Posts Tagged ‘Communications’

How to Communicate If Your Workload is Too Much

You never want to tell your boss that you can’t do something. In fact, at times you probably feel honored and good about the fact that he or she thinks you can handle so many responsibilities; but sometimes, it’s crucial to communicate that your workload is too much.

You know your workload is too much when you are making Excel documents in your dream. You know your workload is too much when you are watching TV and words like “revenue” and “products” appear louder than the rest. You know your workload is too much when you keep checking your work email …on the weekends.

There is a difference between being dedicated to your work and being overwhelmed by your workload. When it does get overwhelming, its important (and healthy) to communicate your needs to your boss.

Here’s how:

Schedule a meeting

This type of discussion isn’t something you do via email or at a moment’s notice. It’s something that you think about. If you were to walk over to your manager’s desk and ask, “Can we talk right now?” they will interpret that as you not thinking their time is valuable; this isn’t the best way to start of a conversation about how you don’t have enough time to do everything.

In addition, scheduling a meeting will also give you time to prepare exactly what you want to say.

Crafting the Perfect Elevator Speech

Elevator_SpeechPerfecting your pitch is both an art and a science in which the speaker must clearly describe the product or service he or she offers, the problem it solves, and how it differs from the competition.  Here are some tips to help entrepreneurs polish their pitch:

  1. Keep it short. You only have about 10 seconds to capture someone’s imagination.  When someone is asking you what you do, what he or she is really asking is “What can you do for me?”
  2. Remember your audience. Understand who it is you’re trying to attract and say something that’s meaningful to them.
  3. Keep it simple. Even if your field is technical, try to keep it concise.

Be an Effective Communicator

Okay, “communication” is a very broad topic – impossible to cover in depth in a few paragraphs. But there are several proven and practical strategies you can immediately apply to enhance your overall effectiveness:

Use Less Words

After writing a correspondence, presentation script, web copy, blog, etc, edit it with a goal of eliminating 20-30% of the words. It’s easy to find unnecessary words if you take time to really look.

Use Visuals

Be a creative communicator by using props, pictures, stories, etc. to convey your message.

Watch Your Language

Try to avoid acronyms, jargon, technical terms, ambiguous words (a little, a lot, very, really, etc.).  Don’t use words that the entire audience may not understand or often have different meanings to different people.

Avoid Rambling

Narrow your communications down to no more than three key points.  Most people have short attention spans.  Make sure you convey your message succinctly and clearly.

“How well we communicate is determined not by how well we say things, but how well we are understood.” – Andrew Grove

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