Inside the Club: Direct Communication

We are currently in the midst of the holiday season. Therefore, I hope all of you are enjoying your time with your families, or were provided time with them at some point this week.

I always get excited about this time of the year. It seems to bring friends and families closer and it prepares us to collectively launch into another year of our lives. Whatever goals you had set for 2013, I hope you made them happen. However, if you didn’t, it’s almost over and time to reset for 2014. I don’t really believe in New Year’s Resolutions, but I do believe in goal setting. For one goal in 2014, I hope to spend more time experimenting with functional training and those methods.

What is your top goal for 2014?

Additionally, in terms of business, I believe I’ll continue to analyze management strategies in hopes of learning how to best utilize team members. Lately I’ve been thinking about a blog I read not too long ago. I can’t remember who wrote it, or where I read it, and I apologize. The gist of the blog discussed management communication.

Communication is priority number one in managing people. If you have horrible communication, either written or verbal, you will struggle as a manager. For me, it’s vital that I continually work on my communication and how I speak to my team.

The blog I read pointed to one key factor, which was directness. Many times we might really want one outcome, but because we are team players we turn what we want into a question. For example, if you want X to occur from one team member, you might actually say to them, “Which do you think, X or Y?”

You may have already made an executive decision as to what you needed accomplished. But, because you have a tendency to want to involve everyone, you seem to approach things with a question.

It’s important to utilize the expertise of the people on your team and go to them with consultation. However, when you have made up your mind and you need someone to execute, it’s important that you are direct.

I’m not suggesting that you be demanding, but simply direct. Your ability to tell someone exactly what you want will give the individual a new goal and outcome, and it will make you happier knowing your true desires are being fulfilled.

It’s this aspect of communication that is vital to your success as a company. If you continually ask questions when you want something accomplished, you may not get the feedback you desire, and you won’t get the end outcome you’re looking for. This will build animosity among your team and your company will suffer.

Tyler Montgomery is the editor of Club Solutions Magazine. He can be reached at tyler@clubsolutionsmagazine.com.