Continuous improvement is the key to communication mastery, rather than striving for perfection.
Being audience-centric and avoiding misinterpretation are important aspects of effective communication.
Deep dives
Definition of Mastery in Communication
Mastery is defined as getting better at something that matters, such as communication. However, perfection in communication is unattainable, and the goal is to continuously improve and iterate over time.
Adapting Communication to Audience Needs
Effective leaders prioritize delivering a message that the audience needs to hear, rather than what the leader wants to share. It is crucial to be audience-centric in both the design and delivery of communication. Being mindful of misinterpretation and not overcorrecting is important in connecting with the audience.
Tools for Communication Mastery
Aspiring to communication mastery involves practical exercises like self-editing written content and analyzing recordings of oral communication. Self-editing helps in hitting the right tone and level of detail for specific audiences. Recording conversations and reviewing them allows for self-assessment, improving areas like filler words and sentence structure.
What does it mean to truly master communication? How can we speak and write for the most impact? In this podcast episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturers JD Schramm and Matt Abrahams discuss how to use self reflection for self improvement. They also offer methods for preparing for a high stakes situation such as a pitch meeting or an everyday interaction like an email.