Unless you consistently review how you communicate then you will not improve.
Do you only wait until a big communication moment is looming before thinking about getting better?
This will make it harder to build from your current reality to your desired future.
Then there is the feedback itself.
Receiving meaningful feedback and then being able to act on it can be tough.
Is it truly meaningful and helpful for you?
Is it from someone you trust but also skilled to provide the feedback you need?
Top performers in sports, the military and medicine use a preview model to better understand their current reality then look ahead in a clear, focussed way to achieve their goals.
As part of using The EMPATHY Method to support clients with practical Better Communication Training I give focussed feedback designed to be easily understood but equally easy to action.
First, I make sure they are certain on their current reality as self-awareness is crucial to getting better at anything. For example, when they have previously communicated well or what their Mission focus is.
The feedback is then based on three things while acknowledging this current reality:
A current strength that you should keep (and look to develop further)
Something new to start doing to strengthen your performances further
One thing to stop to help you inform, influence and inspire your audience better
Three recent examples of client feedback I have given (slightly modified to protect identities) are below:
A current strength that you should keep (and look to develop further)
You clearly really care about the people who you have worked with. When you talk about your teammates your voice lightens, and you start smiling. Using this obvious care you have, will help you to make a deeper connection with your audiences and help you to inform, influence and inspire people to get involved in your new Foundation.
Something new to start doing to strengthen your performances further
Speak in short, 45 second, soundbites as a start to every answer so you are focussed on delivering a message in every answer. You can then bring this to life with your great examples and stories to really power up your content.
One thing to stop to help you inform, influence and inspire your audience better
Stop jumping in and answering the question too quickly. Instead use pauses to think and control the pace of the interview. This will be particularly useful in a live interview when journalists can try to rush an answer or sometimes use techniques like interrupting and asking multiple questions at a time to try to knock you out of your stride.
When you are preparing for your next Communication Moment whether a team meeting, presentation or annual review use this simple, focussed process to pay better attention to what you are doing, the results you are getting and what to work on in the future.