*** 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. ***************************************************************** **** Resource Box: Article by Michael Harrison, Author, Publisher and Business Consultant. Learn from an expert: Go to: http://www.be-your-own-business-expert.com/ Subscribe for your Free weekly newsletter. Information for career and business minded people. Subscribe today http://www.be-your-own-business-expert.com/Bulletin.html Access our archives when you subscribe. ***************************************************************** **** **Attn: Ezine Editors / Site Owners / Webmasters / everyone** Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site as long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed above. You can use other articles similarly from http://www.be-your-own-business-expert.com/Articles.html OR subscribe to our FREE newsletter issued weekly. Each issue is packed with motivational, business and personal development material. Subscribe now at http://www.be-your-own-business-expert.com/Bulletin.html When you subscribe you will access our archives - no matter what your interest/specialisation there will be information there to help you. Subscribe today to receive the very next issue of 'byobe Bulletin' - Do you get it?