Originally published on businessnewsledger.com.
Effective communication is essential in many aspects of life, whether it be in personal or professional relationships. Hunter Patterson, the president and CEO of The Property Advocates, says communication is actually a skill that you can learn and improve upon over time.
Before you can improve on these skills, you must first understand what constitutes effective communication. Only then can you work toward improving your own communication skills.
Below is an explanation of what effective communication is and how you can put it into practice.
What Defines Effective Communication?
Communication generation is the process by which people exchange thoughts, ideas, knowledge, data, and opinions. It can be verbal, written, or non-verbal, as in body language.
Effective communication happens when the message that is being conveyed is understood and received with purpose and clarity. When effective communication occurs, both the person who sends the message and the person who receives it feel satisfied.
Communication is considered effective when it follows the 5 C’s of communication — clear, concise, compelling, curious, and compassionate.
“I think being as direct as possible, while still keeping in mind you can be direct and kind, is essential,” said Hunter Patterson of The Property Advocates. “When I am direct and honest and speak to people in a way they’re going to follow, I think it gets a lot more people involved in the process.”
Be Concise and Direct
Hunter Patterson of The Property Advocates hit on one of the most important aspects of practicing effective communication — being concise and direct. Too often, people beat around the bush or sugarcoat messages, especially when that message isn’t great news.
But, people appreciate when even challenging messages are conveyed to them in a direct way, as it conveys a sign of respect. Moreover, it allows them to understand the message better, leading to better responses.
“Realize people have short attention spans,” Hunter Patterson says. “You got to be quick and to the point. You got to be animated. Make them laugh a little bit but bring them back to a level of seriousness.
“To be effective, try to appeal to what will interest them and what will keep their attention.”
Know Who You’re Communicating With
One of the most overlooked aspects of communication is the audience. How you practice effective communication with one audience may differ dramatically from how you do so with another audience.
It’s then important to tailor your message and how you convey that message to the specific audience, you’re dealing with.
“Knowing your audience — that’s always what I think about before I start talking,” Hunter Patterson of The Property Advocates says. “When you’re speaking to someone ask yourself what is the goal of this communication? What am I trying to achieve out of this in a positive way?”
By following some of these guidelines, you can improve your communication skills so that you practice effective communication at all times.
About Hunter Patterson
As President and Chief Executive Officer of The Property Advocates, Hunter Patterson offers distinctive leadership and top results to clients and stakeholders. Hunter aims to level the playing field between insurance companies and policyholders through consistent education, empowerment, and professional excellence. Hunter has earned the prestigious CPCU insurance designation and graduated Magna Cum Laude as well as Valedictorian of his class at the Barry University School of Law.