How to Communicate 101

It’s that time of year again! The next two days we’ll be blogging from GovLoop and YGL’s Next Generation of Government Training Summit. Follow along @NextGenGov and read more blog posts here.

Mail, Memos, Meetings and Memes – Communicate All The Ways

Speakers

Michael Lawyer, Special Assistant to the Chief Human Capital Officer at Department of Housing and Urban Development
Laura Kunkel, Special Assistant, Deputy Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development

There are lots of people with lots of messages, finding a way to have your message resonate is what will make it memorable and have an impact. See five general principles of communication listed below.

5 General Principles of Communication

• Audience’s needs are more important to them than your initial message
• Use your audience’s own words
• Specifics matter
• Connect with your coworkers
• Keep the conversation going

When communicating with people in your office remember to focus on what method of communication (phone call, email, meeting) works best for them. See the tips below for specifics.

5 Tips to Increase Productivity

Mail:

• Always reply to messages
• Rarely use the reply to all option
• Take it offline!

Memo:

• Get to the point
• Be brief and concise
• Re-read and double check for typos

Meetings:

• Pre-meeting What do you want from the meeting?
• During meeting What do other people think of the meeting?
• Post- meeting What happened during the meeting?

Masses (Speech writing)

• Write for sound, read it aloud in your office beforehand
• Be in control, be aware of your own body language
• Speak slowly

Memes

• Look at the big picture
• Embrace the humor

Now go out and put these skills to good use!