Adapt Your Message
One of the unique characteristics of an influential communicator is an ability to adapt a message on the fly, to speak less while listen more. They focus on what's happening between them while their listeners. They listen to the non-verbal while verbal messages their listeners communicate, determining:
Is my message clear, concise or confusing?
Do my listeners need additional information or have I pushed them over the cliff?
Do they really agree with me or are they shaking their heads "yes" in hopes this will be over soon?
Am I really connecting while engaging or are my listeners zoned out?
Research confirms that communication flexibility—the ability to adapt your style, method, approach according to audience needs—significantly improves message effectiveness. When you adapt your communication, you create trust, avoid misunderstandings, achieve better results.
Three Actions to Adapt Your Message
Get out of your head. We get caught up in our dialogue. We believe we need to communicate our A-to-Z plan without skipping a beat. If you truly want to influence your listeners to act on your recommendations, stop focusing on what you want. Begin focusing on why. Why should your listeners care? The answers to these questions allow you to choose words that resonate while drive action.
Interact to understand. Have a conversation with your listeners not at them. Continue checking in by asking open-ended questions. Are they following your recommendations? When you focus on your listeners rather than yourself, you'll understand their knowledge, experience, opinion—allowing you to adapt your message.
Let go of being perfect. Your listeners don't want perfection. They want to know you sincerely care about them, know what they want, will help them get there. When you turn your focus on your listeners, you invite them to experience your authenticity.
Focusing on your listeners' verbal while non-verbal cues directs you in creating a resonating message. The ability to adapt isn't just communication—it's influence in action.
Research demonstrates that adaptive communication—the ability to adjust style and approach based on audience needs—significantly improves message effectiveness and relationship outcomes: https://www.duarte.com/blog/active-listening/
