We should all be pros in communication, right?
After all, we communicate all the time. But still, so many times, what we try to say doesn't land right, is misunderstood or doesn't lead to what we intended. How can that be possible?
Here's a very brief rundown of what ideal communication looks like, why it is so rare and what you can do to improve your way of bringing your points across.
Theory:
Shannon and Weaver introduced a very simple communication model already in 1949. It goes like this:
A sender transmits a message to a receiver. The receiver processes the message and gives feedback to the sender. That's it. So simple.
Real life:
A sender transmits a message to a receiver. But, sender and receiver are in places far away from each other, have language barriers, stereotypes or simply, a different perception of what was said. Add to that differences in personality, culture or professional background and you can see why lots of times messages are distorted and what the receiver hears is completely different from what the sender was trying to say.
5 tools you can use to communicate better:
1. Learn how to lead a conversation by mastering the communication square by Fritz Schultz von Thun.
Learn how to listen actively. Speak little and focus on what the other person says.
Ask open questions and choose the type of question and your tone depending on the other person's personality.
Use "I-messages" when giving feedback.
Learn how to manage conflict by understanding the "nine stages of conflict escalation" according to Friedrich Glasl.
We will cover this topic in more detail in my course "Become the CEO of your PHD". In six modules you will learn how to take ownership and control over your PhD project effortlessly, and shape it so it brings you closer to the career you want. If you're interested, DM me and you'll be the first to know when registration opens.