From the course: Developing Your Emotional Intelligence

Communicate intention and impact

From the course: Developing Your Emotional Intelligence

Communicate intention and impact

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- How you want to come across may not be how you actually come across to others. All too often, we focus on what we want to say, but the impact we make is more about how someone else perceives us and our message. Being adaptable and flexible in how you communicate with others is key, which is why it's essential you don't focus on the exact message you want to communicate but more the intention, what you want the other person to take away from your interaction. Consider a sales manager managing a large team of sales consultants. There will be key messages everyone has to know, facts, figures, targets, codes of conduct, marketing information. Some of this will have to be documented for clarity and legal reasons, but the majority of these messages are delivered or reinforced informally. One consultant may respond to a one-to-one briefing. Another may prefer an email exchange or informal chats over a coffee. Your colleagues each have their own preferences as well. Rather than focusing on exactly what to say, before each interaction, focus on your intent. What would you like the other person to know or take away? This will make each unique interaction more focused, and you'll be adaptable enough to change your communication style depending on the circumstance. If people understand your intentions, even if the execution isn't quite right, they're more likely to listen and engage with you, and you have a greater chance of building trust, which is a critical part of managing relationships. Focusing on intent can boost your confidence, as you'll understand it doesn't matter exactly how you deliver the message. People will connect with the intent behind it. It will give you the ability to be flexible in your approach, relieving some of the pressure associated with crafting the perfect delivery. You'll also come across as natural and authentic, which is a huge bonus when connecting with people. Focusing on intent also gives you the freedom to mess up. As long as you can explain your intentions and why you delivered the message in a certain way, you have a bit more room for error. The key here is to be honest. Think about the other person's perspective. And remember, effective communication is about the message received by the other person, not the message you provided. Before you head into your next meeting, pause for a couple of minutes and get really clear on your intent for the meeting, which could be one thing you want to achieve or how you want the other person to feel after interacting with you.

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