How to be Indispensable to International Teams | Part 9 Listening

Listening is something that many of us take for granted.  We confuse listening with hearing when the two are widely different.  Being able to truly listen to your co-workers, colleagues, and managers takes more than just hearing what they’ve said,  it takes real listening skills.  In the following video Julian Treasure talks about five ways to listen better.

Julian Treasure’s Three Listening Positions:

Active/Passive Listening

Active listening is a communication technique which requires the listener to feed back what they hear to the speaker, by way of re-stating or paraphrasing what they have heard in their own words, to confirm what they have heard and moreover, to confirm the understanding of both parties.

Passive listening is when you focus on what you’re listening to, but aren’t doing anything apart from listening. Thus, it is much more active and requires time of a different quality than background listening.

How to be Indispensable to International Teams | Part 3 Communication

…Make it safe for people—especially those with less power—to speak openly about what’s on their mind….

Communication can go two ways; good or bad.  When speaking to another person it is always best if you DON’T follow the hilarious suggestions provided in the following video…and you’re welcome.

No, seriously communication is important.  Without it nothing would get accomplished in a timely, professional, and thorough manner which pleases, satisfies, and/or satiates the company overlords.  If my job is dependent on some small function of your job then we have to be able to properly function and communicate wants, needs, timing, directions, instructions, etc.

How to be Indispensable to International Teams | Career Development

As I continue to study, read, and assimilate the vast knowledge of “businessy things” available I inevitably create links and make lists as to what skills and traits are needed for individuals to flourish as team members and to function at their highest level.   As I tend to focus on the more serious topics of management, leadership and winning, I also try to make it entertaining and short to keep your attention.

On that note, this post is an amalgamation of  topics which when combined create a powerful understanding of how to be indispensable to international teams.  This 20-something guide was inspired by many of my fellow students who are or have just graduated.  Going into the world of international business isn’t going to be difficult for some of the international students, but for the others who stumble upon great opportunities, this guide is for them and for you.

Consider this your 20-something, 101 guide to working in or with international teams.

The series includes the following:

• Creative Problem Solving
• Cross-Cultural Management
• Communication
• Decision Making
• Mediation
• Leadership
• Presence
• Negotiation
• Listening

 

Public Speaking Skills – Why They Matter To Your Brand

Personal branding is about more than just your mission statement, brand statement, and resume package; its about presenting YOU as a package – all of you.

We’ve all been stuck in horrid presentations and public speaking engagements, and thought about why no one had every told the speaker that they were a nightmare.  If you’re self-aware (and at this point I certainly hope you are) I’m sure you know if you suck or not.  However, if someone’s told you that you suck (and hopefully you don’t), use the criticism in your heart and co-workers whispers to embrace the personal branding motto, “show me a problem and I see solutions”.

Understanding Context and Why It Matters to Your Brand

Context plays a very important role in communication.  People, peers, colleagues, and especially employers, do not want to have to interact with someone who lacks the self-awareness, knowledge, or understanding necessary to fully appreciate context before speaking.  By doing this your brand looks immature and unexamined which is the opposite of all things professional.

Context comes in two forms:  High and low

The Art, Science, and Ethics of Persuasion

“With great power comes great responsibility”

– Voltaire –

Brace yourself, things just got real…(personal)

…It’s story time…

When I was 12 my middle school decided to pick out certain kids to go on a leader/follower field trip.  I was not amused at that age, but I went anyway.  IT WAS A TRAP! It was all about shaming and scaring us!

Are You Emotionally Intelligent?

 

The Godfather of Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman outlined the Five components of EI:

• Self-Awareness – The ability to recognize and understand personal moods and emotions and drives, as well as their effect on others. Hallmarks* of self-awareness include self-confidence, realistic self-assessment, and a self-deprecating sense of humor. Self-awareness depend on one’s ability to monitor one’s own emotion state and to correctly identify and name one’s emotions.
• Self-Regulation – The ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses and moods, and the propensity to suspend judgment and to think before acting. Hallmarks include trustworthiness and integrity; comfort with ambiguity; and openness to change.
• Empathy – The experience of understanding another person’s condition from their perspective. You place yourself in their shoes and feel what they are feeling. Empathy is known to increase prosocial (helping) behaviors.
• Internal Motivation – A passion to work for internal reasons that go beyond money and status -which are external rewards, – such as an inner vision of what is important in life, a joy in doing something, curiosity in learning, a flow that comes with being immersed in an activity. A propensity to pursue goals with energy and persistence. Hallmarks include a strong drive to achieve, optimism even in the face of failure, and organizational commitment.
• Social Skills – Proficiency in managing relationships and building networks, and an ability to find common ground and build rapport. Hallmarks of social skills include effectiveness in leading change, persuasiveness, and expertise building and leading teams.