Are You Stopping People Talking Without Realising?

Are you stopping people talking to you, without realising you are stopping people talking to you? It’s very easy to do this by the way you act and communicate but communicating with others is one of the most important things we do. Colin offers some great practical advice about the things you should be taking into account when you communicate with others in the workplace. If you want your business to be one with good communication then listen to this podcast and find out how to communicate well so that your message is heard. Businesses that communicate well do better and that’s a fact! so get started now.   KEY TAKEAWAYS How we can get things wrong Communication is a 2-way street and we often don’t listen properly to others - it’s annoying if you are talking to someone and their attention wanders. Focus on the person who is communicating with you -  pay attention to them Ask the question in a different way -  this is communicating without putting pressure into the equation. There could be a language barrier or the technical terminology can be confusing - keep it clear and concise. It could be down to people’s expectations and prejudices - they don’t hear what’s being said or you can go in having already decided on the outcome. There can be differences in views which may lead to conflict - when people want to get their own point across they stop listening to others. There may be physical challenges -  such as hearing problems What can be done? When you are putting the message out  - be very clear, very concise, keep the message simple and to the point. Make the message appropriate for the listener -  you may communicate verbally then back it up with a visual or something else that helps to explain. Communication is also about listening and this is the area most people get wrong Try active listening techniques; Give affirmations as they are speaking. Ask a question so they have an opportunity to reaffirm their message Reaffirm what they have said so they know that they have been listened to Give people in the workplace the time and go out and have some great conversations   BEST MOMENTS ‘Most conflicts arise because of a lack of communication’ ‘Bad decisions are made because people don’t communicate properly’ ‘In businesses that do communication well you are raising the expectation for the level of communication and  if it drops people quickly begin to criticise   VALUABLE RESOURCES The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast   ABOUT THE HOST Colin’s Biography   ‘Making health and safety as important as everything else we do.’ This is the belief that Colin is passionate about and through his consultancy Influential Management Group (IMG) is able to spread into industry. Colin works at a strategic level with company owners and board members. He helps business leaders establish and achieve their health and safety ambitions. He has developed a number of leading competency improvement programmes that are delivered across industry and his strengths are his ability to take a practical approach to problem-solving and being able to liaise at all levels within an organisation. Colin also runs a company that vets contractors online and a network that develops and support H&S consultancies to become better businesses. Colin chairs the Construction Dust Partnership, an industry collaboration directly involving many organisations, including the Health and Safety Executive. He is a Post Graduate Tutor at Strathclyde University and a highly sought-after health and safety speaker and trainer. He has a Post Graduate Certificate in Safety and Risk management, an engineering degree and is a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).