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Communication Gap Exposed
2007-08-25 by Tim 'Gonzo' Gordon
Whether you¡¯re talking to a business partner, an employee, a spouse, or a friend, it¡¯s easy for the essential elements of the message to get lost.
In business communications, it can make or break a business deal.
In personal relations, it can lead to misunderstanding, over-reaction and relationship distress.
In one on one communication, how do you know if your message was REALLY received?
Is this scenario familiar?
¡°Hey Bob, I need to let you know about the widget parameters and the upcoming meeting. Got time to talk?¡±
¡°Sure, Jean.¡±
¡°Okay. Here¡¯s what I want and what I¡¯ll need from you by next week.¡±
¡°Great. I¡¯m all ears.¡±
So Jean tells Bob what she wants, yada yada yada, and Bob says ¡°Cool. I can do that.¡±
¡°Okay, Bob, I¡¯ll see you next week.¡±
So when next week rolls around, Bob comes in on Friday afternoon with only a small part of what Jean expected him to do ¨C and it was late. Bob, on the other hand, thought he was delivering everything he was required to deliver ¨C and thought he was doing it on schedule.
Somewhere the communication fell down. Where?
This happens in personal relationships too, of course. A wife believes she¡¯s gotten the message to her husband about their weekend plans a couple of weeks away, but when it comes time to execute those plans, his understanding is quite different from what she thought it should be.
Mis-communication leads to frustration, which leads to more mis-communication. It can become a repeating loop.
What¡¯s the answer?
First, keep in mind that if YOU ARE THE ONE COMMUNICATING THE MESSAGE, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make sure your message is RECEIVED AND UNDERSTOOD.
How can you do this?
After you deliver your message, ask the person you just delivered the message to to repeat back the essential elements of the message.
¡°Bob, what¡¯s your understanding of what I¡¯d like from you and when I want it?¡±
¡°Well, Jean, I believe you want ¡°x¡± and you want it by the end of next week.¡±
¡°Uh¡­not quite. I actually need ¡°x + y¡± and I want it by Wednesday at 2PM.¡±
¡°Oh, well, that¡¯s not exactly what you said. It¡¯s a good thing we clarified this.¡±
Getting clarification is a simple matter. Just ask if your communication partner understood what you said by asking them to repeat back to you the important elements of the message. If there¡¯s a mis-communication you can clear it up quickly.
Certainly there¡¯s more to it than this. It takes a conscientious effort to make sure you are understood. It¡¯s easy to let it slip.
I¡¯ve been through seminars where we practiced this method of communication: delivering your message, confirming the message was received and clarifying the contents and essential elements of the message. Yet I still manage to let it slip on occasion. I think we all have a tendency to get lazy at times.
So if that happens, and you experience a ¡®communication gap¡¯ simply re-focus, re-frame and begin again. Over time your interpersonal communication skills will undoubtedly improve.

Communication Steroids :: Show Liner Notes
On This Date: 2007-08-25

# | Posted in Personal Communication | Comments ? (0)
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Communication Steroids Podcast: Persuasion
2007-08-13 by Tim 'Gonzo' Gordon
In today¡¯s Communication Steroids Podcast, from the Communication Steroids Podcast Studio co-hosts Tim ¡®Gonzo¡¯ Gordon and Roger Pike look deeper into Communication Best Practices, Communication in the Workplace, Communication Strategies, Communications Training, Fear of Public Speaking, Assertive Communication Skills and Public Speaking Tips.
What does it take to persuade someone to your way of thinking? Whether it¡¯s sales, business communications or personal communications ¨C the art and skill of persuasion is one of the most important you will ever learn.
Watch the video now:

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Total Run Time ? 6:24

Communication Steroids :: Show Liner Notes
On This Date: 2007-08-13
Communication Steroids Audio Training Program
Learn the art of communication with our 8-part instantly downloadable audio program
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Download MP3 Podcast | Time: 6:24 | Size: 2.6MB

Communication Steroids Podcast: New Media
2007-08-08 by Tim 'Gonzo' Gordon
In today¡¯s Communication Steroids Podcast, from the Communication Steroids Podcast Studio co-hosts Tim ¡®Gonzo¡¯ Gordon and Roger Pike look deeper into Communication Best Practices, Communication in the Workplace, Communication Strategies, Communications Training, Fear of Public Speaking, Assertive Communication Skills and Public Speaking Tips.
What is new media? More importantly, what are some of the protocols in using podcasting, e-mail, blogs, wikis, etc? Tim and Roger ¨C in this condenses version of a longer 30-minute discussion available at CommunicationSteroids.com ¨C discuss podcasting and e-mail.
Watch it now:

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Total Run Time ? 7:37

Communication Steroids :: Show Liner Notes
On This Date: 2007-08-08
Communication Steroids Audio Training Program
8-part audio training program
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Download MP3 Podcast | Time: 7:37 | Size: 3MB

A Few Words on Impromptu Speaking
2007-08-04 by Tim 'Gonzo' Gordon
For the ¡®newbie,¡¯ being asked to stand up and give a short speech or presentation can be one of the most nerve-wracking moments he¡¯ll ever have.
So what do you do to keep from drowning in sweat or turning into jello from shaking?
Rule Number One: first, take a moment to compose yourself. During this moment, focus on one message you¡¯d like to deliver.
For instance, if you¡¯re at a luncheon meeting and you¡¯re asked to stand up and introduce yourself and your company, that¡¯s going to be a fairly easy thing to do, assuming you are able to articulate a few words about yourself and your company!
It could be a bit more difficult, though. Perhaps you¡¯re asked to comment on you or your company¡¯s position on an important local issue. This does require a bit more thought, but follow rule number two.
And Rule Number Two is to focus on just one topic. Remember, you¡¯re not there to give a speech, just a few remarks. Your remarks might last a couple of minutes at best. So pick out one thing you feel is important ¨C even if it¡¯s obvious ¨C and deliver that comment, with a few follow up supporting comments.
Rule Number Three: Give your idea some structure. Depending on how much time you¡¯re able to speak ¨C you might ask the person who called on you how much time you can take ¨C do some ¡®mental organization¡¯ of your impromptu speech.
Rule 3.1: For instance, the ¡®Rule of Three¡¯s¡¯ is something that Roger Pike and I here at Communication Steroids stress often. Break your main topic into three sub-topics. Why three? Because four is too many for to remember, two isn¡¯t enough for people to think you really covered anything of significance. Three is the optimum number of ideas anyone can remember from your speech.
Rule 3.2: Another organization outline you might easily use is the ¡®Cause and Effect¡¯ approach. If you are commenting on a subject where you can show a ¡®before and after¡¯ scenario you can use the ¡®cause and effect¡¯ approach.
Rule 3.3: Give Examples. If you can think of any example that vividly supports your point, use it.
Rule Four: Don¡¯t expect to be perfect! Impromptu speaking is a learned skill. Rarely is it a gift that people are born with. Some people may do it more naturally than others, but speaking ¡®off the cuff¡¯ is not something too many people prepare for.
So here¡¯s the last ¨C Rule Five: Practice. If you pick a few topics, get a stopwatch and practice giving impromptu speeches at home or in another safe area where you¡¯re allowed to flub, stumble, stutter and lose your train of thought. Pick a wide variety of topics ¨C news, family, local issues, ancient history, personal history, whatever ¨C and give yourself two minutes on each topic.
If you can record yourself with an audio recorder or even a video camera, do it. When you review you¡¯ll pick out weak areas which you¡¯ll work to avoid next time, as well as the stronger points in your presentation that you can enhance.
Next time you¡¯re called on ¨C and who knows, it might be tomorrow! ¨C you¡¯ll have a little better idea of how to make it through a daunting experience. The more you do it, the less daunting it¡¯ll be. The opportunities for ¡®unprepared speeches¡¯ are countless. Take them on with grace and a smile!

Communication Steroids :: Show Liner Notes
On This Date: 2007-08-04
Communication Steroids
Learn to give great presentation with this audio training program!
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Communication Steroids Podcast: Press Relations
2007-07-31 by Tim 'Gonzo' Gordon
In today¡¯s Communication Steroids Podcast, from the Communication Steroids Podcast Studio co-hosts Tim ¡®Gonzo¡¯ Gordon and Roger Pike look deeper into Communication Best Practices, Communication in the Workplace, Communication Strategies, Communications Training, Fear of Public Speaking, Assertive Communication Skills and Public Speaking Tips.
What does it take to maintain media relations? What happens if your company goes into ¡®crisis¡¯ mode? How do you handle the press and other media outlets? Roger and Tim discuss the do¡¯s and don¡¯t¡¯s of dealing with the media in this podcast.
Watch it now:

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Total Run Time ? 7:22

Communication Steroids :: Show Liner Notes
On This Date: 2007-07-31
Communication Steroids Audio Program
8-part audio training series on Communication
# | Posted in Podcast | Press Relations | Comments ? (0)
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Download MP3 Podcast | Time: 7:22 | Size: 3MB

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Last 10 Posts
Communication Gap Exposed
Communication Steroids Podcast: Persuasion
Communication Steroids Podcast: New Media
A Few Words on Impromptu Speaking
Communication Steroids Podcast: Press Relations
Communication Steroids Podcast: Be Yourself!
Communications Steroids Podcast: Presentation and Technique
The Focus Factor
Communication Steroids Podcast: Preparing Your Speech or Presentation
Communication Steroids Podcast: Interview with David Meerman Scott

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