Become 95% Effective in Everything

Achieving 95% more effective sounds extreme, but it's true—by doing something remarkably simple: talking. Yes, research shows that discussing goals can lead to success 95% of the time. If you don't talk about it, your goals may be missed, lost or altered in ways that stray from your initial intentions.

Really? Yes! Of course, your talking points need to be clear, concise, desirable and achievable.

Successful Talking Points:

• Clear: Use words that everyone understands and that you clan easily define. No one wants to feel 'duped' by the latest buzzwords.

• Concise: Less is more, so others will be able to repeat the talking points. If it's too wordy, each audience member will walk away with a different takeaway.

• Desirable: Clearly sharing how and why this is beneficial to your audience.

• Achievable: Lofty goals without achievable success criteria is discouraging. People may assume that success is unlikely, leading them to disengage from the effort.

Sounds easy enough? Now you know the trick to effective communication in change management.

Change management doesn't have to be this huge mountain to climb. It's crucial to take a little time upfront to plan your talking points.

To make the talking points resonate, remember the 5 Ws:

• Who: Identify the audience.

• What: Specify what will be different.

• When: Outline the timeline.

• Where: Define where it will happen.

• Why: Frame the reason for the change in a motivational way for your audience.

You might think these points are obvious, but remember that those you are addressing may not have shared your path. Leveling the discussion is always beneficial and may remind you or key insights as well.

Additionally, if you don't talk about the change, uncertainty will thrive. People often fill the silence with their imaginations, which can lead them down a negative path. Most individuals want clarity in their roles and the plan for evolving.

So, talk about it! At the very least, your audience will feel heard, and you might even learn something valuable to incorporate into your talking points.

Be the Change Maker:

Don't assume everyone can read your mind. Open the dialogue about what is changing. You might be surprised in what resonates or distracts others.