Engaging others

LEADING SELF

You connect with people to build trust and become a leader that people want to work with and for.

Engaging others looks like listening to patients and their families to understand their needs and encouraging others when they are having a tough day. It also looks like summarising discussions and expectations so that everyone has a shared understanding.

When you are engaging others, you…

Connect with others
Listen and clarify your understanding
Gain insight into people and situations and act with integrity
Adapt your message and approach to your audience

Quick tips

Try adding analogies, stories, and graphics to make your message more interesting and relatable.
Be prepared to listen to others seeking to understand their perspective.
Ask clarifying questions if you’re unclear about a statement or message.
Think before you speak or write. Is this the right time and the right message?
Pay attention to your listeners’ feelings and the words they use. Empathise with the situation and the emotions expressed.
Be prepared to present messages in different modes for example visual, auditory, or tactile. Try to determine what mode will be most impactful for your listener.
With controversial topics, consider using face-to-face or voice-to-voice communication rather than email or voice mail.
When beginning a piece of work take some time to consider who it may be beneficial to connect with, who needs to be informed, who do you need to influence, who should you get involved?

Practice this behaviour

Here are some ways you can practice this behaviour:

Try adding analogies, stories, and graphics to make your message more interesting and relatable.
Spend more time listening to other people. Try to see things from their perspective.
If you’re unclear about a statement or message, ask questions until you understand.
Think before you speak or write. Is this the right time and the right message?
Pay attention to your listeners’ feelings and the words they use. Empathise with the situation and their emotions.
Be prepared to present messages in different modes; for example visual, auditory, or tactile. Try to determine what mode will be most effective based on your audience.
With controversial topics, consider making a phone call or speaking face-to-face rather than emailing or leaving an angry voicemail.
When starting a project, consider: who you need to connect with, who needs to be informed, who you need to influence, and finally, who you should ask to join the work.

What can hold you back

Here are some things that could get in the way of developing this behaviour:

Focusing more on the task or project than the people you’re working with/for. Consider the impact of your approach on people. Spend time connecting with people, not just achieving business outcomes.
Relying too much on your instinct, and assuming that other people see the world the same way you do. You may think you can ‘read’ people, but you might end up making assumptions about how they think and feel. You may need to specifically ask to find out what motivates other people.
Assuming that work and life should be separate. You may not need social connection in your work, but others may benefit from getting to know you better and connecting on a personal level.

Related learning

Learning Library

Heart First: Reframing Customer Care

This course will support you to consistently demonstrate great customer care while also giving you the confidence and skills to communicate effectively with others, defuse challenging behaviours, and increase your own and others’ job satisfaction.

Courageous Conversations Workshop

With proven techniques, we’ll build your confidence to successfully have courageous conversations. We’ll share methods for making these easier to have, and most importantly, chat about how you can prevent these situations in the first place.

Adapting Your Communication Style

Explore our preferred ways of communicating with people and begin to identify the communication styles of those around us. Becoming aware of the challenges that can show up when communicating with others.

Communicating Clearly

This module covers the importance of effective communication, the value of bringing your whole self to work, and techniques you can use to be an effective communicator.

Having Harder Conversations

In this online akoranga [learning] resource, we’ll help build your confidence in having those conversations that might make you... well, uncomfortable.

Great Facilitation Workshop

Running meetings, or encouraging others to share their thinking is a learned skill. This workshop gives you skills for effective facilitation include knowledge, technique, practice – and confidence.

Related programmes

Leadership Programmes

Leading Self Programme

By completing the Leading Self Programme you will be guided through a series of learning that develops all of the Leading Self Koru behaviours. You’ll learn techniques and skills that cover topics such as leadership, management, and communication skills.

Access: Enrolment for this course is via healthLearn
Professional Development Equivalent: 12.25 hours
Cost: It’s free!