imapMyTeam Blog

How to Prevent A Message Misfire

Year end is rapidly approaching and, as the pace picks up, the opportunities for communication disconnects with our messages increase.  And yet, in order to reach your 2017 goals and be ready for 2018, a lot of critical information needs to be shared.  The key is to communicate in a way that grabs attention in the same way “Breaking News” on TV catches our eye.

 The headline that draws our attention is often linked to what is important to us.  And, our iMap information gives us insight as to what those captivating headlines will be.  They come from the Areas of Interest section which is defined by the asterisk on the grid.  Two reasons why these are important:

•      Interests influence the way we prefer to transmit messages to others and,
•      Interests dictate what draws our attention when on the receiving side of messages. 

You can prevent your communication from misfiring when your messaging is packaged in a way that is in sync with what’s important to those you are communicating with.  If we share the same interests, the message clicks naturally. While that natural connection is great, the more people that need to hear your message increases the potential of a misfire because our communication doesn’t have the right headline that will hook us.

For example if factual and data centric communication is important to you and you send an email to someone who just groans when they see your subject line is “Latest metrics for your review” with an attached spread sheet, two things will likely happen.  They will not open it at all or they will put it off for later and never get to it.  For that person, a different approach may have gotten their attention.  Perhaps, “Can we talk?” or “Answers to your Questions.” 

Another example is written communication. If you love to write you may use too many words (in the other person’s opinion) and chances are good you will have created a document that person will unlikely read in its entirety.  A high level summary would have sufficed for them. Once again, the message is muddled because of interest mismatch.

iMapMyTeam® includes a report called ‘My Communication Blind Spots’ in the center pane that provides insight to your highest and lowest levels of interest. This insight will help you become more aware of how you may possibly over or underuse a communication strategy based upon your personal interest filter.

Your communication strategy needs to be formed around the others person’s interest to get and keep their attention. The My Communication Blind Spots suggests ways you can rethink your strategy ensure no misfires.  Use this to create compelling headlines that capture attention immediately.

Save yourself and others time, prevent message misfires, get others focused and onboard quickly.

You have to like that message!