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At this stage team members may challenge your authority or management style, or even the team's mission. Left unchecked, this can lead to face-to-face confrontations or simmering online tensions.

If roles and responsibilities aren't yet clear, individuals might begin to feel overwhelmed by their workload or frustrated at a lack of progress.

How Do I Recognize the Norming Stage?

Gradually, the team moves into the norming stage. People start to resolve their differences, appreciate one another's strengths, and respect your authority as a leader.

Now that they know one another better, your team members will feel more comfortable asking for help and offering constructive feedback. They'll share a stronger commitment to the team's goals, and they should make good progress toward it.

What Does the Performing Stage Look Like?

Now your team is in flow and performing to its full potential. With hard work and structured processes, the team is likely to achieve its goals efficiently.

Judith Stein, from MIT's HR department, says of this stage, "Roles on the team may have become more fluid, with members taking on various roles and responsibilities as needed. Differences among members are appreciated and used to enhance the team's performance." [2]

What About Tuckman's Adjourning (or Mourning) Stage?

Many teams reach this stage naturally. For example, projects come to an end, or permanent teams are disbanded and people redeployed.

People who like routine, or who have developed close working relationships with colleagues, may find this time difficult.

Using the Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing Tool

Follow the steps below to ensure that you're doing the right thing at the right time:

1. Identify the stage that your team is at from the descriptions above.

2. Consider what you need to do to move on to the next stage.

3. Schedule regular reviews of where your team is at, and adjust your behavior and leadership approach accordingly.

Tuckman's model isn't a one-way street - teams may go back and forth between stages. When you hit the performing stage, keep observing your team's progress in case it slips back. For example, a new team member can disrupt the group dynamic, or a new business direction might mean you have to reevaluate your team roles and goals.

Leading Through the Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing Stages

Forming to Storming

To establish clear objectives for the group at this first stage, create a team charter. And help team members to set personal goals so that they can see how their work will fit with the bigger picture.

Storming to Norming

Storming can make or break a team, so it's essential that you establish processes to track the progress and success of tasks.

Norming to Performing

Use your regular one-on-ones to encourage individuals to step back, review their goals, and take responsibility for them.

Performing to Adjourning

When the team has settled into the performing stage, you can focus on other goals and new areas to benefit the business. Free up more time for yourself - and boost team engagement - by delegating tasks and projects.

You should also make time for the group's personal development. Discuss with your team what opportunities and resources are available to them.

Adjourning (or Mourning)

If any team members feel uncertain about what's ahead, boost their confidence and career prospects by praising them at company meetings. And offer to provide LinkedIn recommendations and references if they're moving on.

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Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing - Tuckman's Model for Nurturing a Team to High Performance

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Nurture your team to high performance with Tuckman's Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning (Mourning) model.

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Connect with customers through customized interactions and active responses.

You should be reaching customers where they are (e.g., face to face, phone, social media).

Show customers that you appreciate them, and elicit feedback through customer surveys.

This article is for small business owners who want to find ways to better connect with their customers.

Your customers drive your business, which is why it's so important to note how they interact with your brand. Don't just reach out to them when you want their business; find ways to continuously show them you care.

Jessica Alba, founder and CEO of The Honest Company, believes brands can learn a lot by staying connected and listening to their customers.

"I think it's important for brands, especially brands [that] are really consumer-centric, to stay connected," Alba shared at the American Express OPEN Success Makers Summit for Business Platinum Card Members. "Customers tell you so much from their behavior and how they shop with you."

Here are 10 effective ways to connect with your customers and build lasting relationships that can keep them loyal to your brand.

1. Don't use a one-size-fits-all approach.

You want your customers to feel special, and you can achieve this by approaching each one as an individual rather than just another customer. Grouping all your consumers together will only express inauthenticity.

"In our messaging, we will treat a heavy user of our app differently than a light user," said Jon Ziglar, CEO of ParkMobile. "We treat a new user differently than a veteran user. We try to make the messages as relevant as possible to that specific person."

2. Respond to concerns.

Don't just be available when your business is doing well or your customers are satisfied. If you want customers to trust and respect you, you need to earn it by proving your dedication to making them happy.

For example, ParkMobile received a one-star review from a man who complained that the app was inconvenient and took time away from his date. Instead of ignoring the comment or making excuses, Ziglar said, they contacted the reviewer directly to express their remorse and offered a gift card to the exact restaurant where he had been that day.

"He really appreciated the gesture, and we turned a 'hater' into a huge ParkMobile advocate," said Ziglar. "He even let us feature his story in a social media campaign.
Key takeaway: Responding to customer concerns builds trust.
3. Go above and beyond.

Ziglar's story about his interaction with the unhappy-patron-turned-advocate leads us to our next tip: Go above and beyond for your customers. As a small business owner, you will likely have a close connection to your customers, and you can use this to your advantage. Offer special discounts for customer loyalty, recommend specific products based on what you know about a customer's interests, and always remedy an unpleasant experience.

Some customers will have a negative experience with your brand. However, it is your job to make sure your customer or client's experience ends well. Exceptional customer support will keep them coming back for more.

"Sometimes, you have to go above and beyond to build raving fans of your business," Ziglar said.

4. Follow up.

Following up is an easy way to earn customers' appreciation. No one likes to file a complaint or ask a question, only to hear radio silence. Respond to customers throughout their buying journey so they build a connection with you. This is also a great way to keep your business top of mind for your customers.

If an existing customer purchases a new or unique product, follow up with them to make sure they enjoyed it. Thank customers for doing business with you. Everyone likes to feel acknowledged. Follow-up is also a great way to identify unhappy customers before their unsatisfactory experience ends with a negative review online.

5. Keep it personal, not transactional.

Peelu Shivaraju, the owner and operator of a Money Mailer franchise in Michigan, says being more personal with customers strengthens your bonds with them.

Rather than being aggressive when selling, try to be more consultative and conversational so clients understand your intentions are pure, Shivaraju recommended.

"Nobody likes a salesperson," he said. "Don't go in talking about your product; go in and ask them questions about their business."

6. Focus on face-to-face interactions.

It's common to experience miscommunications when using technology as the primary source of contact. While emails and telephone calls are convenient, nothing beats face-to-face contact.

You can understand your customers better in person than over the phone or through a screen. Shivaraju makes it a point to drop in on clients to introduce himself and establish both a professional and personal relationship with them.

"I like to get to know my clients, what their businesses are all about," he said. "I do a lot of research about their business and ask them lots of questions to genuinely show interest. I want to learn everything I possibly can so that I know how best to help their business."

It's easier to learn about a client by talking to them in person. However, some people feel more comfortable speaking to you from a distance. Shivaraju advised asking your clients what their preferred method of communication is and sticking with that.

Companies benefit from having social media accounts; however, simply having a social media account is not enough - you need to be actively engaged. A recent survey shows that 40% of users expect a brand to respond to them within the first hour of connecting, and nearly 80% expect a response within the first 24 hours.

Many shoppers see whether a company has an online presence before they will do business with them. Customers are already using social media platforms to browse new products, leave reviews and share favorite items with their friends, and you should meet them where they are. Interacting on social media can help your company's brand shine, and it is a great way to stay on your customers' minds and feed.

Customers are constantly reviewing and talking about brands on social media, and there is a good chance your company will be the topic of discussion at one point or another. Actively engaging customers on social media and responding to social media comments are great ways to direct the narrative about what is being said about your brand. It can also allow you to resolve negative comments as soon as they arise. [Read related article: Social Media for Business: A Marketer's Guide]

The specific platforms you use will depend on your specific brand and following (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest).

8. Grow with your current clients in mind.

If your customers are happy, your business will continue to develop. Shivaraju said not to get too caught up in quick growth, especially if it means giving less attention to clients and jeopardizing your customer service.
Key takeaway: Prioritizing your existing customers over the acquisition of potential customers is a great way to build long-term loyalty.
"I understand that business owners are always busy, so I always try to work around their schedules," he said. "All new clients get a follow-up visit after the first mailing goes out, as well as another in a few months to see how it's going. As long as [clients] give me a reasonable window of time, I'll always make myself available at a time and place of their choosing. My clients always come first."

9. Show your appreciation.

Just as you would with supportive friends and family, make sure your customers know you recognize their importance.

Shivaraju shows his appreciation to two important groups of people: "The first is to my clients. They pay me money, so it's my responsibility to create the best possible ad I can for their business and get them high-quality new leads. The second is to the consumers of my product. I need to have my envelopes filled with quality hyperlocal content, filled with businesses that me and my family are comfortable doing business with so that they get opened and used."

Shivaraju mails out envelopes to his consumers, thanking them for purchasing local goods and services. He also recommended sending holiday cards and discounts to show gratitude.

10. Survey your customers.
Skye Schooley contributed to the writing and reporting in this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.
A great way to stay informed about your customers' wants and needs is by sending out surveys. For example, your business can send out occasional customer surveys to elicit customer feedback on what products they like best, what changes should be made to existing products and what products should be added to your line. When your customers feel like they have input on what you are providing, it can help build loyalty.

Additionally, surveying your customers can help improve your overall product or service offering and cater to what your customers want. This can result in higher sales, which means more money in your pocket.

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10 Effective Ways to Connect With Your Customers - businessnewsdaily.com

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Connect with customers through customized interactions and active responses. You should be reaching customers where they are (e.g., face to face, phone, social media). Show customers that you appreciate them, and elicit feedback through customer surveys. This article is for small business owners who want to find ways to better connect with their customers.

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Artists have been a major part of humanity since the beginning. They inspire and shape how we think, and they answer questions that we're too afraid to ask ourselves. They give us a new perspective and better understand our world. In short, they help us survive. Without art and creativity, our societies would be boring and bland. Not only that but they would cease to grow and change. We need art and creativity if we want to move forward as humans.

The Link Between Art and Creativity

Creativity is what distinguishes humans from all other species. We create art because it's an essential part of our survival. It's important to represent different cultures, retrace history, evolve as a society, and shape the future of humanity.

Art is the expression or application of human creative ability and imagination, usually in visual forms such as painting or sculpture, or in an aural form such as music, creating works that are valued primarily for their beauty or emotional power.
Creativity is the process of developing new ideas, concepts, beliefs, or solutions.
The term "creativity" is used in various contexts to describe productivity, human intelligence, emotion, and other qualities associated with creative practice.

The Importance of Art and Creativity in Human Life

Art and creativity are among the most important things in our lives.

We need them to survive.
Without art and creative work, there would be no laughter, no music, no imagination, and no stories.
Laughter and music aren't practical in daily life. Without them, we'd still get along just fine. But without a sense of art, there would be no imagination and no stories.

There would be no way to escape reality and imagine a world other than the one we live in now.
That's why it's so important that children are exposed to art at an early age - so that they can use it when they want to escape from reality into their own imagination.
Some of the greatest writers, musicians, and painters were inspired in their childhood - when they were exposed to art at a very early age.

Related: Why Creativity Is Important

When Society Takes Art Away From Children, It Deprives Them of Something They'll Need Forever

Creativity is essential to human development because humans are born with an innate desire to express themselves creatively. This desire is hardwired into our neurons - it's in our DNA.

All humans have a natural desire for creative expression in all its forms: Music, dance, singing, writing stories

The Importance of Art and Creativity in Society

Societies need art and creativity to survive.

Art stimulates the human mind and helps people understand the world. It can make a society more stable and give it direction. It can serve to develop a sense of self-identity.
Art, in all its various forms, offers people the opportunity to express themselves, ask questions, address issues, document history, and record events as they happen.
It allows people to imagine a new future, explore an alternative universe, and dream up new realities.

Art can inspire people on a grand scale and connect them in peace.

Creativity allows societies to grow through change and accept that things and ideas can evolve over time. This means that art is critical for the flexibility to accept change - which is crucial for societies that need to adapt quickly to survive and thrive.

The Importance of Art and Creativity in History

Art is an essential part of human civilization and has been for thousands of years.
From the earliest cave paintings to contemporary works, art has enabled people to communicate ideas, tell stories, create beauty, and forge new identities.
Art was first used by early human civilizations as a symbolic communication system. Its meaning goes much deeper than simple communication.

The tools that prehistoric man used were crude by today's standards, but the purpose was clear: to convey the meaning of our ancestors through symbols and images.

Through images, writing, music, and dance, these early societies expressed their hopes, dreams, and fears - everything they needed to communicate with each other.

Does Contemporary Art Matter in Our Modern Society?

Today, we rely on words - because most things are expressed verbally today. But these earlier forms of communication have influenced contemporary art in many ways - and also modern artists who use these techniques to express their views and feelings through new creative practices.
For example, graphic design, where graphic designers use technology in their creative process. Art is a powerful expression of the society in which it's created. It reflects the values of the time, documents cultural identity, and forms the basis for new esthetics and trends.
Contemporary art is a way to preserve culture even when societies are disrupted and displaced by war or natural disasters.

Related: Is Technology Limiting Creativity

How Art Affects Our Human Experience

Art stimulates the brain and improves your memory

Several studies have found that the presence of artwork in the classroom can increase students' test scores and improve their grades.
According to scientific research, even a few minutes of looking at art can boost cognitive skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.
Art also improves memory. A study conducted by researchers at Northwestern College found that viewing artwork such as paintings and sculptures improves the ability to remember information.

Art promotes emotional expression

Art is a universal language that expresses our emotions, whether joy, excitement, sadness or anger. It's an important way for us to communicate with each other and share our feelings.
Numerous studies have shown that art therapy can help patients overcome depression and anxiety by encouraging them to express their feelings through creative outlets such as painting, drawing, or sculpting.
It's also been shown to relieve pain in cancer patients by lowering stress levels and increasing the production of endorphins, the body's natural painkiller.

Art makes you feel

Anyone who's ever picked up a paintbrush or danced around with a musical instrument knows that creating art can make you feel great! Studies have also shown that experiencing art has a positive effect on our emotions and makes us feel more human.

Imagine Living in a World Without Art and Creativity

Imagine living in a world without art and human creativity.

A world without literature, music, theater, and visual arts. A world without paintings, sculptures, symphonies, or plays.
Sounds pretty boring, doesn't it? The arts play an important role in society because they're the means by which we communicate ideas, feelings, and emotions to each other.
They provide us with an outlet for expression and imagination. They help us make sense of our lives and the world around us.

They also inspire other art forms such as architecture, music, and literature, and help preserve culture for future generations.
Creating something new gives us a sense of accomplishment and joy.
It's like solving a puzzle - you can see your own progress when you start with one idea or form of material and something completely different comes out in the end.

Related: Why is Film Important to Society

5 Examples of How the Art World Has Changed Society

1. The Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa, created by Leonardo da Vinci in the 1500s, is known for more than just the mysterious smile that made this visual art piece so famous and popular.

Her original home is now a tourist destination with millions of visitors each year.

This single painting has become a symbol of feminism and the Renaissance.

The Taj Mahal is one of the most significant symbols of love, created in the 17th century.

Architects, engineers, and travelers alike have marveled at its architecture and design. It's also a historical landmark that's had a tremendous impact on society.

The Taj Mahal has long been considered one of the most beautiful structures in the world, but it's also had a great impact on Indian society.

3. Pablo Picasso, Guernica

When faced with war, art can play a huge role in trying to make sense of our surroundings.

War has been an inspiration for the creation of great works of art for many years.

This painting, created by Pablo Picasso in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War, offers readers the opportunity to take a close look at a work of art and study something that wasn't only created by a visual artist but also based on something that's frightening and important in history.

Guernica is also an inspiration for many artists around the world.

4. The Beatles

The Beatles were a band that changed music and pop culture by bringing new attitudes and styles to the forefront in the early sixties.

The Beatles played a key role in society, uniting not only people of different nationalities but also of different generations, thus having a worldwide impact on society.

Banksy is one of the most famous street artists today. His iconic street artworks are instantly recognized by the whole world.

Banksy is one of the greatest artists of the 21st century. Anonymous graffiti visual artist and activist Banksy has become famous for his street art that advocates social change.

Banksy's work originated in the underground graffiti scene of Bristol and was part of a subcultural movement in the city that became known worldwide.

How to Become a Professional Artist

If you're a young artist and wish to become a professional artist, it takes more than just talent.

It takes time, effort, organization, and commitment. While some creative professionals make a living from their art alone, many others pursue other employment to supplement their income.

How do you know if being a full-time artist is right for you?

Consider the following:

1. Why do you want to be a professional artist? And in which area? (eg: visual art, fine art, performing arts, folk music, or another artistic expression)

2. What's your ultimate goal? (e.g., make a difference, make money, become famous?)

3. Do you've enough new ideas to fund your career?

4. Do you've the talent and discipline to develop your craft and creative process?

5. Do you've time to create works of art in your everyday life?

6. Do you've a set of skills that will help you market yourself and connect with galleries, collectors, producers and other artists in your field?

7. Do you've the financial resources to continually produce work?

8. Can you see yourself still doing this 10 years from now?

9. Are you willing to learn other areas (e.g. marketing, sales).

10. Do you've a contingency plan if you don't succeed or go through difficult times?

How to Encourage Art and Creativity

If you aren't a professional artist but want to support arts and creativity in your community, there are many ways you can do that.

Supporting the Art World is an effective way to improve the communities in which we live and work.

The first step is to determine what kind of support you want to provide. If you want to support an individual local artist, you can buy their work directly or contact local art galleries.

Many galleries sell their artwork online, while others offer visitors the opportunity to meet the artists in person by arranging tours of their studios.

If you want your work to be a catalyst for change, consider supporting local arts organizations such as museums, cultural centers, and theaters.

These institutions often struggle with declining government funding and rely on donations from individuals and businesses to ensure the continuation of their offerings.

The idea of supporting the arts is giving back to the community.

You can also consider getting involved with a local or global arts organization that needs volunteers.

For example, my socially engaged arts organization, World Citizen Artists, is always looking for volunteers from a variety of backgrounds (writers, podcasters, marketers, fundraisers, grant applicants, etc.).

The world has no shortage of creatives, though, and there are more ways to help the arts than to make art yourself.

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Why Do Societies Need Art and Creativity to Survive - brilliantio

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Artists have been a major part of humanity since the beginning. They inspire and shape how we think, and they answer questions that we're too afraid to ask ourselves. They give us a new perspective and better understand our world. In short, they help us survive.

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Have you ever been to a labyrinth without light? In Fondazione Prada in Milan or somewhere else? If you had, you probably remember those strange feelings of disorientation.

There are two ways to get out of it. The first one is to run as quick as possible. You will quit pretty fast, with a broken nose, but you will leave. In such a way, you could deliver something to the market extremely fast. Maybe even something valuable. If it's not, you can enter that labyrinth one more or several times to learn how to run without the vision.
Another way is to move very very slowly, taking steps one by one, trying each time to choose the right direction. In such a way, you can quit the labyrinth too late. When all your market "moved to another room to enjoy another piece of art."

There is a third way. You can fart in the labyrinth and wait for the guard who will take you out. But it's cheating.
The right answer here is to run and sneak by rotation. But to do so, you have to turn the light on.

Last two months, I took an active part in the process of reshaping existing operations at the company, which I love to work for. To do so, I made several strategic session for today. There was a third try of fixing the Mission for us. But this time, with the support of Irina Chunyak (HR adviser) and Dmitry Simonov (our CEO) we've tried to do this using a Design Thinking approach. Together we involved 60 employees in the process and facilitated workshops in such a way that kept everyone on the same page.

Design Thinking is an approach to solve the issues smartly. So we had an issue, and we decided to solve it with Design Thinking.

To set up the team, we run a couple of activities. "Team Leap" to know each participant of the multidisciplinary team better. Understand the working style and development goals of each other. And "Mission Countdown" to set a shared goal of our existence.

Here is how Frog company explains the process:

You gather the team in the room and hand out the team lead worksheets. Describe the goals of the activity. In essence, we're going to be working together a lot, and before we get in too deep, let's establish our team working norms to get to know each other better. Then briefly describe the sections. The first is my working style, where people share their working styles and personality. Like, I love to collaborate on frameworks and the big idea, but when we get into the details, I like to work late so I can focus. The second is my development goals, where you share things you'd like to get out of this program, beyond what the business or the client has asked for. For example, I'm trying to improve my client presentation skills, so I'd like opportunities to present and feedback on how I do. And the third is your life beyond. What should we know about your other commitments? It can be anything from, when you get in the morning to things we need to plan around, like vacation time. And finally, think back to past projects. Are there any pet peeves you'd like to share with us? Keep it friendly, but if it really bugs you when people show up late to meetings, let us know. Then, ask everyone to take 10 minutes to fill out the form, and you should too. After those 10 minutes are up the next step is individual share -outs. Limit the share-outs to no longer than 5-7 minutes per person and ask the group to hold questions.
It's a 45 min activity.
As a facilitator, I recommend you gather post-it notes of themes as you go, and definitely capture any time off dates on post-its. After everyone has shared, the team then completes the team leap poster together. The poster can be pre-filled with known program dates and each team member and their roles.

As you go through this framework, you have here 16 lines to fill in. Then you've to cut it to eight lines. And at the endpoint, you don't have the formula anymore. You're just looking for the four most important words. While these steps are tightly time-boxed, between each, there's a short share out. The share outs are essential because you do this in small groups, and you want everybody to hear the terms that are coming up for all these mission statements. You want people to be able to steal from each other. In the final ten minutes or so, bring the groups together and discuss the ideas and priorities that emerge from reducing those goal documents down to those four-word statements. Select the statement which best expresses your team's mission. Then write it large on the wall or a whiteboard and refer back to it frequently. At this point, you have a mission statement that should help orient your team around the long view of your program. Like "Accelerate Health Through Relationships." A good mission statement should align the team on the goal, and it should be memorable throughout all stages of design and guide the work for all the disciplines on your team. It should also help your teammates communicate what the program is about with other parts of the organization. In a few days, hide the mission statement and see if anyone can remember it. If not, do the activity again.

We got five teams, and as a result of these two activities, we got five different mission statements. We gather all employees in one room to pitch them the result of the previous session.

After that, they had voted for the best ideas using numbers 1, 3, 5, and 8. So each voter had to think very well which idea is the best (8), which one is good enough in the case of implementing (5), which one is "yes, but..." (3), and which one is "so-so" (1). And one more restriction: idea-winner could not have more than 15% of "1". Yeah, its a bit holacracy approach, but we really want to shift ourselves to Teal-minded type of firm.

And one more tip. To make voting really useful, you have to know how each participant has voted. It could help you to find trends between different departments or specialists votes. (We have missed to do so, so lesson learned).
Anyway, whichever approach you choose, you have to be very attentive to the meanings of each word in your statement.

It has to be a bit crazy and challenging. You always have to have something to achieve. Don't worry if your Mission sounds not so cool or if it is not ideal. It could be changed or transformed in the future. You have to pin something today to start your journey. You need this starting point to have the unequivocal right answer for the question: how exactly you should act in a particular moment: "to run or to sneak" to achieve your goal.

Clear Mission, in general, answering two questions:

WHAT exactly you want to achieve and HOW?

Your Mission always has to be considered from the two points of view. Upstream and downstream: what it means for the market, stakeholders, or customers, and what it means for your company. Anyway, it is always about the values and mindset.

How, what you sell and whom to?

How does your marketing have to operate?

How do you have to build your working processes?

What culture do you have to cultivate?

What is your attitude toward innovations?

How do responsibilities have to be shared across the company?

The most exciting part - is how your Mission affects your company.

If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to share it
My telegram: @Hlib_HFollow my Twitter, Linkedin, Telegram channel

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Setting company mission using Design Thinking

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Have you ever been to a labyrinth without light? In Fondazione Prada in Milan or somewhere else? If you had, you probably remember those strange feelings of disorientation. There are two ways to get out of it. The first one is to run as quick as possible.

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Have you ever felt frustrated and stressed out when the other person just can't seem to understand your point as you were unable to effectively communicate it to others? It is equally stressful for the receiver as well!

To ensure that you don't get in such a stressful state, effective communication is needed! Read our article until the end for an in-depth understanding of effective communication and some bonus tips at the end!

What Is Effective Communication?

The word effectively means successfully. Hence, effective communication happens when you communicate your message successfully and efficiently to others.

However, it is not just a speaking skill. It requires good listening skills with correct usage of body language as well.

This is the reason why psychologists are trained in listening so that they can understand the message and communicate clearly and inclusively.

You may wonder why is effective communication so important and how is it related to stress? Isn't it just talking with others?

Here's the reason why this is not true.

Effective Communication And Stress: An Inverse Relationship

You would probably feel stressed out about why nobody can understand you. You may also find yourself fighting and quarreling, trying to prove your point to others.

Effective communication becomes important as it can avoid misunderstandings and possible arguments. When you communicate effectively, the other person understands the message completely, avoiding making any misinterpretations.

You notice less stress or repressed anger towards others and yourself as you don't carry any guilty feelings or worry about confronting others later.

Hence, it is important in every aspect of life! Whether you are working, are among friends to hang out with, or are with family, effective communication increases the quality of your relationships.

Reasons For Ineffective Communication And How To Prevent It

Ineffective communication can take place due to several reasons, such as physical barriers or distance between the speaker and receiver, differences in language or culture, or even psychological barriers like having a closed mind or the receiver's current mood.

We have written an in-depth article on ineffective communication and how to avoid it, giving contextual tips related to the workplace, life in general, and many more.

If you are interested to learn more about the reasons and ways to overcome ineffective communication, click here: Ineffective Communication Explained: And How To Avoid It.

Effective Communication Skills: What Are They And How To Improve Them?

Skills are not something one is born with. We have to build them through practice. Following are the 5 skills for effective communication.

Active Listening

As mentioned earlier, listening is the most important skill when it comes to communication, especially in an argument.

Now, you might wonder what is the big deal with this skill? Isn't it just hearing?

What Is Listening?

Hearing is just the perception of sound through the ears whereas listening is something you do consciously. It requires your brain to concentrate to understand the meaning of words and sentences.

In other words, hearing is just a physiological phenomenon, whereas listening is the interpretation of those sounds.

To improve your listening skills, here's what you need to focus on.

Listen actively: But How?

Listening actively involves paying attention to the speaker and the general mood or atmosphere to better understand the message. For example, is the person behaving differently than usual, or is the speaker happy or gloomy today by their body language.

You need to discern the tone of the message being received and interpret it accordingly to avoid misinterpreting the information.

You also need to show that you are listening! You might be paying attention while doing something else, but the speaker often misinterprets as you not caring about them!

This happens a lot when someone is speaking and you look at the phone or laptop. The speaker feels you are uninterested or bored, even though you are listening.

It is, hence, important to maintain eye contact and show interest by a slight nod or giving slight reactions whenever you feel it is necessary.

Lastly, if you don't understand what the speaker meant, just ask them! It saves you from a lot of misunderstandings!

It will reduce your stress and improve your relationship with the other person if you do so since you clear your doubts at that given moment and not load it on your back and waste your time in overthinking.

Active Speaking

Speaking is the act of conveying your thoughts out to others verbally.

It is an important skill as by speaking effectively, you can build and maintain connections, formal as well as informal.

Many people struggle to get their thoughts across out loud, I am also one of them!

But worry not! Here are some tips to speak in a better and effective manner!

Use inclusive language: Speak in a manner that is understandable by receivers. If you speak using jargon or field-specific words, your receiver will likely not understand it.

Ask for feedback: After you have finished speaking, ask the other person whether they understood completely or not. This works well for workplace settings if you want to make sure that your colleague or client understood your message or not.

Read the receiver: Pay attention to how your receiver is reacting and try to read their body language. Sometimes you can make out by just looking at their expressions whether they understood or not.

Speak louder: Try to speak audibly to avoid making the listener uncomfortable for asking to repeat again and again. Speaking loudly also conveys that you are confident. If you are one of the people who can't talk louder and want to do so, check out our article on 9 Exercises To Make Your Talk Louder.

Physical Cues: Importance Of Body Language In Effective Communication

Did you know that body language or non-verbal communication makes 65% of all communication?

It is indeed true that actions speak louder than words!

Facial Expressions

Did you know that there are 7 universal facial expressions? This means that wherever you go, they have the same meaning!

We all can tell by other people's facial expressions whether they are happy, sad, scared, disgusted, angry, content, or surprised.

However, the level of expression depends from individual to individual. Some people show everything on their faces while others prefer to stay away from it and conceal it.

But we can understand them through other signals such as their tone of voice.

Tone Of Voice

Whether or not the other person shows emotion or not, generally they cannot hide it in their tone of voice.

Your tone of voice can lead to misunderstandings, if not controlled or used in the right context.

For instance, it is highly disrespectful to speak with an enthusiastic or casual tone when the occasion is a sad one. People will interpret it in the wrong light even if your message was proper.

Eye Contact

Eye contact can determine the quality of your conversations!

If you don't maintain eye contact, you miss out on many things.

When you maintain eye contact, the other person feels heard and acknowledged, improving the quality of your communication and reducing stress too!

Gestures And Posture

Lastly, gestures and postures make the most visible signs after facial expressions.

They mostly consist of hand and body movements, such as a wave or a hug to greet close friends and family, or shaking hands or bowing to the other person in formal settings.

You can tell if the other person has not understood a message when they take some time to react, scratch their heads, or stroke their necks.

Tapping feet or making constant movements indicate nervousness or uneasiness. If you want to know more about what can be interpreted as nervous body language, check our article on 10 Tell-Tale Signs of Nervous Body Language (And What You Can Do About It).

If someone is sitting in an upright but stiff posture, it can mean that they are alert but highly conscious, whereas relaxed shoulders with a straight posture can mean that they are comfortable.

If you want to learn about the nuances of body language and how it contributes to communication, check out our article on Body Language And Its Contribution To The Process Of Communication.

All You Need To Know About Stress Management

It is natural to feel stressed, as everyone is dealing with keeping their lives intact amidst the pandemic.

However, stress can interfere with how you communicate.

How Stress Affects Communication Skills?

It can also have negative impacts on your overall physical and mental well-being.

Hence, it is essential to manage your stress effectively to communicate effectively.

Importance Of Effective Communication In Stress Management

Effective communication is a helpful tool in stress management.

Whencommunication is open and clear, small problems get resolved quickly and easily, resulting in less stress and a healthy relationship.

However, when communication is not so helpful or becomes ineffective, even small problems may escalate to become big, and you will feel stressed out and frustrated.

Stress Management Tips For Effective Communication

Invest in physical health: If you are physically healthy, your body can resist stress to a larger extent. Hence, ensure to exercise daily and maintain a healthy diet.

Sleep well: If you don't get enough sleep, chances are high that you would end up getting irritated on even small things, and that will impact your communication with others. Hence, ensure to get enough sleep, especially if you have an official meeting at work.

Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is a type of meditation where you focus on being aware of what you are feeling and sensing at the given moment. Doing so makes the communication process effective and meaningful.

Express your feelings: It is very important to let the other person know your thoughts and how you feel, especially if you disagree with them. Avoid repressing and being mute, as it can pile up and will burst out on unexpected occasions leading to more stress.

Write it down: If you feel that expressing your feelings would hurt the other person, write it down on a piece of paper or better, maintain a journal. It will help in releasing your stress and you will feel better after writing your feelings down.

Therapy: If you still feel that nothing seems to work out and are constantly under stress, it is a good option to consider going to a therapist. Since a therapist is a professional, they can guide you better than you figuring out yourself and trying different ways to cope with it.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence measured as EQ or emotional quotient is the ability to use and manage emotions effectively.

This skill is very important for managing stress, building relationships, managing conflicts, and communicating effectively.

Empathy or the ability to understand other's situations by keeping oneself in their shoes is a very important component of emotional intelligence. When you empathize with others, your communication skills improve as you take the perspective of the receiver and think, feel, & act like them.

Good social skills are the other component of emotional intelligence. To build and maintain good relations, social skills are essential. They are also effective in conflict management and effective communication.

Self-regulation is the last component that makes emotional intelligence. It means controlling your emotions and managing them according to a given situation. When it comes to communication, self-regulation becomes important to manage conflicts.

To improve your emotional intelligence, follow these tips:

Pay attention to your emotions: To manage emotions, it is important to acknowledge them first. Avoid neglecting them for longer periods of time. If possible keep an emotional journal, where you write your emotions down daily.

Observe your actions: Observe how you react to others and reflect on them. Doing so can avoid conflicts while making amends to be a better communicator. Moreover, before taking any action, think about how it will impact others.

Be assertive: Being assertive can lead you to communicate your perspective to others. However, it does not mean dominating and being aggressive to others.

Avoid being impulsive: When you take impulsive actions, you don't really think about the consequences carefully. If you take more time, you can make effective choices. The same applies when it comes to communication.

How To Communicate Effectively At Workplace?

How Does Stress Affect Communication In The Workplace?

Workplaces can cause stress and anxiety to their employees if there is no effective communication in place, as no one has a clear idea of what's going on or what are they supposed to do.

Lack of proper communication impairs work performance and decreases overall productivity as well.

Stress leads to a lack of concentration, motivation, and decision-making capability, all essential components to work and communicate effectively.

There are a lot of barriers that can prevent effective communication. To know more about them, check our in-depth article on Barriers to Communication in the Workplace.

How To Communicate Effectively At The Workplace

To communicate effectively at the workplace you must incorporate these tips:

Be direct: If you tend to beat around the bush, the other person won't be able to get the exact meaning of your words. Instead, be direct in the way you communicate. It will also save time for you and your colleagues.

Be concise: This is connected to the first point, but there is a subtle difference. Being concise requires you to speak in the shortest and most effective way possible.

However, if you are to the point and concise in your communication, you will effectively deliver your message to your colleagues.

Include the 5Ws: If you are at a higher post and you want to communicate an order to your junior employees, include the 5Ws, i.e., who, what, where, when, and why.

If you don't answer the above information, the message would be too vague. For instance, you want to give notice about an important meeting.

If you don't answer "when is the meeting" or " where is the meeting", your juniors would be unsure of the complete message.

5Cs Of Effective Communication At The Workplace

If you want to communicate effectively and reduce stress at your workplace, include these 5Cs:

Conciseness

To be concise is sticking to the point and not beating around the bush, especially if you are in midst of an argument.

If you speak at a larger stretch without giving the other person a chance to speak, it becomes a monologue or worse, a rant session and not a dialogue, resulting in ineffective communication and stress.

However, to be concise you need to first be clear with what you want to communicate to the other person. If you yourself are unclear or unsure of what to say, pause and think of a better way of framing your message.

Completeness

To deliver a complete message, you need to check whether you answer the 5Ws: who, what, where, when, and why.

If you don't answer the above information, the message would be too vague and incomplete.

Suppose you want to give a notice about an important meeting.

If you don't answer "when is the meeting" or " where is the meeting", your juniors would be unsure and highly confused about the complete message.

Correctness

The most important C of effective communication is to be correct.

This is not the same as being right or wrong, but about being factual or truthful.

Correctness in communication extends to how you speak in a given context, your grammar or sentence structure, and body language.

All should align correctly to communicate effectively, especially if you are about to give an interview or are in a meeting with your client.

Courteousness

Being courteous or respecting the other person is also an important component of effective communication.

Be polite and try to frame the message keeping in mind the listener to avoid misinterpretations and unnecessary arguments.

If in formal settings, avoid slang and accusatory language.

If possible try to empathize with the other person and be sincere.

Clearness

Clearness refers to the level of clarity in a conversation.

Understanding a clear message is much easier and quicker than a vague or lengthy one.

It also creates less stress for both parties and saves time as well.

To communicate clearly, you need to know the receiver, and what their knowledge base is like.

If you know this beforehand, you can frame the message according to the receiver's frame of understanding, making your message more clear and relevant to the listener.

How To Communicate Effectively In A Relationship?

Effective communication leads to a healthy relationship, be it with your friends, family, or loved ones.

Criticizing or belittling each other, getting defensive, or passive aggression is the result of a lack of effective communication.

How Does Stress Affect Communication In Relationships?

Often people bottle up or keep their stress to themselves.

Not dealing with stress can create a negative cycle where partners "catch" each other's stress.

The other person keeps thinking about what is wrong with their partner or whether they have done something wrong.

This unsaid tension keeps building up, and leads to outbursts of arguments and anger, negatively impacting relationships.

Effective communication can help avoid such misunderstandings and awkward silences.

Ways To Communicate Effectively In A Relationship

To communicate effectively in a relationship, inculcate these tips in daily life:

Listen: If you go back to the point of active listening, you will realize how important it is to listen well, especially in a relationship. When the other person feels heard, they get attached to you even more, as they know they have someone to rely on.

Listening can also avoid conflicts and increases empathy towards others.

Use I and Me: If you are upset about the behavior of others, avoid accusing them directly. If you point your fingers at them, they are likely to become defensive and would not listen to your perspective.

Hence, make the conversation about you and not them. For instance, instead of saying "You always..." or "You never understand...", try using " Lately, I've been feeling..." or "I've noticed...".

The meaning would be the same, but the manner would make it less accusatory.

Give them your time: Spending time with your loved ones increases your bonding with others.

Even if you spend 30 minutes of your time having dinner or doing something you both love or even sharing chores, it opens the channels of communication and deepens your relationship, minimizing stress between you and your partner.

If you live far away, a phone call or video call once a week or month can cover up the distance for you!

Positive body language: Go back to the section on physical cues. You might realize that even if your words and manner of speech are positive, your actions could make the whole message negative or accusatory.

Give them enough eye contact, nod when they ask a response, lean towards them, and if the occasion permits, smile!

Doing so would convey that you are curious to know what the other person is saying and that you are interested and alert in the conversation.

The last tip to communicate effectively in a relationship is to communicate and not simply converse.

There is a difference between communicating with someone and having a conversation. Communication makes the conversation meaningful and effective.

To know about the exact differences and which one is more effective, read our article on Communication Vs Conversation: What Are the Differences?

How To Communicate Effectively On Stage Under Stress

Stress is normal before giving a speech on stage in front of a large audience.

However, it can impact your communication skills and all your practice can go to waste if you don't deal with it beforehand!

How To Deal With Stress On Stage

Here are some tips to help calm your nerves before, during, and after your performance on stage.

Before going on stage

Rehearse well: If you know your content well, you feel confident and less stressed. Hence, practice a few times till you know the structure and basic flow of your performance.

Don't try to mug up the script as it will make you more stressed, as you would be preoccupied with whether you would be able to say everything in the script, creating anxiety.

Breathe deep: When you are stressed your heart rate shots up, and you get even more stressed at the thought of your body reacting to stress.

Take 2-3 minutes out and breathe slow and deep. It will bring your heart rate down while making you calm and ready for your performance.

On Stage

Focus on your content: Most people feel stressed out when they step on the stage at the sight of an audience watching them.

However, focus on your content and not on the audience. This would make you less stressed and more comfortable on stage.

Speak slowly: Speaking slowly will help to calm your nerves and will also ensure your audience is able to hear and understand you clearly.

If you speak fast your audience can interpret as you being anxious and stressed out.

Hence, take it slow.

After your performance

Speak to your audience: While it is difficult to interact with each and every one when on stage, you can talk with some of them backstage or when the event is over.

This will help you in taking valuable feedback from the audience and improve your upcoming performances in the future!

Celebrate: Even if you made a mistake or felt that you could've done better on stage, celebrate!

Don't think that celebration is done only when you give a fantastic performance or speech. Celebrate and acknowledge your efforts and hard work.

It will give you a fresh start and a clear mind for your next performance!

To Conclude

Hope that this article gave you some insights into how you can communicate effectively!

If you implement the tips given, I'm sure you would improve your communication skills!

Happy learning!

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How effective communication can reduce stress

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Have you ever felt frustrated and stressed out when the other person just can't seem to understand your point as you were unable to effectively communicate it to others? It is equally stressful for the receiver as well! To ensure that you don't get in such a stressful state, effective communication is needed!

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The new possible: How HR can help build the organization of the future

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The pandemic underscores the urgency for a more dynamic talent and work model. Human-resources leaders can help by focusing on identity, agility, and scalability.