How can you ensure your communication is positive and constructive?

Multiple techniques have refined my audience engagement during workshops: 1. DISC: Adapts to behavioral styles for personalized communication. 2. Kolb: Matches content with diverse learning preferences. 3. Maslow: Addresses participant needs to enhance receptivity. 4. Sensory Learning: Integrates tactile, audible, and visual aids for inclusivity. 5. MBTI: Tailors approaches to diverse personality types, like INTJ. This holistic strategy ensures content is accessible, engaging, and impactful, catering to the unique blend of preferences and needs within any group.

When preparing to speak amateur communicators start with what they want to say. Seasoned communicators start by understanding to whom they're saying it. To understand your audience, ask good questions and actively listen to the responses. You are trying to discern three things: 1. Who is the listener? 2. What challenges do they face? 3. How can I be helpful to them? If you deliver content that is helpful, your audience will be positively engaged. It is tempting to come up with something to say and then try to force it on a listener. Positive communication starts with the listener and works backward to the content.

Usualmente, en etapa inicial de un proyecto, aún no se establece un vínculo directo con la audiencia con la que se está comunicando. Por ese, es buena idea empezar con un mapa de empatía en el que se plantean todas esas preguntas, posicionándose como la persona a la que va dirigido el mensaje. Una vez se hace eso, se plantea un diseño o una metodología que se pone a prueba con un grupo focal y se hacen los ajustes para la versión final que se implementará.

One thing I've found helpful is that the communication must have an excellent introduction that captures the attention of the reader. Also, the communication narrative should ensure that the content is tailored to the differing needs of the audience, with relevant examples that support the content and relates to the experiences of the audience. The communication must possess the attributes of influence and impact. The communication should lead to creating the desired effects on the audience, in line with the objectives of the communication.

To make sure everyone gets along and works well together, there are a few important things to remember: 1. Avoid Guessing: Don’t assume things about others. For instance, don’t assume your colleague knows all the details of an assignment or when it’s due. Ask them directly instead. 2. Understand Context: When evaluating someone’s performance, try to understand their situation. Maybe they’re dealing with personal challenges or have other things on their plate. Knowing their context helps avoid misunderstandings. If we make assumptions without checking, it can cause problems. People might feel upset, teamwork could suffer, and it might even affect how well the team sticks together.

I'm sick to death of the idea that communication has to be positive and constructive. We all know that significant parts of the working world really suck... stupid ideas, awful bosses, unfaithful 'friends'... you name it, it happens. I disagree that one's reaction about those things should be silent and we should all pretend that we're all good corporate citizens and thinking positively about every crappy thing that we have to do/tolerate.

One thing I have found helpful. Choose positive words, avoid negativity. Be mindful of tone and body language. Actively listen, show empathy. Avoid assumptions; seek clarification.

I have worked in international humanitarian affairs for 15 years, in human rights for 8 years, peace development for 4 years. In these roles I have served through communication. Thr effectiveness of communication comes from the passion and drive of the issues you are communicating about. We live in a world today where communication cannot be separated from the issue being communicated about. Gone are the days when being a smooth speaker sells. Today the issue, the speaker’s ability to demonstrate lived experience is what makes a ‘communicator’. I would conclude by saying communicate on what you know and the ability to power it with evidence of what you evidential is powerful.

In the age of communication overload it’s crucial to choose the right mix of modality for the highest impact. For example when mindsets need to be challenged, then in-person coaching in 1:1 or group setting might be an ideal. If positive knowledge needs to be shared then a regular multi-modal communication might be best idea. During my time as an external consultant, I designed and delivered programs that help build a positive mindset towards customer complaints. This was done using a mix of communication mediums like emails, in person workshops, videos and recognition programs.

Let the audience know the path you took to become an expert on the topic, use the data to your advantage, show support by also citing other experts, authors and other well-known speakers. Create a narrative with a beginning, middle and end from your perspective on the topic.

To me, the key to positive, constructive communication is to understand that behaviour in and of itself never gives the whole picture. We need to understand someone's context, motivation, and intention before giving feedback.

I learnt this best when I joined Amazon! Say less with more. Use simple language that I jargon free and concise. For example a verbose and ambiguous statement meant to create positivity might get lost in translation and lead to negativity!

I realised when I first started in the corporate world that you want to use all the phrases that sound worky… before you know it you’re circling back, putting a pin in things and having a helicopter view. But then once you’ve been a corporate person for a few decades, you kick yourself for having picked up all the jargon in the first place and then you go back to speaking like a human again… mostly 😊

In my experience, it’s not what you say…it’s how you say it. Clear is kind. It’s important to have your thoughts in order to drive a meaningful conversation. Use words that your audience will understand and stay away from jargon that may not be understood by all. If using a presentation aid, be sure that your guide is also as clear as your delivery.

Majority of the people love making quick decisions due to lower attention span and lack of time. Clear and concise communication means people understand what is in it for them and why should they follow. One of the ways of building clear communication is focusing on experience rather than only on content. For example, if you are communicating about your new product, instead of bombarding the audience with a lot of content focus on what will let them visualise the values of the product.

In my experience, it can be immensely helpful to record yourself during a presentation, and then watch it back afterwards. That way, you can assess your verbal and non-verbal cues to determine where they may skew negative. It may seem daunting, but identifying your weaknesses simply allows you to turn them into strengths through practice.

L'écoute est indispensable dans les échanges. Il est aussi important de faire passer des messages (bonnes ou mauvaises nouvelles).S'adapter à la personne qui est en face permet d'installer un climat de confiance et une vision positive des futures discussions. Il n'y a pas de solutions miracles selon moi, il est important dans tous les cas de figure de faire le maximum. On évite les regrets.

Wer positiv kommunizieren möchte, darf das Wort "müssen" vermeiden. Das Publikum merkt, ob die Kommunikation tatsächlich so gemeint ist, oder ob ausschließlich bestimmte Methoden, Wörter und Sätze verwendet werden, um positiv zu wirken. Kommunikation ist Beziehung. Positive Kommunikation ist positive Beziehung. MMMM Man muss Menschen mögen.

I would recommend to make use of "I-messages" when communicating to make clear that you are coming from your own set of opinions and world view. However, the most important ingredient for good communication in my view is listening!

I like to acknowledge the sender by thanking them for their email and “listening” to what they’ve written. I also signing off my emails with something meaningful and fun that they can relate to like “Kind regards served with chocolate and coffee.” I often have people writing back reacting positively to my sign off and taking me up on the offer :D. A fabulous way to forge collegial relationships and to uplift someone’s day.

Active learning can give powerful engagement in communication aspect. It will show enthusiasm and positive feedback in which topics and messages delivered both ways.

I think engagement and motivation are something that comes from inside of a person. As a facilitator I can enable them and create the best possible conditions for them to emerge.

I think engaging can commonly be mistaken as being highly interesting, funny or outgoing. I know this because I used to lean toward theatrical and performative. Instead of being the most interesting person in the room, strive to be the most interested person in the room. Ask questions. Be curious. Connect.

Active! Yes! I’m sure we’ve all experienced being bored as a participant in a workshop. As a learner, I get bored when the person facilitating is monotonous, patronising, frozen to the spot and trying to be something they aren’t. Engagement for me, happens when we bring our authentic selves to the front. Real, open, human. Be curious about your audiences thoughts, involve them in their learning. Bring some humour if that’s you. Make it ok to have some fun. … And please, please, don’t write a script on a PowerPoint and read it to your audience!

I find it helpful to ask questions and allow time for uninterrupted responses. I practice active listening and take notes to seek clarity on points and issues I don't understand. This will all happen before I offer an opinion or viewpoint. Normally this gives way for clarity and positive responses.

To foster positive and constructive communication, I believe in maintaining a respectful tone, choosing words carefully, providing constructive feedback, and seeking understanding rather than placing blame works, additionally stay open-minded, avoid assumptions, express feelings using "I" statements, and encourage collaboration toward shared goals for positive and constructive communication focusing on solutions rather than problems.

Maximum participation from audience, positive energy, connecting with each person with eye contact makes a big difference in delivering the message.

There are multiple feedback models out there that are worth a look. I like the SBI model. The SBI model is a structured feedback technique that stands for Situation, Behavior, Impact. It provides clear, specific feedback by describing the situation, the observed behavior, and the impact of that behavior on others or the work environment. It keeps the feedback from becoming biased or accusatory, and focused on facts.

Believe your own message! Be a VOICE not an ECHO. Speak from the heart with complete authority and authenticity. “My life is my message.” - Gandhi