Marty Brounstein

Organizations thrive when employees are given the opportunity and supported to do their best work. To inspire and build commitment from your employees, you, as a manager, need to fully commit to prioritizing coaching and mentoring as part of your job — not something you intend to do or as time allows. This Cheat Sheet helps you get started.

Effective communications involves listening as well as speaking. When you speak to a group, how you deliver your message plays a part in how it’s received. In the workplace, effective communication techniques can help foster positive relationships — just be sure to avoid some communication pitfalls so that you don’t undermine your good work.

Performance feedback can be given two ways: through constructive feedback or through praise and criticism. Don't fall into the trap of giving praise and criticism on employee performance. Constructive feedback is information-specific, issue-focused, and based on observations. It comes in two varieties: Praise and criticism are both personal judgments about a performance effort or outcome, with praise being a favorable judgment and criticism, an unfavorable judgment.

One of the responsibilities of business coaches is to give performance feedback to employees. Performance feedback can be given two ways: through constructive feedback or through praise and criticism. Don't fall into the trap of giving praise and criticism on employee performance. Constructive feedback is information-specific, issue-focused, and based on observations.

Effective communication strategies can help you build strong working relationships with clients and customers, team members, managers, and internal customers. Use the tips in the following list: Respond to requests by emphasizing what you can do to help meet them. Follow through and do what you say you’ll do.

Effective communications includes choosing the proper method to communicate, the right time, and the relevant message. The pitfalls in the following list are ones to avoid: Using e-mail to express concerns. Instead, go to the source to work out problems in person. Talking too much in sales situations. Instead, learn to understand the customer’s needs and then speak to indicate how you can help meet those needs.

Communicating effectively involves not only speaking well, but listening well, too. Active-listening tools, such as those in the following list, help you hold up your end of a successful conversation or discussion. Concentrate on what the speaker has to say. Listen for content and emotion to understand the entire message.

When you speak to a crowd, communicating effectively means that your delivery is positive and confident so that your message comes across effectively. Use the tips in the following list to convey your points: Speak up so others can easily hear you, especially in group situations. Make your message as concise as possible; wordiness is not needed or wanted.

When you coach or mentor employees, know how to be an active listener where you work to draw out the speaker's message. In a coaching discussion, the real key to effective facilitation is to provide nonjudgmental verbal feedback to check your understanding of the speaker's message. The focus isn't on what you think of the other person's message, but on what the person really means.