The ability to accurately receive and interpret messages when communicating is the key to all effective communication. Without this ability, messages will be easily misunderstood. As a result, communication breaks down and the sender of the message can easily become frustrated. Listening is so important that many employers provide listening skills training for their employees. This is not surprising when… Read more →
Do the members of your team view themselves as a group of individuals who work independently of one another, or as a collection of individuals who work interdependently with each other? Read on to learn 6 key differences between ‘Groups’ and ‘Teams’. GROUPS TEAMS Members think they are grouped together for administrative purposes only. Individuals work independently; sometimes at cross purposes… Read more →
The most prominent reason for the lack of effective teamwork in an organisation is poor listening. Or the lack of it altogether. Listening – a well-tuned ear increases mutual respect and teamwork. From the CEO’s office to the shop floor, listening can spell the difference between cooperation and mistrusting and jealousy. Listening empowers people, adding strength and commitment to their… Read more →
Too often, organisations breed a culture of competition in which employees, departments and offices tolerate each other instead of collaborating with one another. But if an organisation breaks down internal silos and works in harmony, then it can partake in meaningful discussions that ultimately will push innovation forward. In developing this collaborative climate, organisations must first have the support of… Read more →
A cross-functional team is a group of employees from different functions within an organisation – such as human resources, information technology, marketing and finance – who all focus on specific objectives and have the responsibility to work as a team to achieve shared goals. Cross-cultural teams, on the other hand, are made up of people from different social and professional… Read more →
If two otherwise equally qualified individuals compete for the same senior position in an organisation, most of the time the one with better communication skills will get the job. Information and the ability to convey it effectively is power.But it’s not just about speech. Communication takes place in many forms – audio, visual, and physical touch. It consists of talking,… Read more →
When it comes to communication, we all tend to think we’re pretty good at it. Truth is, even those of us who are good communicators aren’t nearly as good as we think we are. This overestimation of our ability to communicate is magnified when interacting with people we know well. Researchers at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business… Read more →
Active listening is a skill that is often overlooked, but it’s a big problem in management-employment communications. Manager-leaders who practice and embrace active listening will benefit from improved relationships with their employees, and ultimately a more productive and happy team. The art of active listening Active listening is a method of listening in which the listener clearly understands what the… Read more →
How good would you say your company is at what it does? How high are the standards that it sets? Now be honest – do those responsible for communicating information about your organisation match those standards? Senior executives need to communicate with each other and with those above them. Do your high potentials know how senior executives think and can… Read more →
General Norman Schwarzkopf summarised everything he had learned about leadership in his thirty-plus years in the US Army in two rules, one of which he called (for reasons unknown and unexplained) rule number thirteen. Rule Thirteen was “When in charge, take charge.” In his remarks that evening he emphasised the second phrase – take charge – encouraging his young cadets… Read more →