Ever been part of a lecture where you couldn't essentially make sense of what the speaker was saying? Makes me remember some of those boring lectures I experienced in my university days.
This makes me conclude that even though we communicate every day, not everyone is an effective communicator.
So, it doesn't matter what level you're in your procurement career, you need to continuously refine your communication skills, agree?
In this blog post, we'll explore some essential strategies that will help you enhance your communication skills and excel in your procurement role.
📍Review For Clarity: Before sending any communication, take a moment to review and refine your message to ensure that it's clear, concise and free of unnecessary ambiguity. Avoid jargon or technical language that may confuse stakeholders and use simple, straightforward language to convey your message effectively.
📍Listen Actively: Effective communication is a two-way street, and active listening is a crucial component of the process. You can practice active listening by fully engaging with your conversation partner, maintaining eye contact and demonstrating empathy and understanding. Avoid interrupting or formulating your response while the other person is speaking and instead, focus on truly comprehending their perspective and concerns.
📍Tailor Your Communication: You need to recognize that different stakeholders may have varying communication preferences and styles. Simply put, adapt your communication approach to suit the preferences of your audience, whether it's through email, phone calls or face-to-face meetings. Tailor your message to resonate with each stakeholder group, taking into account their level of expertise, interests and priorities.
📍Transparency and Honesty: Transparency is key in enhancing your communication skills. Be upfront about challenges, risks and uncertainties, and communicate openly about your procurement processes, decisions and outcomes. So, feel free to share relevant information openly and proactively, even when it may be uncomfortable to do so.
📍Stay Adaptable and Flexible: Again, you've to be prepared to adapt your communication style and approach based on the context, situation and needs of your stakeholders. Whether you're navigating a crisis, managing a complex negotiation, or presenting a proposal, be flexible and adaptable in your communication to ensure that your message resonates and achieves its intended impact.
Remember, communication is not just about what you say but how you say it, so invest in honing your communication skills and watch your performance soar.
Need procurement specific training? Reach out to support@efemini.com and we'll get you sorted.
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