Monthly Archives: March 2011

GOOD TALK TEAM HABITS AT WORK

What communication strategies (or good talk habits) do excellent communicators use? Do you habitually use these seven keys to keep lines of communication open with your group?

1. MAKE YOURSELF ACCESSIBLE. Routinely ask, “How’s it going?” and listen with interest to the responses. Don’t isolate yourself in an office every day.

2. THINK AS A TEAM. Constantly build a We-Team and Can-do attitude vs. a Me-Team mindset. Don’t allow Can’t-ism to take hold.

3. INCLUDE ALL COMMUNICATOR TYPES IN DECISION-MAKING. Especially encourage your quieter Empathizer team members to speak up. Encourage your louder Instigator team members to listen up.

4. BE FLEXIBLE. Keep focusing on doing what works and making it just a little bit better each day.

5. CELEBRATE THE LITTLE THINGS. Celebrate the journey instead of the destination. Spread verbal appreciations around.

6. DEMONSTRATE INTEGRITY. Do what you say you are going to do when you say you are going to do it and be trustworthy in your communication habits.

7. MAKE IT A FUN PLACE TO WORK. Work and problem solving meetings are supposed to be fun, challenging, and enjoyable. Choose to be in a good mood even during dark times.

Use these simple yet effective leadership communication secrets as you ride along the two-way communication highway toward a town called Success.

Dennis O’Grady is a Dayton communications psychologist and author of Taking The Fear Out Of Changing, No Hard Feelings, and Talk To Me.  Dennis leads Team Talk seminars to improve team morale, creative problem solving, and positive mood attitude. He is available by calling 937-428-0724.

SUPERSTAR COMMUNICATOR

If you understand your specific communicator type of Empathizer or Instigator communicator, you are already cruising down the two-way communicator highway, admirably avoiding many accidents and misunderstandings that bruise relationships. If you understand the negative perceptions or prejudices about your communicator type and how you are viewed unfavorably by your opposite type when you’re under stress, then you are a Star Communicator. If you use the strengths of both E- and I-type communicators, you are a Superstar Communicator.

YOU CHOOSE THE MOOD OF YOUR TALK

You choose to be positive or negative in your communication mood mode. Positive communicators talk in the language of their fellow talk traveler to hear and understand more deeply and completely, and then act more assertively when problems need to be solved…after the talking is done. Check out what a recent TALK2ME© mood management workshop group ciphered out….

NEGATIVE E-TYPES (-Empathizers)

Are indirect

Tend to be passive aggressive

Are draining

Stew

Hold onto grudges

Too apologetic when not at fault

Shut down talks when stinging from hurt

POSITIVE E-TYPES (+Empathizers)

Are laid back

Demonstrate sincere, non-verbal expressions of hearing you out

Listen completely before acting

Have a good memory of personal events

Come out looking good

Emanate warmth

Are good facilitators

Possess emotional radar

NEGATIVE I-TYPES (-Instigators)

Are self-righteous

Tend to be critical

Judge others

Are confrontational

Are sharp-tongued

Make excuses

Intimidate others

Are selfish

Are closed-minded

Continually stir the pot

POSITIVE I-TYPES (+Instigators)

Are comfortable thinking about meeting their own needs

Demonstrate confidence in their actions

Task oriented

Get the job done

Are self-assured

Don’t hold onto past grudges

Let it go–Be done with it

Don’t allow people to walk all over them

SUPERSTAR STRENGTHS

The vote was clear about the most admired strengths of positive Empathizer and positive Instigator communicators in this class….

MOST VALUABLE EMPATHIZER STRENGTH: LISTEN COMPLETELY BEFORE ACTING

MOST VALUABLE INSTIGATOR STRENGTH: LET IT GO–BE DONE WITH IT

ARE YOU A SUPERSTAR COMMUNICATOR?

You most certainly are…by using the strengths of both communicator worlds. It’s a cinch. First Problem Solving Rule: Listen completely before acting. Second Problem Solving Rule: Let it go–Be done with it.

Don’t know your communicator type? Take a minute to privately determine your type for free here …. http://www.drogrady.com/whats-your-type/

Dr. Dennis O’Grady is the developer of the TALK2ME communication system. Through thirty plus years as a clinical psychologist specializing in relationship communication along with extensive research, Doctor O’Grady identified two different styles of communicators–Empathizers and Instigators. He discovered that each communicator style has its own unique set of traits and viewpoints and created a teaching tool to provide the map for the two communicators styles to work and live together in understanding and harmony.