The Edinger Consulting Group newsletter - Edinger's Monthly Insights, jammed with resources, focuses on providing information and value to our clients. If you do not wish to receive it, just let me know by replying to this email with the subject REMOVE or click on the unsubscribe option at the bottom of the newsletter.
 
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Ideas to Improve Your Performance
  • When preparing a presentation, provide a summary of what you are going to cover and the main points upfront. Don't simply launch into your supporting material or data. Too many presenters fail to do this well.

     

  • In one on one communication, make sure you clarify and confirm what the other person is saying. The best communicators test for, and demonstrate understanding.

     

  • Use interesting language and build your vocabulary if you want to engage others. Have a variety of ways to express your ideas.
Reflections

It is All About Communication

 

In my executive coaching work, I have found that effective communication is at the heart of nearly all leadership behaviors. Nearly every development plan I have worked on with leaders has had something to do with improving communication, (and I have never heard that someone communicates too well.) It is so important because leadership is a relational skill. That is, there exists no perfect assessment as to the effectiveness of a leader since it is entirely about the interaction of the leader with those who are led. Perhaps this is common sense to many, but I find in my work with executives that it is not common practice. And while the principles of being a great communicator are simple to understand, they are not that easy to consistently execute. So if you want to improve your ability to lead, focus on what you are communicating and how you are communicating it. For more on how to improve your communication, read my article about this from last month on Harvard Business Review.    

 

A Slice of Life Balance
  • Try arriving at least 5-10 minutes early for appointments. You can always use your smartphone to get caught up on an email or make a quick call. You will find that your stress levels drop considerably when you aren't concerned with being late.
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  • Do some non-business reading. We all need to stretch our minds in new directions, and between e-mail, news, and business books to stay up on trends, throw in some fiction.