As a manager, one of your primary responsibilities is to get the right message to the right person, to get the results you expect. Because the communication process is so complex, getting your message across is not an easy task. Barriers or roadblocks can get in the way: lack of understanding (on your part or theirs), interruptions, noise, emotional state (yours or theirs), bias, prejudice, boredom, resentment, language problems, culture, physical environment, lack of trust, poor listening habits, mixed messages, and unclear priorities.

To work your way around these barriers, consider the following ideas:

1.  Think through what you want to say before you say it. Begin by focusing on your intention or goal. Be clear about what you expect as a result of your communication. Do you want an employee to do a certain job? Do you want a co-worker to support you on a particular project? Do you want your boss to give you more information? In your mind, clearly define what you want to accomplish. Once you are clear about what your communication goal is, you can focus on the message you need to get across.

2.  Once you have made your point, ask each listener for feedback. Make sure that each listener has understood your intention and specifically what it is you want. You can get this feedback by observing and asking. Observe the listener’s behavior. Is it in agreement? Does he or she appear to have questions or to disagree? Also pay attention to the nonverbal cues you are receiving.

3.  Speak clearly and concisely. Some people believe that wordiness is a sign of knowledge or power, but it actually gets in the way of effective communication. Being overly verbose is a distraction. Many people will simply tune out a speaker who is too wordy. Keep your words and sentences short and to the point.

4.  Speak with enthusiasm and expressiveness.If you are trying to convince others or to motivate a team or individual, your ability to be enthusiastic is critical. Be aware of your tone of voice. Are you speaking in a monotone? If so, this is one of the quickest ways to lose the listener. Add variety to your voice by varying your rate of speech and tone of voice. Adding examples, personal stories or experiences, and analogies or metaphors always make a speaker more interesting.

5.  Develop a natural and informal style. People are more likely to listen if you appear natural and informal in your discussions. Many employees complain that their bosses are stiff or formal when communicating with them. If you want to open up communication, be yourself. Speak with your employees as you would to a friend. This informal approach will help you to build trust and credibility with others.

6.  Be sincere. Your employees, co-workers, and your boss can see right through you! It is important to always be sincere in your communication. This includes letting others know when you are unsure or do not understand. It also includes telling the truth and being as direct and honest as you can be. When others truly believe that you speak from the heart, you are beginning to create a trusting relationship. Others will be honest with you in return. When people on your team are open and honest with one another, the chances of getting and receiving clear communication will increase ten-fold.