SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/726375
FACILITY & OPERATIONS 34 SportsTurf | October 2016 www.sportsturfonline.com talk. You can't concentrate on what the speaker is saying if you are forming a reply. Stop everything you are doing and show interest in what is being said. Maintain eye contact, nod occasionally, smile, and encourage verbal comments. Monitor your facial expressions and posture. Speakers can often read facial expressions and know if your mind is somewhere else. KEEP THE MESSAGE SIMPLE Effective communicators are able to take very complex messages and break them down into clear and concise information that employees are able to grasp and act upon. Say what you mean in as few words as possible and avoid technical jargon and business talk. Next time, try this: Make the most important point at the beginning. If your direction turns into a lecture, you risk losing the employee's attention. Follow your point with an example and then gauge the listener's reaction to see if further detail is needed. Be assertive and communicate clearly and directly. Being assertive does not mean being hostile, aggressive or demanding. Being assertive allows the expression of thoughts, feelings, and needs in an open and honest way. Wrap up with a summary that reiterates the instructions. Employees benefit from hearing instructions twice. BE ENGAGED Show employees you care about them and their work. Interact with people face-to-face and build personal connections by taking an interest in both their personal and professional EFFECTIVE VERBAL COMMUNICATION WITH EMPLOYEES Editor's note: This article first appeared in STMA News Online, and includes contributions from the 2015 STMA Information Outreach Committee. Another key resource was http://www.forbes. com/sites/susantardanico/2012/11/29/5-habits-of-highly-effective- communicators/ http://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships/ effective-communication.html. V ery often as managers we give instruction to employees only to have the message misinterpreted, which can lead to misunderstandings, frustration, and conflicts. Employees significantly influence the outcome of any work project. If you, as a manager, communicate strategically and with purpose, you are more likely to see employees working with a common purpose towards shared goals. Effective communication helps us connect with others, build trust and respect, and improve teamwork. Communicating may seem easy, but communicating effectively actually takes time and practice. Choosing the right words, actively listening, and getting the message across are skills we all need to improve. Next time you find yourself in the middle of a misunderstanding, try one of the following tips to help resolve the issue. LISTEN One of the most important parts of communication is not speaking at all. Active listening allows us to fully engage in the information that is being conveyed as well as understand the emotions the speaker is trying to communicate. You are also building a stronger, deeper connection with the person by making him or her feel heard and understood. Don't just listen to give a reply, listen intently (without interruption) to fully understand the issue. Listening is critical as a manager because it helps form good relationships and encourages more open communication in the workplace. Next time, try this: Avoid interrupting. Think about what the person is saying and repeat it in your mind as he or she speaks. This prevents your mind from wandering and allows you to focus on the situation at hand. Try not to redirect the conversation to you and your concerns. In conversation, people often focus on what they are going to say next. Listening is not the same as waiting for your turn to talk. You can't concentrate on what the speaker is saying if you are forming a reply. Next time, try this: Wrap up with a summary that reiterates the instructions. Employees benefit from hearing instructions twice. Try not to redirect the conversation to you and your concerns. In conversation, people often focus on what they are going to say next. Listening is not the same as waiting for your turn to