2. WHAT IS TO
‘FLEX’ YOUR
MESSAGES?
Flexing your communication is a strategy to provide
clarity in the messages you are sending and help make
good connections with others.
Though we are all unique, we all have the ability to “flex”
and accommodate others' preferences and styles. Doing
this will help support the successful landing of your
messages and communications.
By taking someone's style preferences and their
generational identity into account in your
communications, you can begin to “flex” your messages
by using the following approaches.
3. USE "I" STATEMENTS
Avoid using sharp statements
(e.g., “You really messed up here!”) when addressing
difficult topics.
Begin your statements with “I” and make them about
yourself and your own feelings. For example, “I feel
frustrated when a team deadline is missed.”
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4. UNDERSTAND OTHER POINTS OF VIEW
We all want to be heard, whether others end up agreeing
with us or not. Listening to understand someone indicates
you care about what is being said and that the person’s
perspective is of value to you.
Here are a few examples:
“You think that we need to change our process by
adding a checklist and changing our reporting
system. Is that an accurate recap?“
“It was my recollection that the preliminary report
was to be completed by Friday. Is that your memory
as well?”
5. ASK THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS
HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS TO GET YOU STARTED:
“THAT’S SUCH AN INTERESTING IDEA. TELL ME
ABOUT IT.“
“HOW DO YOU THINK THE CLIENT FEELS ABOUT
CHANGE?”
6. FIVE ONGOING QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR MESSAGE
Is your message CLEAR?
Will the receiver understand what you are saying
Is your message CONCISE?
Can someone understand the general topic from the
subject line?
Is your message COMPLETE?
Have you included everything that is needed, i.e., what
the message is about etc?
Is your message COURTEOUS?
A simple hello or “Happy Friday” greeting can help
soften and warm the tone of your message.
Is your message TIMEBOUND?
Have you included some specific time requirements?
7. BENEFITS OF EFFECTIVE FLEX COMMUNICATION
LESS WASTED TIME: LANDING YOUR MESSAGE CAN SAVE TIME, ESPECIALLY
THE BACK-AND-FORTH EMAILS.
LESS ANXIETY: WHEN YOUR COMMUNICATION IS BETTER, YOU WORRY LESS
ABOUT WHAT SOMEONE ELSE WILL THINK WHEN THEY RECEIVE YOUR
COMMUNICATION BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED A GOOD
CONNECTION WITH THEM.
STRONGER BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS: OTHERS WILL NOTICE YOUR
TO MORE EFFECTIVELY CONNECT, AND THEY WILL RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.
INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY: LESS TIME AND EFFORT SPENT ON
COMMUNICATION WILL LEAVE MORE TIME FOR OTHER IMPORTANT TASKS.
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8. COLLABORATION IS A GREAT STRATEGY IN THE 21ST CENTURY
TO INCREASE COMMUNICATION EFFECTIVENESS AND TO
BETTER CONNECT WITH THOSE WE WORK WITH.
IMAGINE YOU ARE ON A TEAM WITH VERY DIVERSE STYLES. YOUR
TEAM IS PRESENTED WITH A SERIOUS BUSINESS CHALLENGE, BUT AS
YOU LOOK AROUND AT THE TEAM, YOU KNOW THAT EACH MEMBER
HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER. YET, HOW DO YOU BEGIN THE PROCESS OF
COLLABORATION?
ONE WAY TO DO THIS IS TO FIND A COMMON TOPIC SUCH AS
FAVORITE FOOD, ETC. DOING THIS CONTRIBUTES TO THE PROCESS OF
GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER AS FELLOW HUMANS.
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9. ACCOMMODATION WITHOUT
SACRIFICING “YOU”
BECOMING A MORE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR DOES NOT
MEAN YOU NEED TO BECOME SOMEONE DIFFERENT. WHAT’S
MOST OFTEN NEEDED ARE THE SMALL FLEXES, AND THEY
WILL BECOME EASIER AND EFFORTLESS AS YOU TRY THEM
OUT. THINK OF FLEXING AS STRENGTHENING A MUSCLE.
WHEN YOU START AN EXERCISE PROGRAM OR EVEN ADD
WALKING TO YOUR DAY'S ACTIVITIES, YOUR MUSCLES CAN
FEEL A LITTLE SORE, BUT AS THEY GET STRONGER, YOU SOON
DON’T NOTICE ANYMORE.
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