Communication for

Success
Interpersonal
Communication for
Structural Engineers
SE University
October 2011
Strategic Solutions Group

Agenda

What is the goal of the session?

What is SSG responsible for?
What are you responsible for?

Setting the Table

What is the value of being an effective communicator?
What causes us to communicate in the manner that we
do?
In what ways could we get feedback that would tell us
how we are communicating?
How does poor communication cost us business, time,
or relationships?
How does someone become an effective communicator?3

Communication Concepts
Understand Nature and Nurture
Pay attention to feedback
Strengths overextended create weakness
Feeling uncomfortable vs. Feeling Not OK
Ownership
Expectations
Get it right over being right
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The Impact of Beliefs

o What is an Attitude or a Belief?
o How does it determine our approach to communicating?
o Can I get rid of an old attitude or belief?
o How are attitudes and beliefs formed?
o What is the value of knowing my attitudes and beliefs?
o How does attitude and my behavior style impact how I
communicate with others?
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Control Factors
Beliefs:
Talk to yourself vs. Listen to yourself

Behaviors:
Focus on High Payoff Activities

Abilities:
Acquire new and enhance existing
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Cycle of Success
The goals you seek must be supported by the attitudes you have or you
will have to settle for the results your attitudes bring you.

Success

Conditioning

Attitudes &
Thoughts

Results

Actions &
Behaviors
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States of Attitude Change

Ignorance

Reflection

The Barrier of Self-imposed Limitations and Awareness

Recognition

Creation
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Aligning Attitudes
Values = Attitudes
Nature and nurture create your
assumptions
Attitudes are either productive or
unproductive
You have control

Causes of Change
Inspiration:

Self analysis
Feedback
Vision-Goals-Desire
Internal

Desperation

Complacency
Settling
Status-Quo
External
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Question

What are the 3 things that you

have control over?

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What is Style-Flexing?
o

The ability to communicate with various

types of behavior styles

The ability to understand why people

approach things differently

The attitude of improving our communication

and increasing our understanding of each
other
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Why Should I Style-Flex?

o

So I know how other people perceive me

So I can use a common approach and method

of communicating with others

To reduce the conflicts that naturally occur

when different styles interact

So I can be strategic in my approach to

communicate with others
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Power Points of Human Behavior

o If I understand me better than you
understand you, then I can guide the
communications between us.
o If I understand me and you better than you
understand yourself, then I can predict and
guide how you will respond.

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Communicating for Success

Driver
Expressive
Amiable
Analytical
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Driver Tendencies
WANTS

Action and Results

NEEDS

To Direct & Dominate

STRENGTHS

Decisive, Task Mode

GOAL

Better Results

AVOIDS

Wasted Time & Energy

FEARS

Losing Control

OVERUSES

Impatience

EMOTION

Anger / Short Fuse

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Expressive Tendencies
WANTS

Feedback, To Be Liked

NEEDS

To Interact and Verbalize

STRENGTHS

Interaction Skills, Persuasive

GOAL

Social Recognition

AVOIDS

Boredom

FEARS

Social Rejection

OVERUSES

Disorganization

EMOTION

Positive, Optimism
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Amiable Tendencies
WANTS

Harmony and Peace

NEEDS

To Serve Others

STRENGTHS

Team Player, Loyal, Patient

GOAL

Harmony, Closure

AVOIDS

Confrontation, Conflict, Change

FEARS

Loss of Predictability

OVERUSES

Possessiveness

EMOTION

Masked Emotions
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Analytical Tendencies
WANTS

Excellence and Quality

NEEDS

To Comply with Standards

STRENGTHS

Accuracy and Precision

GOAL

Correct and Proper Way

AVOIDS

Uncertainty

FEARS

Criticism of their Work

OVERUSES

Skepticism, Criticism

EMOTION

Worry, Fear
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Style Summary
FACTS & RESULTS

Analytical

Driver

SLOW

FAST

^
PATIENT

^
IMPATIENT
Amiable

Expressive

PEOPLE & EMOTIONS

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Question

What style is someone if

they are Impatient and
focused on Results?

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Application and Action

Focus on the Situation or Behavior
When communicating, focus on the situation or the behavior occurring, not the person.
This allows you to better communicate with the other person, rather than to seemingly
pick on them. People tend to be more open to discussing the situation they are in or
their behavior. When it gets personal, there is less willingness to change.
Focus on the Positive
Focus on the positive aspects of the other person to build the other persons selfesteem. By looking at something positive about the other person, you can better deal
with areas needed for improvement.
Look for Win-Win Opportunities
Look for opportunities where both you and the other person benefitwin-win
situations where both of you can develop. In todays rapidly changing world, managers,
supervisors, and frontline employees can always learn from each other.
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Application and Action

Strive for Open Communication
Strive for open and direct communication with others. A manager or supervisor
can speak in a direct and clear manner and still show respect for the other person.
Clear expectations provide direction for a job well done.
Share Information
Share appropriate information with others. Organizations are realizing that they
are all on the same team. Better sharing of information means that managers,
supervisors and frontline employees are better informed and can provide improved
customer service.

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Behavior Traits

Focus

Discipline

Continuous
Improvement

Accountability

SelfMotivation

Adaptability

Maturity

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Challenges
Self-awareness
Reason to change: Inspired or Desperate
Conscious Thoughts = Deliberate Actions
Continuous Improvement through practice
Expectations
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Modifying Attitudes
What are the challenges & obstacles to overcome?

CURRENT
REALITY

DESIRED
FUTURE

SKILLS
BEHAVIOR
STYLE
ACTIONS
ATTITUDE

SUCCESS!
SUCCESS!
SUCCESS!
SUCCESS!

Obstacles &
Roadblocks

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Plan of Action

Decide to become better

Self-analyze
Get feedback
Set a goal
Identify Beliefs-Behaviors-Abilities
Implement
Analyze Readjust and Re-implement
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Thought

Successful people are those

that make a habit of doing
what unsuccessful people do
not like to do!
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For More Information

Contact
Strategic Solutions Group
Jon M. Stigliano
Office: 800-565-2089
Cell: 254-715-2147
www.strategicsolutionsgrp.com
jon@strategicsolutionsgrp.com
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