Communicating effectively across your organization

One of the most important skills you can learn as an emerging woman leader is how to communicate across your organization. When I coach emerging leaders, I find that they are fairly comfortable communicating with those on their level or below. But, they find it increasingly more challenging to speak to their boss, their boss' boss or higher. If this is the case for you, you're not alone. But you must understand that if you want to get ahead, learning how to communicate across your organization is essential. Here are three strategies to help you communicate effectively across your organization:

1) Understand the culture: Every organization has its own culture and dynamic. Learn what the culture is in your organization and get familiar with your boss' management style. For example, some organizations value a high level of management oversight. So, your manager may require that you cc: him / her in your substantive e-mail communications. Other organizations promote more independence and your boss may be less concerned about your day to day communication and more concerned about an end result. Whatever the culture is and whatever your boss' management style is, learn it, respect it, and adapt to it. Approaching your company's culture in such a way, is the first step to being an effective communicator within the organization.

2) Speak their language: The higher up someone is in an organization, the more they are concerned with the big picture and the bottom line. While your immediate manager may be concerned with the day to day details of how you perform your job, your boss' boss is more concerned with how the job that you do contributes to your organization's overall goals. Therefore, as you prepare to communicate with an individual in your organization, consider the person's role and position. Learn how to speak to the person's concerns from that person's perspective and provide only the level of detail that person requires.

Note that "speaking their language" may require that you develop a more advanced skill. For instance, if you have to give regular reports to a CFO, you will need to be comfortable with numbers. In such a case, consider attending a continuing education course or getting an advanced degree. Not only will it help with your communication, but it will boost your opportunity for advancement within your organization.

On the other hand, if you're speaking to someone in your organization who may not be familiar with your topic, keep things simple. Break information down to manageable concepts that are easy to digest.

3) Be prepared to answer questions: When you present on a topic that pertains to your organization, be prepared to answer questions with regard to that topic. Look at the subject matter from different angles. What are the pros and cons? What is the other side of the argument?

When you're presenting to senior level managers, also consider the competitive landscape and how external factors influence your organization.

If you put these strategies into practice, you will find yourself communicating more effectively across your organization.

Ellie Nieves is a women's leadership speaker. Through her keynote presentations, breakouts, retreats and workshops she helps women to develop leadership skills, set strategic goals, bolster effectiveness and create a personal brand. For more information visit www.EllieNieves.com or e-mail ellie@ellienieves.com.

© 2011 by Ellie Nieves. All rights reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright.