Do Your Employee's Hear Charlie Brown's Teacher Saying "Waa, Waa, Waaa, Waaa, Waaa," When You Speak?

We've all worked with people that almost as soon as they start talking we hear "Waa, waaa, waaa, waaa, waaa.  For a nice reminder, watch the video below.

It's pretty important this isn't what your employees hear when you speak.  

Are You Rambling or Articulating?
In a previous post I discussed the importance of clearly articulating your expectations (click the "previous post" link to read it).  This post dives a little deeper into the need for clear and direct communication.  A friend of mine and I often use a little analogy that works well here.  Some people, when either getting from one point to another or talking about a situation or story, seem to take so long to get to the point that you've both forgotten what the intent of the conversation was to begin with.  As you can see by the diagram below there is the person that gets directly A to B and then there is the person that circles all over the place and may or may not ever arrive at B.  If you aren't sure which person you are, take this diagram and ask a few people you trust.  

Make sure you are not a representative of the second scenario, especially when communicating expectations.

Some people seem to think they can soften a message if they ramble, add a little fluff, soften the blow so to speak.  What they don't realize is they are often losing the message entirely and the recipient of the message has no idea what they are trying to say.

Expectations can include everything from job assignments, training outcomes, goals for the day, week, or month, and performance expectations.  If you provide so much detail that they have lost sight of the expected outcome, you have just put yourself in the the place of Charlie Brown's teacher.  

How To Avoid "Waa, waaa, waaa" Syndrome

Here is a cliff notes version of clearly articulating.

• Start with the goal and stay focused on it..  Before having the conversation think to yourself, if there is just one thing I want this person to get out of this conversation, what is it?  And make darn sure that message is received.   Write it down on a piece of paper if you have to but stay focused on it.  
• Don't junk up the message with a lot of fluff, details, and random rambling.  Come back later to give detail if you have to but make sure the goal of the message is received first.  
• Short, sweet, and to the point is your new best friend.  
• Provide opportunity for questions and seeking more detail.  If they need more detail give them an opportunity to ask.  Don't provide a 30 minute data dump and expect them to remember every detail.
• End with a question such as - What is your perception of what needs to happen next here? or Based on everything we just discussed, what is your key takeaway?  or I want to make sure I communicated clearly, what is your perception of the issue and expected outcomes.  

Direct communication does take confidence and a little courage.  But that's why your the leader right?  If you want to read more on this topic, look up the post I wrote regarding the 3 Reasons People Don't Do What You Want Them To Do.  

Most importantly, PRACTICE - start today!


Mari