Is the way you’re communicating with your most important stakeholders actually working?

No pressure, but as the change leader (or a member of the change team) the way you personally communicate can make or break the success of the whole change program.

My guest today is the remarkable Sharon Pakir. Sharon is a leadership coach and mentor who helps leaders become more powerful through her online workshops and corporate leadership programs. Sharon recently came and hosted a masterclass on connective communication for my team #TeamEVER. I’m excited to have her on the show to share her expertise with you.

In this episode, Sharon helps us explore how to engage your stakeholders through connective communication. To put it simply, connective communication is communication that makes people feel so good that they do good. In this ep, Sharon will break it down for you so you walk away with a firm grasp of exactly how to apply it with your team and stakeholders.

You’ll discover:

The 4 C’s of connective communication
Why using positive language with stakeholders is a game changer (and exactly how to do this in your role today!)
The key to connective communication (hint: it’s NOT about making ourselves look good)

You’ll find so much value in our conversation today and I know you’ll want your organisational change team to start using this approach to their personal communication when engaging stakeholders today.

Listen in now!

TOPICS DISCUSSED AND WHERE TO FIND THEM:

[1:30]: Research from the Project Management Institute found that poor communication was the cause of almost 20% of all project failures.

[3:40]: Change leaders have several hats they need to wear: leading, managing a team, and connecting with different stakeholders.

[4:37]: Sharon explains what connective communication entails. The basics of communication includes Clear Communication which is very important in itself. The higher level is Connective Communication which includes leadership.

[6:00]: Make people want to do the thing. Catalyzing and compelling lead to safety and security in people.

[7:43]: Sharon shares her 4Cs: Clear, Concise, Catalyzing and Compelling.

[10:28]: Everything you tell someone has to go context-action-outcome in a sequence.

[12:30]: When you treat your communication as a gift and they receive it as a gift you’re creating strength in your relationship and everyone you communicate with becomes your advocate.

[12:53]: It’s not about making yourself look good, it’s about making the people around you feel good.

[16:40]: People don’t want to make decisions due to decision fatigue, tell people what they need to know to take the action.

[17:23]: 3 rules to follow for positive communication. #1 Replace any words that have a negative connotation. #2 Replace trigger words. #3 Depersonalise.

[20:59]: When someone comes to you with trigger language, deescalate their language and repeat it back.

[23:43]: Diplomacy is embedded in everything we do.

[25:21]: Smooth and then solve.

[26:26]: Where to find Sharon.

CONNECT WITH SHARON:

Website: https://www.sharonpakir.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonpakir

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinvincible.co/

Podcast: Invincible by Sharon Pakir

CONNECT WITH KATE

Website: https://www.everchange.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ever-change-and-communication