In conversation with:
Jeffrey Anthony, Executive Consultant, Know Your Talents
More about Jeffrey.
Jeffrey Anthony is a former Chief Financial Officer with 20 years of C-level experience building and developing teams. He’s been responsible for IT, Human Resources, Accounting, Logistics, Customer Service and more. He’s also been a member of several cross-function senior leadership teams.
1. Who, or what, taught you the most about communication? Tell us more.
Most of what I’ve learned, I learned on the job through my own mistakes and those of people I worked with. As I began to understand the importance of effective communication, I focused on it more. I did a fair amount of reading on the subject. I’m especially interested in communication via email and social media.
2. Nature or nurture? Can people learn to be great communicators, or must you be born that way?
I believe some people are naturally better than others. For the most part, I think it’s a learned skill … and a matter of focus.
3. What makes someone an extraordinary communicator? What characteristics, personality traits, experiences or otherwise ‘add up’ to make them so?
I think the most important trait is first being an effective listener. Most of us are so focused on what we’re going to say to demonstrate our ‘great wisdom’. We don’t do a good job of listening to those we’re trying to communicate with.
Empathy goes a long way, too—understanding your audience’s perspective and/or frame of reference is critical.
These traits, together with an open mind and a fundamental knowledge of the subject matter, come together to make a great communicator.
4. What’s your secret sauce? When you sit down to write an important message to your team or clients, what process or method do you use?
I try to put myself in their shoes. I try to understand their priorities and their need for information. I try to anticipate the questions they have or will have and speak to those topics.
In the business context, because I was at C-level, I tried to consider the varied impacts of my message on all functional areas/managers affected. Sometimes a phone call with a verbal ‘heads-up’ that my message was coming was an important step.
5. Does that process change when you’re under pressure with a short deadline? How?
It can certainly change if you let it. Pressure of all kinds tends to have a negative impact on ‘process’. I try to maintain the disciplines of my own communication process under all circumstances.
6. What principles do you swear by when presenting to a live group?
1) Prepare, 2) Prepare, and 3) Prepare. Thinking of them all sitting in their underwear doesn’t hurt either!
7. Some people say emotions are irrelevant at work: ‘Focus on the facts!’ What’s your take on that?
I think to be inspirational or motivational (even correctional) it’s important to inject the right amount of emotion.
I recently read that Zig Ziglar said the last four letters of ‘enthusiasm’ should always stand for, ‘I Am Sold Myself’! If you’re not ‘sold’ on your message, your audience will probably see through you. That said, I’m a strong believer in having the facts to support the validity of your message.
8. How do you approach influencing someone more senior than you?
With facts, objectivity and respect for the senior person’s experience!
9. What are your favourite strategies for motivating people to action?
I am collaborative. I like to make a ‘case’ to people. I try to clearly explain the issues and the need to act. Then I try to explain why the action is good for them and the company/organisation.
10. What’s the toughest message you’ve ever had to write or deliver? How did you handle it? Would you do things differently now?
In the middle of a sale process of our company, I had to tell our owner/president that our current monthly financial performance was bad. That it was going to blow up our deal (which it did!).
I just ‘ripped off the Band-Aid’ and told him what he needed to know. I don’t think I could have delivered the news any other way.
11. What’s your favourite quote or saying about communication (serious or funny)?
a. Let’s eat Grandpa!
b. Let’s eat, Grandpa!
c. Punctuation: it saves lives!
12. What advice would you give people who aren’t confident communicators or want to improve?
Get a book, video, whatever, on ‘active listening’. Understanding the dynamics of what’s going on while people are trying to communicate relieves a lot of anxiety. Do your research … be prepared to defend your position in valid ways and be as objective as possible.
13. Like to share any other gems? Comment away!
Everyone should know this as CERTAINTY: No one can communicate as well in writing (e.g. email) as they can interactively. TALK to each another. Learn to listen. Practise your listening skills. Teach those around you about the power of listening.
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