Ancora Learning Blog

Why re-thinking your communication can pay big dividends

14/06/2014
/Kirrily Graham
/Business Managers, HR Managers, L&D Managers, Learning Programs, Profiling Tools
/View Comments

Organisations cannot prosper without effective communication.

Yet despite their best intentions, people often have difficulty sending, and interpreting, even simple messages. This barrier to effective communication is strongly related to a person’s thinking preference.

Different thinking preferences = different communication styles

An analytical thinker establishes key facts and then wants to move on; an organised thinker focuses on detail and contingency; a personalised thinker wants everyone to have a say; and a strategic thinker is concerned about the big picture.

When you have such diversity in thinking styles, they end up talking (and writing) at cross-purposes. Reaching agreement takes longer; making teams less productive. The ultimate price can be disengaged employees, dissatisfied customers, ill-informed suppliers or adverse public opinion.

Grasping how others think in order to streamline communication

Understanding how other people think can significantly streamline the communication process, making teams exponentially more productive.

The key is to tailor communication to different people or problems. Once you have crafted your message, you can use the Whole Brain™ Model as a filter.

The Whole Brain™ Model helps you to anticipate what different people will look for and respond to during the communication process. You can then modify your messages in a way that each type of thinker will understand, avoiding incorrect interpretations that slow progress.

But it goes beyond this.

Speakers can use this approach to tailor their messages so that they are more easily heard and understood.

Listeners can also use insights about their thinking preferences to be more attentive and open to different concepts.

The result is a dramatic improvement in the exchange of ideas and information.

Thinking about communicating pays dividends

Herrmann International Asia has reported that organisations using Whole Brain™ Thinking as the basis for a ‘common language’ to improve communication skills report measurable business results such as:

A 66% reduction in calls to a supervisor (Telecommunications)
A 21% increase in after-tax profits (Technology)
Market leading customer satisfaction ratings (Financial Services)

Whole Brain™ Thinking gives people tools to improve communications and minimise conflict—two of the most critical issues affecting project management and business.

Are you thinking about communication enough?

Do you know how to optimise communication and reduce the potential for unnecessary conflict, regardless of whom you are interacting with?

Here is a quick exercise to get you thinking.

When next preparing a communication or presentation, analyse the needs of the listener(s). Using the ThinkAbout™ grid below, determine and prioritise which quadrants in the diagram are most important to your listener(s). Cover these first in your planning, then look to the other quadrants for additional points to cover.