Hello Friends,
Communication is the most important skill a person can acquire to make difference in his or her personal and professional life. Let me start by asking:- “How many different communication actions do you engage in during a typical 15-minute stretch?. The answers, I often hear are not very encouraging.
People engage in multiple forms of communication a day and employing a structure can help makes those conversations more efficient.
From answering questions to initiating small talk, from introducing people to each other to providing feedback, we all find ourselves needing to adeptly manage different types of communication. This nimbleness, when paired with social expectations of appropriateness and efficiency in our communication, can be quite daunting to even the most experienced.
Communication structures serve as a road map for our messages. They allow us easy starting points, transitions, and clear endings._____ Matt Abrahams
The key to managing these different types of communication is to leverage structures. They allow us easy starting points, transitions, and clear endings. They help us to be concise and relevant. While many structures exist, I have particularly found one structure better in terms if its applicability and simplicity: I calleit :- The “What? So what? Now what?” structure must be part of your communication toolkit. This structure is logical and clear. Let me break it down:
What?
First, define or describe your key ideas or arguments. Do so in a clear, concise manner devoid of jargon and flourishes. Ask yourself, “What are the critical few bits of information that I need to convey to maximize mutual understanding?”
So what?
This second part has you focusing on the relevance of your ideas or arguments to your audience. You must be sure to take your audience’s perspective into account. Remember, if you are to maximize understanding remember it’s less about what you want to say and more about what your audience needs to hear.
Now what?
Finally, your last part highlights the thoughts, feelings, and actions you wish your audience to hold or enact. Be clear and direct in how you phrase these so as to reduce ambiguity. Be cognizant of the tone you use to convey this information. Your tone (e.g., sense of urgency, confidence, excitement, etc.) directly impacts your audience’s perception of both you and your message.
At the highest level, the “What? So what? Now what?” structure affords you cognitive bandwidth because it provides you with how you intend to convey your messages so you can focus on the specific details of what you wish to say. With practice, you can learn to manage the barrage of communication situations you face by deploying this structure.
How does this structure look in practice? Here are some ways you can employ this technique.
EXAMPLE :- Introductions can often ramble and confuse. Using this structure can help you be clear and set expectations for what is to come.
Introducing Something :-
- What? I am excited to introduce the latest version of our product. In this release we’ve added many usability enhancements and improved our speed.
- So what? Now our clients can more easily complete their tasks and save time and money.
- Now what? When you leave this conference session, please install it today.
Introducing Someone :-
- What? I am honored to introduce Dr. Jonas Smith, who is here to discuss her insights into game theory.
- So what? Her work has changed the way many people go about making daily decisions. I am certain you will think differently when you leave here tonight.
- Now what? Without further ado, join me in welcoming Dr. Smith.
Making Small Talk ;
Many of us struggle to engage in small talk, especially with people we don’t know well. This structure can help you to engage and sustain initial conversations. Simply use the three questions to get your targets to express themselves.
- What? What do you know about the latest attempt to reduce energy consumption?
- So what? Why do you think it is so important to reduce energy?
- Now what? What can I do to help reduce my energy use?
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Get in touch… — JOE’s LIFE SKILLS LAB/Joe Sehrawat
Take Care
JOE
Image Credit:- Photo by Product School on Unsplash
