Content provided in partnership with

Automotive Industry

Toward better communications - On the Management Side

Automotive Design & Production, Jan, 2004 by Ted Pollock

If you suspect that your batting average in communications falls well below 1.000, here are some tips that may help you.

Empathy. Before you communicate something, try putting yourself in the listener's shoes. How is he likely to react to your message and what precautions can you take to ensure that he understands it in the way you mean it? For example, you tell John Smith that he is wanted in the front office. His initial reaction may be, "I'm going to be raked over the coals by the boss." If this isn't the case, you should make that fact clear to him.

There is frequently a wide gap between the manager's experience and that of the employee. Your job: bridge it.

Most Popular Articles in Autos: Service Slants; 2007 utility vehicle buyer's guide: Side-By-Sides are popular; here's who ...; Transmission considerations: beyond the manual gearbox; Buell Motorcycle engineering, innovation, & dedication: in an industry ...; 100 + 10: America's oldest automotive magazine celebrates its 110th year ...; More »

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Timing. If employees get the wrong impression from a communication, it may be virtually impossible to eradicate it--even with facts. The answer is to get the facts across before rumor or misunderstanding can distort your meaning.

Credibility. Your words won't carry much weight with workers if they're skeptical of your sincerity in the first place. Your actions must support what you say. And should something happen that contradicts what you've told them, you owe them a full explanation.

Simplicity. This is particularly important in written communications. Whether you are writing a memo, bulletin board announcement, letter for general circulation or directive, put it in the simplest, most direct language you know.

Repetition often helps make a message stick in the mind. This is especially true of complicated or unfamiliar instructions. If a person misunderstands what you have said the first time, chances are he or she will catch on the second or third time around.

Novelty. On the other hand, sometimes it pays to avoid repetition and instead seek new ways of saying things. Overly familiar phrases will be ignored by your people since they will believe they've heard it all before. As one worker said, "As soon as I hear the boss say that he's counting on us, I tune him out." It might not be a bad idea to review your own favorite phrases and expressions occasionally and replace them with fresh variations. You'll stand a far better chance of gaining the attention of your listeners.

Of course, there are other factors involved in communicating effectively, but if you take the above to heart, you should find your batting average improving appreciably.

By Ted Pollock, Management Columnist TPoll1012@aol.com

Automotive Industry

Toward better communications - On the Management Side

Automotive Design & Production, Jan, 2004 by Ted Pollock

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: Home & Garden

Most Popular Articles in Autos

Most Popular Publications in Autos