Communication is the main focus in the Maximizing IS/IT Team Effectiveness course I am taking at Villanova University.
We discussed strategies for having one-on-one conversations with people. This includes how to find out the preferences and preferences for the person you are speaking to.
Two-thirds of people prefer visual information such as photos. Visual people speak at a fast rate and look up. They may also use visual words like “I see what you mean.”
15% prefer to listen to information. They are more inclined to look straight ahead. They use auditory words like “I hear you” or “I see you”. Auditory people also pause during speech to listen to their own voices.
The kinetic ranges from 18% to 30%. They are able to absorb information by feeling and touching things, both literally as well as emotionally. Kinetic people will not look down if you look down. Kinetic people speak animatedly, using phrases like “I feel.”

We chose an image we liked to help us identify how we prefer to receive information. Evidently, I am an auditory person. This is something I wouldn’t have said about me. This makes me wonder if the trinity of communication preferences may be scientific. I believe that people are capable of adapting to different situations, despite having preferences.
We also looked at the symptoms of ineffective communication.
Verbal indicators that we are not communicating effectively include clues in what and how it is being said.
“I don’t understand.”
“What?”
“We have never done this before.”
You can use either one-word answers, or short, clipped phrases.
Tonality refers to the ability to speak in the same voice.

Body language is a good indicator that we are not communicating effectively.
Body posture
Gestures
Expressions of facial expressions
Your eyes will reveal what they see
Fidgeting
Do something other than listening to you.

If communication fails, try these suggestions:
Eliminate assumptions from your message
Eliminate generalizations from your message
It is important to eliminate ‘weasel words’ like “I probably think it might work.”
Eliminate acronyms
Use the right words to make sure they understand what you are saying. Thong, for example, can be translated to mean something entirely different in Australia or the UK. These meanings shouldn’t be confused.

This is vital – as you may know, what we say is only part of the overall communication message.
What is the truth? 7%
38% of it comes directly from the way it’s said
55% of body language and actions are responsible to 55%.

We tend to be focused on the 7% and forget about the rest.
This week, we also took our second test. The highest score I received was 100 and I was close enough to the average class of 90%. If this test is any indication, then I’ll be average again. I scored 90% this time.
The test can be taken as many times as you like. You can repeat the test until you achieve the perfect score.