EVERYONE COMMUNICATES FEW CONNECT

By: Marlene Green, Executive Leadership coach, Speaker and Facilitator

ONLY ONE THING STANDS IN THE WAY OF YOU AND SUCCESS

It isn’t experience; it isn’t talent. If you want to succeed, you must learn how to connect with people. And while it may seem like some people are just born with it, the fact is anyone can learn how to make every communication an opportunity for a powerful connection.

CONNECTING INCREASES YOUR INFLUENCE IN EVERY SITUATION

If you can connect with others - one-on-one, in groups, and with an audience - your sense of community improves, your ability to create teamwork increases, and your influence skyrockets.  People who connect with others have better relationships, experience with conflict and get more things done than those who cannot connect.  Leaders who have learned the art of connection are able to communicate their ideas persuasively, establishing buy in and attracting followers.

As a facilitator of the great John Maxwell, some of the principles I teach in the Everyone Communicates Few Connect Mastermind program include the following:

Connecting increases your influence in every situation
When leaders connect with their people it is magical.  Connection inspires trust, motivates hard work and generates positive momentum.  Learning how to build rapport with others at a heart level yields benefits not only at work but also in every situation.

Connection is about others
If you want to communicate with others you have to get over yourself.  You must shift your focus from inward to outward - off of yourself and onto others. The best communication concentrates on the needs of the audience and factors them in when delivering a message.

Connecting goes beyond words
As a communicator nothing can happen through you until it happens to you.  Whatever is inside of you, whether positive or negative, will eventually come out when you communicate to others.  You have to internalize your message before asking others to accept it.

Connecting always requires energy
To make a connection, a leader must expend energy to step toward the audience both relationally and emotionally.  Initiating connection involves preparation and service, each of which depletes energy reserve. For this reason, connecting requires stamina.  Leaders must recharge in order to have mental and emotional strength to offer to others.

Connection is more skill than natural talent
Becoming a connecting communicator is a process.  To improve as a communicator, study great connectors and emulate them.  Give thought to what causes people to listen to others, and work on cultivating those characteristics.

Connectors connect on common ground
When attempting to bridge a communication gap, don’t start the process by giving your opinion. Instead move where the other person is and try to see the world from their prospective. Willingness to see from another person’s point of view is the secret of finding common ground.

Connectors do the difficult work of keeping it simple
Simplification is a skill, and it’s necessary if you want to get through when you communicate. Shorten your message so that others can remember it.  Stick to a main point and don’t hop from topic to topic. Also be repetitive until it sticks in the minds of others.

Connectors create an experience everyone enjoys
If you want to connect with another person, you have to be interesting.  People tune out when they begin to feel bored. Learn about your listeners. Also use illustrations and imagery to get your point across. Stories have a much longer shelf life than abstract ideas.

Connectors inspire people
Leaders set the tone in an organization by how they approach their work and how they approach their people. Through their actions, they communicate their character, creditability and convictions. People need to be convinced of the passion of their leader before they will put passion into their work.

Connectors live what they communicate
Credible communicators walk the talk. They align their values and actions. Over time people note their consistent integrity and recognize their character. 

Marlene Green is credentialed by the International Coach Federation as a Professional Certified Coach as well as a Founding Partner, of the John Maxwell Team.

For more information
Please Sign up for our free newsletter at http://MarleneGreenAssociates.com.  or for more information  Contact Marlene Green, Marlene@MarleneGreenAssociates.Com or at (773) 294-0749.

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