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What are Productive Interactions?
Productive Interactions play an essential role in the workplace culture and client relationships. Productive interactions are positive exchanges with your prospects, clients, and colleagues that result in advancing your relationship, and both parties leaving with the desired outcome.
Why are Productive Interactions Important?
Every interaction with a colleague, client, or prospect is a chance to prove your commitment to a win-win outcome, thus increasing collaboration.
#1 Build Your Executive Presence
Everyone talks about having and the importance of Executive Presence, but it is rarely defined within an organization. In fact, 51% of Human Resources practitioners state that executive presence is difficult to define, but 81% say it is easy to spot! There are many definitions of Executive Presence, but to sum them all up, it is your ability to lead and inspire confidence in others.
Executive Presence may come more naturally to some than others, but it is definitely a trait that can be developed overtime.
Executive presence can help you effectively command a room, influence important decisions/outcomes, project confidence and charisma, communicate clearly and speak well, and capture the attention of your audience. Executive Presence also has long-term effects that will increase collaboration for future interactions. While Executive Presence has several ingredients, the most impact ingredients you can start to develop right away are:
- Competency
- Trust
- Properly Aligned Ego-State
#2 Understand Communication Styles
Each person has a unique communication style, a way they interact and communicate information with others. It is important to correctly identify the communication style of those around you and adjust your style to compliment those around you. This does not mean you need to be someone else. It means that you have to embrace yourself and have a full understanding of your natural behavioral styles and others so you can best collaborate.
Case Study: How Benchmark Implements Extended DISC Case Study
At Benchmark Training, we use a communication development tool, DISC Assessments by Extended DISC, to help our clients have a guideline and common language to better understand themselves and others.
Essentially, the DISC model divides people into four main behavioral styles: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Correctness.
The Four Styles of Communication
• D-Style (Dominance)
A person that is primarily D-Style emphasizes accomplishing results and sees the big picture. They are typically confident, outspoken, demanding, and sometimes blunt.
• I-Style (Influence)
A person that is primarily I-Style emphasizes on influencing or persuading others. They are typically enthusiastic, optimistic, open, but can be impulsive.
• S-Style (Steadiness)
A person that is primarily S-style emphasizes on cooperation, sincerity, loyalty and dependability. They are typically calm, patient, deliberate, but can be predictable.
• C-Style (Correctness)
A person that is primarily C-Style emphasizes on quality, accuracy, and expertise. They are typically analytical, systematic, diplomatic, but can be too careful.
When you fully understand each of the DISC Styles, you will feel more confident in the way you communicate with others. We always recommend teams develop a Team Map with each person’s communication style to assure strong internal collaboration.
#3 Embrace The Effects Of Body Language
When speaking with your prospects, clients, and team members, 93% of what they are picking up is not coming from the words you’re saying, but rather from your body language and tone.
Albert Mehrabian studied, and even pioneered, the understanding of how people receive communication from others. Through his research, he found people most clearly receive communication non-verbally, with 38% of messages delivered through tone and attitude, 55% of the message delivered through body language and facial expressions, and finally only 7% of the message is delivered through the words spoken.
By applying the Mehrabian Theory to your day to day conversations, you will be able to build productive interactions with those around you. Remember: what you say is not as powerful as how you say it through your body language and tone of voice.
How Can Benchmark Help Improve Collaboration Within Your Team?
Benchmark Training helps professionals build a culture of profitability through people development. With our Communication Development tools, One-on-one Executive Coaching, and Live Virtual Team Development courses, your culture will become your competitive advantage!
