A Tool for Becoming an Effective Communicator: Peterson's Development Pipeline

Communicating effectively is a crucial skill that every professional should develop on their journey of professional growth, yet it is often overlooked or under practiced. Many leaders, especially  those who are introverts, find it challenging to communicate and present confidently. Maybe you’ve tried to improve on your own, or you’ve taken a company sponsored course or participated in Toastmasters, but you still feel you aren’t the effective communicator you’d like to be. Don’t blame yourself.

Petersen’s Development Pipeline identifies five essential conditions that need to exist in an organizational context for learners to develop any new skill, including enhancing your communication skills. 

The Development Pipeline: 

Insight: Knowing what to develop is the starting point. What kind of communication is the organization asking of you? How is your skill level perceived by others? What is your own accurate assessment of your ability to communicate well? Are you struggling with confidence, engagement, or clarity?

Motivation: Even with insight, you need the drive to invest the time and energy into improving your communication skills. What is your personal incentive to become a more effective communicator? 

Capabilities: This is the training piece. New knowledge and skills are crucial to developing a new capability and you have to know how to acquire this knowledge and skills. What communication training is available in your organization? Or do you have to look outside for resources?  

Real World Practice: Opportunities to apply your new skills in real-life work situations are essential to consolidating your new knowledge and becoming a consistently effective communicator. Every time you have an opportunity to make a presentation, practice some aspect of what you have learned. This will solidify your new skills and build your confidence.

Accountability: Regular feedback and someone to be accountable to helps to track and sustain progress. Self-assessment and feedback from others both ensure that you accomplish your goals.

Ideally, each condition must be present to systematically and efficiently build new employee capabilities. Just like a house needs right-sized pipes to ensure a steady flow of water, any constraint in the Development Pipeline will restrict development.

Common Communication Challenges that Can Be Addressed through Development:

Being Overprepared and Too Scripted: Trying to include too much information and relying too heavily on your script can lead to a stiff delivery style and reduce audience engagement. Focus on communicating your key messages rather than memorizing your entire script.

Lack of Confidence: If you struggle to feel confident when you communicate to a group, reduce your anxiety by practicing your material a lot. Speaking in different settings will also help you to become more comfortable.

Engagement Issues: Not making eye contact or appearing distracted can hinder your connection with the audience. Force yourself to look at individual audience members as you speak, holding the gaze for just a few seconds, then moving on. Practicing a lot so you are not overly reliant on your notes will also help you to stay engaged. 

Adapting to Questions: Being able to handle questions on the fly is the sign of a polished professional. Thinking through likely questions you could receive and preparing answers in advance is one technique to ensure you have ready answers. And don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know.” if you don’t have the answer. Audiences generally appreciate honesty more than a half-baked, vague answer. 

Effective communication is an example of a skill that requires continuous development. By understanding and having access to the conditions outlined in the Development Pipeline, you have the best chance to enhance your ability to communicate effectively. Remember, every step you take towards improving your skills contributes to your overall growth as a leader.