CLICK BELOW TO REDISCOVER HUMANITY
A DECADE+ OF STORYTELLING POWERED BY THE BEST WRITERS ON THE PLANET

Communication Skills Learned From A #MeToo Moment

An ambitious young female landed a meeting with a powerful industry leader, and she was thrilled by the opportunity to pitch her work. She practiced her presentation for hours to get every nuance of the visuals and the text just right. This meeting could launch her career to the next level.

On the day of the meeting, she donned her power suit, the one she carefully selected for the occasion. It was a well thought out balance of corporate uniform and standout color. She knew it was important for her to feel powerful, and that suit was her magic armor. As she put herself together that morning, the young executive followed every rule of business decorum, right down to her closed toe, moderate height heels.

She arrived for the meeting with the look of concentration on her face and paced in the reception area waiting her turn. When the industry leader finally emerged, she greeted him with her best corporate handshake, just like one of the guys. His amusement at being caught off guard by such a strong hand boosted her confidence.

At the end of the meeting, the industry leader expressed his desire to meet again and possibly work together on a project in the near future. He complimented the young executive’s presentation and noted with a wry smile that she had the complete package. His parting comments included telling her he was glad she came in to meet with him.

What Happened Next

This story does not have the happy ending we might hope for. While all the right words were spoken, the subtext was anything but clear. The industry leader thought he had made a friend, someone to liven up those boring board meetings and add some spice to cocktail networking events.

The young executive thought she had been recognized for her intelligence and unique perspective. She expected that bold presentation to land her a lucrative contract. The only follow-up she ever got from the meeting was an invitation to dinner which she grudgingly turned down, knowing it was not the advance she was looking for.

She spent months thinking about what she did wrong. That young executive did not want to believe that she was initially singled out for anything other than her ideas. She even refused to accept advice from well-meaning friends to stop wearing skirts to work.

The rest of her career path was colored by this one incident. She lost confidence in herself and became wary of all-powerful figures in that industry. Sometimes she even wondered if she should have gone on the dinner date and followed that nefarious path to the top of her field. She had heard of women who did, and they often seemed better off than she was.

The Communication Debacle

Let’s set aside the gender debate and recognize that the roles in this story are not gender specific. Men are not the only ones who get it wrong, and there may be shades of truth on both sides. The true problem lies in what was said and what was assumed. This is a classic communication model gone wrong.

Clear communication does not leave too much to the imagination. Intentions, objectives, and tactics must be explicitly stated. Common sense is the argument typically made the day after. If you want to avoid a “day after” situation (and who doesn’t?) articulate the details from the beginning.

Harnessing the art of explicit business communication will improve your leadership outcomes. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • Commit your instructions to writing, so they can be referenced later
  • Use enough words to be clear but avoid too much verbiage that might hide your true point
  • Give reasons that help elucidate your intentions
  • Articulate expected outcomes in advance
  • Recognize what the power of your position adds to your communications
  • Expect to be misinterpreted based on what your audience wants to hear
  • Repeat your communications using different words without changing the message

When it comes to business communication missteps, everyone is a #MeToo. We have all sat through that staff meeting listening to motivational platitudes that made us happy to be chosen for the project team. It isn’t until weeks later that you proudly deliver your work project to a disappointed supervisor who articulates a list of objectives you were completely unaware of.

Whether you are the young, eager executive or the seasoned industry leader, you will not enjoy the regret that comes from poor communication. No amount of “day after” excuses can undo a month’s worth of work and the unrequited anticipation of accolades. Parties on both sides of the communication equation have a duty to participate in clarity.

Christine Andola
Christine Andolahttps://frameworkbranding.com/
Christine has mastered the art of human connection working for more than 30 years in the communication and marketing field. Communication, whether it is with employees and new recruits or potential customers and your existing client base, is all about the people. Christine brings people together with their employees, with the members of their leadership teams, and with their customers and clients. Her customer service perspective builds long-term relationships with clients and helps clients develop connections with their target audience. Christine is also a highly successful copywriter with experience developing copy and brand voice for companies across a wide array of industries. At heart, Christine is a native New Yorker who has traveled the entire length of the Erie Canal by boat and navigated both the St. Lawrence and the Hudson rivers.

DO YOU HAVE THE "WRITE" STUFF? If you’re ready to share your wisdom of experience, we’re ready to share it with our massive global audience – by giving you the opportunity to become a published Contributor on our award-winning Site with (your own byline). And who knows? – it may be your first step in discovering your “hidden Hemmingway”. LEARN MORE HERE


2 CONVERSATIONS

TAKE STROLL INSIDE 360° NATION

TIME FOR A "JUST BE." MOMENT?

ENJOY OUR FREE EVENTS

BECAUSE WE'RE BETTER TOGETHER