"Communicating effectively in the new world of work"/ "How to become an investment-worthy startup"

Jun. 25, 2018 "Communicating effectively in the new world of work": Today I found this article by Naomi Titleman Colla in the Globe and Mail:

Mastering workplace communication in this new world of work takes practice. Most of us work with and lead teams that are both remote and on-site, and sometimes even in different countries and time zones. Thanks to technology, we have a plethora of media with which to communicate, both in writing (e-mails, texts, social media) and orally (phone, video conference, video streaming, good old-fashioned in-person meetings). 

Using the right channel for the right interactions with the appropriate “body” or non-verbal language is key to successful team dynamics and productivity. 

We’ve been taught that the majority of any message is conveyed through non-verbal elements (facial expressions, posture, gestures, etc.). You can tell if someone is lying through shiftiness or lack of eye contact, you can tell if an audience appreciates your presentation by their smiles, furrowed brows or yawns. 

In this new world of work, how can we decode each other’s messages when we spend less time face to face? Are we in jeopardy of missing the important nuances? Think about the last time you were on a conference call – did your body language come through on the other end of the line? Have you ever written an e-mail that was misinterpreted and, if so, was there a better way to use “non-verbal” communication to prevent this?

Transitioning to a world of work where much of our work force is now working at least partially remotely, it is important that we acknowledge the modernization of “body” or non-verbal language and learn how to practice it and decode it most effectively, so that we don’t constantly operate with partial information.

Written communication

When the colon followed by a closing parenthesis became the universal symbol of a happy face, we were taught by our leaders that it was not professional to use this “emoticon” in workplace communications. Now, emojis and #hashtags are often used to convey tone of voice in e-mails, texts and memos. Absent these useful characters, tone can be completely misinterpreted, which can compromise work product and relationships.

Timing can also serve as non-verbal communication. E-mails and texts that are sent late at night or on weekends can lead to misinterpretation by employees, suggesting “this is urgent” or “my time is not respected.” 

Since written channels are easiest to abuse, because they mostly don’t require the other party to “consent,” it is important to proceed with caution and pay close attention to non-verbal elements of these communications. 

Particularly in the world of texting, where messages are more rapid-fire, emojis and appropriate use of punctuation (!!! indicates urgency; ??? indicates “why haven’t you responded?”) and use of CAPS (which indicates yelling) can prevent misunderstandings.

Phone calls

It can be challenging to decode messages on phone calls, because of the lack of helpful cues that tell us whether people are aligned, confused, finished speaking, etc. A couple of tips for more effective body language on phone calls:

• Pretend that you are in person: Walk around the room, use hand gestures, articulate clearly. Imagine you are a voice-over actor – it’s amazing how in animated films, we can feel the actors’ body language even though they are not physically on the screen.
• Let pauses happen: Dead air, especially when you can’t see people’s expressions, can be awkward. In many cases, participants are simply processing and reflecting – so allow for a couple of moments of silence before prompting to check for understanding or alignment.

Face-to-face communication

We exchange information every day using the channels above because in many cases, it is more efficient and productive. But it is important to recognize when in-person interaction is necessary to capture the full essence of the conversation through real in-person body language. 

For example, difficult, sensitive and personal conversations (performance reviews, termination discussions, etc.) as well as meetings that serve to motivate (onboarding, project kickoff, global town hall meetings, etc.) benefit from in-person presence.

When you do have face-to-face interactions, don’t get tripped up by conventional wisdom when it comes to non-verbal language. According to Mark Bowden and Tracey Thomson, authors of Truth and Lies: What People are Really Thinking, using the simple SCAN method (suspend judgment; take in context; ask what else; form new judgment) allows us to get the most accurate information out of our face-to-face interactions.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/careers/management/article-how-you-can-communicate-more-effectively-in-the-new-world-of-work/

"How to become an investment-worthy startup": Today I found this article by Brent Halverson in the Globe and Mail:

CEO of Conexiom, a sales order automation processor that recently received growth investment from a Silicon Valley private equity firm.

One of the fundamental responsibilities of a startup leader is to attract funding and investment to grow the business. Without the lifeline of capital investment, survival as a startup can be a constant uphill struggle. As a result, new businesses need to become as investment-worthy as possible and maximize the funds they receive.

Becoming an investment-worthy company must start first and foremost with your team. Rather than focusing on numbers and rapid development, a company’s primary emphasis should be on building a team that can represent, support and contribute to a strong foundation for growth and progress. Investors seek businesses that have depth, strength and who can ultimately uphold the added pressures and demands of a growing business.

Collaborating to achieve success

There is a fine balance between collaboration and operational inefficiency in the workplace.

In order to achieve strong team morale, it is important to create a collaborative culture that encourages open communication. 

Establishing an environment where each employee not only understands their role, but more significantly how their role is integral for the operation of the business reinforces the principle that everyone is imperative to the company’s success.

As a business leader, it is equally important to acknowledge the value of dialogue with customers to gain insight into their needs and how the company can improve on service and product development. This insight is what ensures we remain sticky and in lockstep with client needs. Collaboration with both the team and customers establishes a strong business position where leaders and managers understand the value of insight.

As owners or heads of any business, we don’t have all the answers, but our employees might.

The team is valuable and perceptive; after all, they were hired because of this. Fostering a collaborative culture where leaders regularly connect and establish a two-way dialogue with every department not only develops innovation and teamwork, but provides a confidence boost to staff and enables them to feel safe to express themselves.

Business leaders should use their team’s expertise to aid in decision-making and brainstorming when faced with challenges. Knowing and admitting that you, as leader, don’t have all the answers is an important part of establishing effective business and team communication, a key characteristic that investors appreciate.

The value of recognition 

Ultimately, recognizing that every person is an integral piece of the business puzzle will have positive implications on employee morale.

Highlighting the contributions of each staff member isn’t just rhetoric; it is critical to success.

Understanding and communicating the unique value each employee brings to the company establishes a foundation for a healthy and cooperative work environment. This in turn motivates the team to deliver at their highest capacity, not because they are thinking of their paycheque but because they are fully invested in the business.

While conflicts and challenges are inevitable in the workplace, ensuring employees know they are valued and respected encourages them to be devoted and committed to delivering at 100 per cent despite difficulties that may arise.

Thus, team members inherently become the company’s biggest supporters and ambassadors, and this motivates them to keep delivering on both good and bad days. That’s vital to building a positive and strong business reputation.

Slow and strategic wins the race

Contrary to popular belief, success doesn’t always have to be loud. A frequent downfall for startups is the rapid acceleration into the marketplace and in turn, the inability to maintain this speed of growth to meet customer and investor demands.

Success is all about stability and ensuring the business is prepared to meet the challenges that it will inevitably face.

Establishing an investment-worthy business requires careful evaluation and the ability to stay humble. It is not only about celebrating the wins and riding the success, but also about steady strategic planning.

Every achievement is an opportunity to learn what went well and what can be replicated to realize future goals so that solutions always remain relevant. Identifying what works and what doesn’t takes time and effort from the entire team, and requires support and expertise from every level. 

Taking the time to establish and maintain strong business processes will inspire a high level of confidence in your startup and investors will inevitably follow.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/careers/leadership/article-how-to-become-an-investment-worthy-startup/

3 days ago

Some pretty sound business advice.