It’s been too long since I shared something. 3 weeks to be precise. 3 weeks of silence is far too much for someone who is committed to sharing some love with you every week. And let me just appreciate the silent followers who prompted me at every turn of a missed week. All the same, I am thrilled to be back and more importantly to share some more love with you.
One of the reasons I was not able to share much from #Standout4Growth these past 3 weeks was because my day job required me to travel out and about. To engage with customers on our various solutions. And I am happy to say that in those 3 weeks, I felt like a transformed Engineer. (In fact, I think I have earned the right to call myself Eng the next time I am with my village mates)
Have you ever heard the saying, “You are who you hang around”? It may sound cliché, but there’s a profound truth hidden within those words. The people we surround ourselves with have a profound influence on our thoughts, actions, and words. This statement rang true for me as my conversations with our technical customers & teams intensified. Forcing me to speak in a manner that reflected the audience I was engaging.
Many times, we are forced to adopt to the different environments in which we find ourselves in. And to ensure our message is well understood, we must be able to speak in the same language as the audience in the said environment. This is what leads to effective communication.
Communication is a necessary pre-requisite to effectively managing your brand, be it a corporate / business brand or a personal brand. Furthermore, both will require clarity not just in the message itself, but also in the delivery of the message for it to be effective and persuasive.
In addition, personal brands that employ effective communication strategies always win the hearts and minds of their audience. To ensure you are speaking the same language as your audience, you should consider the following:
- Research and Understand your Audience: Take the time to research and understand the background, preferences, and interests of your audience. Consider their demographics, cultural context, professional expertise, and any specific factors that may influence their perspectives. This research will help you tailor your message appropriately. Consider simple things like saying ‘Hello’ in the local language; this could easily help build a connection with the audience.
- Use Clear and Concise Language: Use language that is easily understood by your audience. If they speak using technical words, then adopt to that and communicate using their style. If they prefer simplicity, them use simple language but be careful not to seem like you are dumbing down your audience. Strive to understand, be understood, for clarity when communicating and where necessary, provide explanations or examples to clarify your points.
- Adapt your Tone and Style: Tailor your tone and style of communication to match the preferences and expectations of your audience. Are they more formal or informal? Do they prefer a casual and conversational approach or a more professional and structured one? By adapting your tone, you can establish a connection and resonate with your audience more effectively.
- Seek Feedback: Sometimes, it is difficult to measure what the audience finds useful. In such instances, feedback becomes very useful. Encourage feedback from your audience to ensure you are effectively communicating with them. Ask for clarification if they appear confused or seek their input on whether the message resonated with them. Feedback provides valuable insights that can help you refine your communication style and better connect with your audience.
The bottom line when it comes to having effective communication between you and your audience, is you must ensure you tailor the communication to meet the audience’s needs while ensuring the message is understandable and relevant to them. Only then will you be able to elevate the impact of your communication, inspire others, and drive meaningful change with our message.
As you start off your week, ensure your Personal Brand is communicating for impact and #Standout4Growth.
Did you get a chance to read our last article on Your Personal Brand Leakage
One Comment