...

What went
wrong here?

“Argument is the
worst sort of
communication”
Jonathan Swift

Ok, another video...

✌
What changed
here?

4 tips

Postpone
judgement

Separate the
person from the problem.

Explore Intent.

Paraphrase
your understanding.
Here’s what I
heard you say...

“Be sincere, be brief, be
seated.”
Franklin Roosevelt

Our Goals for today
Communication
Traps
Verbal Non-Verbal
Communication Communication

Our Goals for today
✓ Communication
Traps
Verbal Non-Verbal
Communication Communication

Non-Verbal
Communication

Thoughts,
anyone?

“Seek to first
understand, then
be understood”

Our Goals for today
Communication
Traps
Verbal Non-Verbal
Communication Communication

Our Goals for today
✓ Communication
Traps
Verbal Non-Verbal
Communication Communication

Our Goals for today
✓ ✓ Communication
Traps
Verbal Non-Verbal
Communication Communication

Communication
Traps

I’m a big fan of...

Rocky, do you have
anything derogatory
to say about the
champ?

Derogatory?
Yeah. He’s great.

Hey Rock, how’s
about investing in
condominiums?
They’re safe...

Condominiums? I
don’t use them.

“The meaning of your
communication, is the
response you get.”

Avoid heavy language

Use ‘plain English’

http://plainenglish.co.uk

What is a ...

Puncher?

What does it
mean now?

Why is it spelt
this way?

Spelling mistakes are unpardonable!

Use a spell-
checker

or treat us to Ice
cream!

Amanda
hey, movie today?

Amanda
hey, movie today?
Sumeet
sure. this project’s really killing
me though. stupid clients

Amanda
hey, movie today?
Sumeet
sure. this project’s really killing
me though. stupid clients
Amanda
you bet! hey, check out the big
fat bald guy!

What do you
think?
Amanda
hey, movie today?
Sumeet
sure. this project’s really killing
me though. stupid clients
Amanda
you bet! hey, check out the big
fat bald guy!

What do you
think?

Who is acting on this email?
i

What is the
subject?
R

What is the
subject?
R
R
Salutation?

What’s with the SMS lingo?
i

Every email is professional

S umeet is a cow...

Thoughtworks @#!%*

Nicola

John
Nicola

Hi John!

Hi John!
Hi Nicky!

What’s
Hi John!
Hi Nicky!
wrong?

Texting during
a meeting?

Politics?

Religion?

Our Goals for today
Communication
Traps
Verbal Non-Verbal
Communication Communication

Our Goals for today
✓ Communication
Traps
Verbal Non-Verbal
Communication Communication

Our Goals for today
✓ ✓ Communication
Traps
Verbal Non-Verbal
Communication Communication

Our Goals for today
✓ ✓ ✓ Communication
Traps
Verbal Non-Verbal
Communication Communication

So, what did we
learn?

Excellent!

Questions?

Thank You!