Factors affecting how we communicate with others as “SENDERS” and “RECEIVERS” (the judgments we often make usually unconsciously) and some potentially damaging self talk..
Individual differences – “he’s very young, must be a bit stupid and inexperienced better explain this slowly two or three times”
Cultural differences – “she’s an accountant bean counter, this will be difficult, she just won’t understand our sales culture, she’ll probably just be interested in the marketing cost analysis” or where I’ve worked “all expats are arrogant” versus “all ‘locals’ are stupid, slow and lazy”
Attitudes about the message or the other person – “do I really have to tell this overbearing financial controller that we need the purchase order for another computer signed urgently?”
Stereotyping – “all good looking young females are really blond’s inside regardless of their hair color” or… “silly old guy he won’t be able to grasp what a young guy like me is on about, he must be a bit slow”
Values – “salespeople just don’t understand, anyone that’s not an engineer who understands our production methods and the design process we’ve been through just won’t get it and aren’t worth explaining it to anyway – salespeople are just talking heads”
Assumptions about what the other person knows, thinks, feels or has heard – “this is going to be bad, I’m sure the boss knows about the accident best get into defensive mode he’s going to hit the roof” or if the boss says to you late Friday afternoon “I want you in my office first thing Monday morning Fred – important” what sort of weekend are you going to have and how will you approach the what and how of what you may have to say.
The location and the environmental noise – “what… who won the F1 world championship, Lauder… what… WHO WON THE…” yes its an old joke. Just be aware of your surroundings when you are trying to deliver a message
Way in which the message is sent – “now remember this ’cause I don’t have time for an email, there are one million two hundred and sixty three thousand four hundred and nine widgets stuck in fifteen trucks at port, with our shipping order numbers 11168 thru 11199 excluding 11172 which is replaced by 11289a and I need them now, every on accounted for and logged with the number sheets, so get onto it and Call Harry, his number’s with my secretary”
Age – Generation – “XY & Z and all that other nonsensical rubbish, people are people and you cannot attribute ability to communicate based on supposed generational norms or preferences. You do have to understand though that ‘cool’, ‘unreal’ and ‘sick’ can mean different things to different age groups.
Sex – well you know how that works, dumb smart arrogant pushy confident and all that other equally stupid stuff
Obviously much of what I have listed above also affects the way we ‘listen’ or how we act as receivers.
Ric (orglearn) While you’re here take a look at the free blank resume form!
ps Based on an old however still relevant training material original list source unknown.
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