The Secret Shortcut to Faster Communication
One of my favourite moments in my Communicating with Impact program is when someone suddenly says,
"Ohhhh... so it's not about what I want to say. It's about what they need to hear."
Exactly.
So many people think communication starts with the message.
It doesn't.
It starts with the person receiving it.
Before we open our mouths, we need to stop and ask ourselves a few questions.
Why would this matter to them? What might they be worried about? What else is going on for them right now?
And you may have heard this advice before. It’s not new. Every communication book ever written has probably told us to think about our audience.
But I can tell you, that as busy humans at work, knowing does not equal doing. So, the challenge isn’t whether you know to ask these questions first, it’s about remembering to actually do it.
When the pressure is on, we naturally think about what we need. What we need approved. What we need decided. What we need from the other person.
So, we rush straight to the message. (Yes, I see you… and you’re not alone!)
Ironically, that's often what slows everything down.
Because when people don't immediately understand, buy in, or respond the way we'd hoped, we find ourselves explaining it again. Clarifying. Following up. Trying harder.
It’s clear to me that effective communication isn't about getting better at talking. It's about getting better at pausing.
Taking a minute to step into someone else's world before inviting them into yours.
It feels slower. It takes more effort. But it's nearly always faster.