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Becoming a Better Communicator <br /> i <br /> The most common communication problem is the illusion of communication; people often think that they have <br /> communicated their messages when, in fact, they have not. This kind of misunderstanding often occurs in the work <br /> place because supervisors, managers, and employees do not understand that rzeople hear what they want to hear a_nd <br /> understand what they want to undercta~d, You can become a better communicator and encourage effect communica- <br /> ' tion in others by following three basic rules. <br /> i <br /> ' RULE #1: If You Wish to be Understood, Seek First to Understand. <br /> This might be called the Golden Rule of communication. Your first responsibility as a supervisor is to <br /> ensure that you understand what your employees are really saying to you, not what you want them to be <br /> j saying to you. To achieve that understanding, you must hone your skills as a listener. You must learn not <br /> simply to hear what people are saying, but to attend to the content of their message, the feeling behind it, <br /> and the meaning that they are trying to impress upon you. By becoming a better listener you will gain a <br /> better understanding of people and their messages, while encouraging them to: <br /> • Speak more openly with you <br /> • Become more involved in what they aze communicating <br /> • Grow more spontaneous and creative <br /> • Explore themselves and the issue they are discussing more fully <br /> RULE #2: Listen With Your Eyes and Heart as Well as Your Ears. <br /> Research indicates that up to 90 % of all communication occurs through. nonverbal signals -eye contact, <br /> facial ex ressions and so on. As a su rv' <br /> ~sor ou must close atte t' <br /> P n ion not ' t to the verbal content <br /> Pe Y ICY ,1us of <br /> what people say to you, but to the nonverbal signals as well. <br /> RULE #3: Always Check to Make Sure that You Understand Completely, and that Others Understand <br /> You. <br /> When you aze receiving information, you can check for understanding by paraphrasing or summarizing what <br /> people say to you and asking if you have understood them. When you aze sending information, you need to <br /> ensure the comprehension of your message, either by asking your listeners to paraphrase or summarize what <br /> you have said, or by observing the appropriate reaction to your message. <br /> Supervisor's Guide January, 1996 <br /> Employee Relations Page 4 <br /> <br /> I _ _ _ _ _ _ <br /> <br />