*** Hone Your Communicating Skills ***
Using your communication skills is vital
I am keen on everyone remembering and fully using their talents.
This came home to me again recently.
I have been invited to be a trustee with a charity that provides
small motorised sit on vehicles for hire to disabled people at
public events. This is un-paid work where I am happy to give
time to help as I have seen this charity grow from nothing to
it's present position here in the UK.
After the first trustee meeting two of the operations staff
approached me to ask if we could have a separate meeting to talk
over one or two issues. Of course I readily agreed.
That meeting has taken place and what came out was interesting.
They had felt that my approach "was like a breath of fresh air"
and what did I think about the first trustees' meeting?
I had some concerns after the first meeting because there are a
number of split and overlapping responsibilities causing
accountability issues. More worryingly there seemed to lack of
solid communication over the cash position. We all know the
importance of effective cashflow control and I could see that
the two issues are linked.
As we discussed my observations we took a little while to get on
the same wavelength and I had to concentrate on my communication
skills to reach understanding.
It was clear that these people who 'make it happen' are
dedicated but frustrated. Their frustration is caused by some of
the issues I have outlined but they saw no way out. I proposed
and showed them a way that we (they) could get control of the
cash and in so doing bring some accountability into the
operation.
They struggled at first to understand and I soon realised that I
had slipped into what is for me familiar terminology and jargon
assuming (wrongly) that they would know what I was talking
about. It was not their fault it was me not using my
communication skills.
We had to go over a number of issues again with me taking care
to be explicit in what I was trying to communicate. I left them
understanding what we are doing and why.
What seemed second nature to me was new to them. It's too easy
to overlook your own experience and not realise how valuable
that experience is. Also it's too easy not to communicate
skillfully and help others to benefit from your experience.
After all why was I invited to become a trustee? Because I have
experience which can be of benefit to the trust and the people
running it. If I don't succeed in using my communication skills
effectively I am no use to the trust or it's people.
This recent incident also brought home the importance of
remembering how to use communication skills.
Don't under estimate the value of your experience and make sure
at all times you use your communication skills.
Tip: The important thing is to never stop questioning or
learning.
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