The Art of Decision Making
The outcome in life all starts with the initial decision that was made.
Decisions lead to consequences, consequences lead to experiences, and experiences influence relationships. The nature of the relationships we have in life, be it business, social or personal, all shape the outcome we experience as life.
There has been a lot of talk over good and bad decisions, what the right decision will be in a given situation. Some people don't take the time to consider options, others take ages to commit, and some just try to ignore it hoping it will disappear.
In business we all know the saying that "time is money", and the decisions we make have the greatest impact on time!
- the time it took to make the decision,
- the time it takes to correct a poor decision,
- the time it takes to persuade people it is the right decision,
- the time it takes to address internal issues resulting from a poor decision making process,
OUTCOME BASED THINKING
When effectively participating in interpersonal communication, a key element on your part is that of outcome based thinking. Outcome based thinking entails knowing what your objective is before entering into a task, communication or project.
When do you use outcome based thinking (OBT)? You will use OBT when you are negotiating anything or want to achieve a certain goal. You will normally use OBT when you are in problem solving and/or task oriented communication. Whenever you want or need something you will use OBT. You will almost always use OBT when you are at work or in your business setting.
How do you use OBT for effective thinking, effective communicating and decision making? By providing yourself with a road map that allows you to know where you are going is the first step. I've often said that, "once you know where you are and where you are going, it's relatively easy to get there."
It is difficult to effectively communicate if you do not know what you want in the communication. Living life by design means that you are empowering your life with true purpose and mission.
OBT starts at the macro level, then works its way to the micro level. As you live a designer's life, you begin to notice how most of what you do is within the larger context of your mission and purpose in life.
The Art of Communication
Mastering The Art Of Communication is not hard but many people don’t make the effort to understand it. Why is this so? Is it because we want to make life harder for ourselves? I doubt it. Personally, I think it is a case of a little education (or too little).
Do people truly understand you when you communicate with them? Do they get upset and misunderstand the meaning you try to get across to them? Do you get caught up in email cross fire; firing back fast responses to someone that got hot under the collar and totally misinterpreted what you meant in your first email to them? Did you actually understand their response before replying back?
World War III has once again erupted via email and sms…
Lack Of Communication Skills
This is common. It is called: Lack of Communication Skills.
Why do we expect others to read our minds and know the entire picture – the one that is in your mind – without showing it to them? Just because one person has the picture in their minds eye, doesn’t mean that anyone else sees it. As a matter of fact, you are the only one in the entire world (or Universe) that sees that picture!
How many issues are you experiencing at work, both internally and also with clients, that started purely from lack of or poor communication?
And what is the cost of this to your business?
- loss of sales,
- loss of existing & potential clients,
- senior management caught up in conflict issues,
- poor performance, absenteeism, etc
Mastering The Art Of Communication
The Art of Communication is a tough one to master and is hardly a topic that is taught very well in our industrial age (outdated) School system. Modern society gets far too busy with everyday life… and less time is spent on attempting to understand other’s viewpoints and opinions. Why do people “fly off the handle” at an email? Has life been so bad to them that an email rage has to be declared on someone that can’t physically reach then at that point in time (and give them a well deserved smack)? Is their ‘petty’ issue so important that all other issues (the REAL one’s that matter, like world disasters, disease, persecution and starvation) become tiny and obscure?
Let’s have a look at why people misunderstand an email – and even why people don’t totally get your picture over the phone.
The 3 Vital Pieces Of Communication
The Art Of Communication is made up primarily of 3 main areas. Take away one and you have a jumbled message. Combine all 3 and then you have a complete message.
- The Written Word – 17%
- Tone of Voice – 34%
- Body Language – 49%
I am discounting any 6th sense or abilities to “feel” the meaning of communication. For the purpose of this exercise, I will include only the parts that most people are comfortable with. The combination of all 3 (above) do generate a “feel” for the meaning that delivers a FULL Picture of the communicated word.
1. The Written Word – 17%
Only 17% of your communication skills are transferred through the written word. This includes letters, emails, newspapers, etc. How well do you really understand what was in that email? What mood was the author in? Angry? Happy? Loving? Depressed? Were the words said in anger or in jest? What was the body language? You may never know…
2. Tone Of Voice – 34%
When you hear someone over the phone or on the radio, you have the benefit of both the Written Word and Tone Of Voice, totaling 51% of the full meaning attempted to be transferred from one person to another through the Art Of Communication. But what is the speaker wearing? Is he or she naked? How tall is this person? Have they showered for the past 6 weeks? Are they disabled or an elite sportsperson? Do they “walk the talk” on the topic they are so passionately covering? You may never know!
3. Body Language – 49%
Your Body Language accounts for 49% of your communication skills. Being able to see a person talk, normally means you can hear the Tone Of Voice along with the Written Word (as it is spoken). Is the person speaking confident? Does he/she look you in the eyes? Do they look trustworthy? Are they picking their nose? Can you see how a deaf person can get more from a persons Body Language than you ever can from an email? Now, think about that for a moment…
Performance Transformation
It was once said that "today's abnormality is tomorrow's normality." Change is inevitable if you wish to move forward in life and succeed at anything.
The greatest challenge for most people and companies lies at this very moment which today is known as "transformation". Just look at all the conscious and unconscious areas where transformation is present:
- moving from one client visit to the next
- dealing with one staff member and then the next
- being promoted to manager / senior executive
- moving from one department to another
- merging two departments / offices
- leaving your house and walking into work
- leaving work and walking into your house
The reality is that if this transformation is not made in a sound and healthy manner, not only you but your entire team, department, company and family will be affected by it. Performance will drop and cost will increase.
Not every individual has the natural ability to create successful transformation. That was not part of your qualifications to become the best at what you are that got you that promotion and now leader or influencer of many. Invest in transformation to secure the success and growth of your company.
Call me today to book an appointment.
Success & Trust
Experience have tought me one thing and that is when trust is in doubt in a person himself or within a team environment between any members, constant success is impossible.
When you lack in trust, then you simply lack in confidence at the same time. Distrust spreads like cancer within a person himself and within a team. The focus then becomes so many other issues which drains time and energy from other employees and managers alike, yet at the core of it all lies distrust. Poor relationship.
"Whether you're on a sports team, in an office or a member of a family, if you can't trust one another there's going to be trouble." - Joe Paterno, Head Football Coach , Penn State University
Statistics say that only 36% of employees believe their leaders act with honesty and integrity.
That only 51% of employees have trust and confidence in their management staff.
The challenge with trust is our perspective. Do people truly experience that they can trust me? Does my behavior inspire trust? Or do I just assume that people trust me?
What we should be focussing on is the powerful dimention of self trust. I am not referring to boasful self trust, but self belief as a result of integrity and character. If you can't trust yourself you will have a hard time trusting other's, which in any team environment becomes crucial.
It is medically proven that trust directly impacts on your passion, excitement, energy and joy in every area of your life. Thus, your performance in general.
Trust is not something that you have or you don't have, it is something that you can build and restore in your life, and just as easy you can destroy and give it away.
And yes, it WILL impact every area and relationship in your life.....that, you can't get away from.
Call me today!
Service Options
1) Quick intervention programme
This programme is focussed at senior and executive level where the outcome will be to empower the individual in order to have a positive impact on others in his/her department.
3 x 2hour 1-on-1 sessions
6 x 1hour sessions follow through
R15,000 (excluding travel & accommodation)
2) Team Intervention programme
The purpose of this programme is to create a unified awareness within the team and empower their behaviour and focus towards the same outcome. Creating an environment of support and mutual benefit.
3 x half-day group sessions
3 x 1hour 1-on-1 sessions
R38,000 (excluding travel & accommodation)
* This is based on a group no larger than 12 people.
3) Company Intervention programme
The aim here is to build strong relationships within the company across a period of time. All staff are supported in this process leaving them empowered in their professional and personal lives and relationships.
At the end you will have an individual who are present at work. A person who does what they said they would, when they said they would do it. A person who is open for change and input. A person who can work effectively with others. A person you can trust. A person who inspires trust.
* Depending on the number of employees and company budget, a programme will be developed and agreed on for implementation. This will take the form of Johan Koornhof being present at the company on a full or half day basis.
1 x full day per week R3,000 to R6,000 (neg.)
2 x full days per week R5,000 to R9,500 (neg.)
3 x full days per week R8,000 to R14,500 (neg.)
Group Sessions
Various group sessions are presented by Grincourt Consulting with the purpose of creating effective change and awareness within a organization. These group sessions can be presented in the following ways: 2 hour session
half day session
full day session
The group sessions include the following topics:
- effective communication
- building stronger internal & external relationships
- conflict management
- purposeful & efficient work performance
- effective goal setting and achieving
- powerful team building & performance
Groups sessions can be followed-up by feedback sessions after a agreed period of time allowing for becoming aware of where change and support is necessary to create an empowered workforce.
Individual Sessions
In order to create successful and lasting change within a organization it is important for individuals to change. This requires a positive change in the individuals attitude and character. The support needed is not necessarily work related, but involves personal matters at home or in their social environment.
Individual sessions are held on a regular basis with designated people in order to support this growth journey. These sessions include awareness creation insights being shared in each session along with practical support and guidance on real situations and challenges. This is followed up with feedback sessions to ensure the successful outcome to the situation presented thus creating positive forward motion.
As these situations are being dealt with the individual experiences the actions required to produce the successful outcome and adapts the behavior change. As this continues the individual becomes empowered within his/her character to take this behavior forward as a lifestyle and not a temporary change.
Client Feedback
"I just want to let you know that even though I have only seen you for 1 hour so far it really helped my attitude at work and in my personal life. I am adopting the attitude you shared and I am feeling very upbeat!!"
- Clifford Rodwell (Private IT Consultant)
"Your philosophy is simple and can be applied to everyday life. So I appreciated the fact that you are accessible “after hours” to help provide a solution to day-to-day problems. It’s only when you start to ‘walk the talk’ that it begins to make sense. You are unassuming but enthusiastic so I feel comfortable sharing personal problems with you because I know you take me seriously, but you are also eager to help me find a solution.
- Julia (Journalist)
"You are always to the point and you speak from the heart. You always seek the truth. Your advice can be implemented in a practical way in our everyday lives, weather it is at home or at work. So it is not a pie in the sky, but an actual great way of living. Your lessons and your methods are based on the will of God and the bible, and not on the teachings or theories of a person. And I can see the results of your coaching in my daily life. The results speak for themselves. That to me is the most important."
- Arthur Marsden (Quality Manager, Bowler)
Contact
Johan Koornhof
Email: johan@grincourtconsulting.com
Skype: johan.koornhof
Mobile: +27(0)82 370 6915
Fax: 086 645 4286
Communication Profile
This profile has been used very successfully in improving communication in many different areas. Some of the areas include management communication, team communication, team building, project team creation, sales, marketing and many other areas.
Used correctly you will improve your communication dramatically.
The profile questionnaire consists of some generic information about yourself as well as 12 questions to determine your preferred way of communication. There is no right or wrong as we all differ, so please enjoy it and utilize the results.
Once completed your results will be emailed to you.
Please click here to continue.