💪 3 Communication Principles to Fast-track your Career

Welcome to Career Catalyst, your weekly dose of practical strategies and tips for career advancement – minus the overwhelm. 

Communication doesn't have to be a snooze-fest, especially if you're trying to fast-track your career. 

I’ve got three straightforward (yet commonly overlooked) communication principles to help level-up your communication game and propel yourself towards achieving your career aspirations. 

These principles focus on cultivating stronger relationships, enhancing credibility and boosting visibility, ultimately paving the way to expedite the achievement of your growth goals.

Let’s go!

1. Make People Feel Valued ('ABC Method') 

A simple yet powerful method to making people feel valued revolves around three core principles–Acknowledge, Be Attentive, and Connect – which, when practiced consistently, can foster more meaningful and lasting connections. 

1. ACKNOWLEDGE

To show someone that you value and appreciate them: 

• Hold appropriate eye contact during conversations (Note: this varies culturally so know your cultural nuances)
• Offer authentic praise. This means being specific about what you appreciate about the person. “Nothing else so inspires and heartens people as words of appreciation.” – Dale Carnegie

2. BE ATTENTIVE

To show someone you’re fully engaged in a conversation:

• Be curious and ask insightful questions (e.g. “Could you tell me more about that?” or "What would success look like for this project?")  
• Prioritise being interested rather than trying to appear interesting. Resist the urge to constantly talk about yourself or try to one-up the other person's experiences. Focus on actively listening and showing genuine interest in what the other person is saying.  

3. CONNECT

To establish and maintain strong connections with people:

• Stay in contact. Regularly check-in on them, whether by email, phone, LinkedIn or in meetings.
• Bring up a past discussion point in a future conversation (e.g. “You mentioned you're training for a marathon. How's that going?").

During your next conversation, remember ABC–Acknowledge, Be attentive and Connect – it could make all the difference in strengthening your relationships.

2. Provide Meaningful Updates

Most people have busy schedules and cluttered minds, so it’s common for them to forget what they asked you to do. It’s your responsibility to provide regular updates on progress. This keeps them informed AND reinforces their trust in you. 

Here’s a simple 5-step outline that can help:

1. “Here's a recap of the task you assigned to me”

Provide a clear and concise summary of what they asked you to do, including: (1) deadline, (2) goals, and (3) expectations. This reminder can help them recollect the task and align their expectations with your progress.

2. “Here's the progress I’ve made so far”

Outline the steps you’ve taken towards completing the task. Highlight progress, including any achievements, milestones or challenges. Be clear and concise – avoid unnecessary details that may distract from essential information.

3. “These are the potential challenges or obstacles I've encountered”

Provide and honest and transparent update if you’ve encountered any obstacles or challenges that may hinder progress. Identify risks. This includes blockers or potential delays that may impact completion. Provide possible solutions or workarounds. This demonstrates foresight and problem-solving skills.

4. “If I had more time, here are the next steps I'd take to optimise results”

Given the current status of the task, provide insights on the possible next steps. If you need more time or resources to complete the task, make this clear and provide a realistic estimate of when you can expect to deliver. If you have ideas to improve/optimise the task, suggest them and provide reasons why.

OPTIONAL: “These are the additional resources/assistance I need to complete the task”

In some cases, you might need additional support or resources to complete the task successfully. Be clear about what you need, e.g. additional budget, more time, access to specific tools, or assistance from others. This helps clarify expectations, shows your proactive approach and increases chances of success. 

3. Send ‘Weekly Wins’ 

A 2021 study published in Harvard Business Review found that managers either did not know, or could not remember, 60% of what their teams did. So, to ensure visibility & build trust, keep important people informed about your work. A simple way is to provide a short weekly update each Friday afternoon on your progress. 

Here's a three-part outline:

1. Weekly Win

Highlight achievements from the previous week, e.g. significant projects or tasks completed, new skills learned, or connections made with team members/ external stakeholders. This demonstrates a proactive approach to work and your commitment to the team's goals.

2. Team Support

Highlight how you supported the team's objectives, e.g. how you contributed to team projects, mentored colleagues, or collaborated across departments. This demonstrates your team-oriented approach, you show your commitment to collective success and your ability to work effectively with others.

3. Goals/Priorities for the Upcoming Week

End your update by providing insights on your priorities for the upcoming week. Outline the tasks you plan to work on and the goals you hope to achieve. This provide transparency and accountability to your team and help them understand how your work contributes to the overall objectives.

BONUS TIP – AVOID BCG: If you really want to fast-track your career, avoid Backbiting, Gossiping & Complaining (BGC). Engaging in these behaviours can be detrimental in more ways than one. Instead, focus on constructive communication and problem-solving to improve teamwork and workplace morale. Choose your attitude and behaviour wisely. Be a good human.

Which of these principles resonates most? Which one's most relevant to your current situation? Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear from you.👇

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If you enjoyed this article, you might find value in my recently LinkedIn Learning Course: Nano Tips to Enhance your Communication. I share 10 tips in under 10 minutes to help you drive positive outcomes, deepen relationships and foster collaboration through how you communicate. You can access the videos for FREE by clicking this link. Enjoy!