You can maintain productivity and avoid costly mistakes by:
Asking Questions in the Right Way
- Use a lot of open-ended questions
- Avoid double questions, e.g. “Did you find the meeting interesting and useful?”
- Avoid negative questions, e.g. “Don’t you have anything to report?”
- Avoid rapid strings of questions?
Checking Regularly for Shared Understanding
- Let people talk and listen, listen, listen
- Ask probing and follow-up questions
- Have listeners paraphrase, summarize, or retell what you’ve said
Choosing Your Words Carefully
- Check for level of formality required
- Define your key words precisely
- Pronounce words clearly
- Use pauses
- Intonate well to convey your meaning
- Avoid slang words or phrases
- Avoid idioms
- Use jargon sparingly
- Use humor with great care
- Do not shout to try and make yourself understood
Pacing Yourself
- Talk at a speed comfortable for the listener
- Listen, think, and then talk
- Avoid trying to speed things up
- Avoid interrupting
Paying Close Attention
- Don’t let your mind wander
- Don’t pretend to understand
- Take more breaks
- Listen for meaning, not just words spoken
- Listen to how something is said and its impact on meaning, e.g., tone, intonation, pauses
- Observe body language and its impact on meaning, e.g. facial expressions
