Sitting in the audience of my girls’ dance concert recently, it was interesting to watch the different performers.
Some were captivatingly cute, bursting with enthusiasm but a full beat behind everyone else. Others didn’t put a foot wrong but were trying so hard to be cool they were almost frozen. One little sweetheart was so nervous she clung to her teacher’s hand for the whole routine.
And some just shone.
It wasn’t necessarily technical brilliance or perfect poise. It wasn’t just confidence or costume. It was something less tangible—they were having the time of their lives and they simply owned that stage.
To quote one of my favourite Australian films, The Castle, it was ‘the vibe’.
Sometimes no matter how technically accurate we are, no matter how confident or prepared we are, or how much we want to impress—success comes down to the intangibles.
This is true of all forms of communication, from the stage to the page.
So what are the intangibles that make for good communication?
Try these:
- Intuition. This instinctive sense of just knowing gives communicators a real edge. We tap into our intuition to comprehend how others feel, what they are really saying, what’s left unsaid, and what will (or won’t) resonate with them.
- Listening. All effective communication starts with listening. Real listening improves communication by saving time, reducing misunderstanding and enhancing our ability to negotiate, influence and persuade.
- Curiosity. Curiosity is a distinct advantage when communicating. Naturally curious people ask lots of questions. A genuine interest in wanting to find out more or dig a bit deeper keeps the mind active and open to new ideas.
- Rapport. Being able to read people and connect with them quickly is the first step to building positive working relationships, promoting open communication, getting things done and influencing outcomes.
- Integrity. Saying what you mean and meaning what you say—honesty and authenticity are fundamental for engaging with others and communicating in a meaningful way.
- Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is contagious. It injects energy, sparks creativity and generates a positive ‘vibe’ to the way you work and communicate.
These secret ingredients can be the difference between a grammatically correct page of words and a compelling piece of writing. Or a meeting that plods through the agenda and one that inspires and motivates everyone around the table. Or an agreeable dance performance and one that shines.
It’s the difference between a piece of communication that is easily overlooked and one that is so effective and memorable that it goes ‘straight to the pool room’.
TOP TIP: In summing up, it’s intuition, it’s listening, it’s curiosity, rapport, integrity and enthusiasm, it’s the vibe, and…no that’s it…it’s the vibe. I rest my case.
| Cinden Lester has more than 25 years’ experience as a professional writer, editor and communications specialist. She worked as a broadcast journalist, in private sector marketing and public relations, and in government communications before establishing her own Canberra-based communications consultancy in 2000.
Contact Cinden if you’d like help with your communications. |
