Transcript Technical Communications for the Practicing Professional

Technical Communications for the
Practicing Professional
Dick Hayter
Why Bother?
Sales, Sales, Sales (but it’s even
more than you think)
•
•
•
•
Product
Company
Engineering Solution
Yourself
Overview
• What Others Say
• Characteristics of a Communicator
• Communication Skills
• ASHRAE Communications
What Others Say
“ . . . engineers need
communication skills not only for
the company’s sake but also for
the benefit of their own careers.”
Richard Anderson
VP & Chief Technical Officer, Retired
Grumman Aircraft
What Others Say
“Soft skills make the difference
between stagnation and growth
in an engineering career.”
Richard Anderson
What Others Say
“To be successful in the future,
engineers must hone their
communications and
interpersonal skills.”
Jack Hinton
NSPE Past President
What Others Say
“I’ve seen a lot of guys who are
smarter than I am . . .And yet I’ve
lost them in the smoke. Why?
Because I’m tough? No . . .You’ve
got to know how to talk to them,
plain and simple.”
Lee Iacocca
What Others Say
“Most of the fundamental ideas
of science are essentially simple,
and may, as a rule, be expressed
in a language comprehensible to
everyone.”
--Albert Einstein
What Others Say
“Keep everything as simple
as possible, but not
simpler.”
-- Albert Einstein
Characteristics of a Communicator
“Listen, Care & Respond”
• Know your audience (Listen).
• Know your subject (Care).
• Meet your audience’s needs (Respond).
Communication Skills
• Sending Skills
Writing
Speaking
• Receiving Skills
Reading
Listening
Receiving Skills - Listening
“. . . a large part of
communication skills, which
people forget, is listening.”
John Chambers
Cisco
Receiving Skills - Listening
“ Active listening is more than
hearing. Listening is a learned
behavior that attaches meaning to
sound. It is the hardest role in the
communication process.”
Prof. Holly Deforest
Park College
Receiving Skills - Listening
From “Steps to Resolving A Conflict”
KSU Nonviolence Program
• Clarify – Get more info. Ask Questions.
• Restate – Say in your own words what
you heard, including feelings.
• Encourage – Use neutral or nonthreatening
words to help the person to expand
on their message.
Receiving Skills - Listening
L = Learn
I = Interest
S = Supportive
T = Think
E = Evaluate*
N = Need
Receiving Skills - Listening
*“When you look at people,
observe their abilities, not their
disabilities.”
Christopher Reeves
Receiving Skills - Listening
“ God gave us two ears and one
mouth. It is wise to use them
in that proportion.”
R. Hermstad
September ‘99
Receiving Skills - Listening
Active listening exercise.
Sending Skill - Speaking
“ A closed mouth gathers no foot.”
Source Unknown
Sending Skill - Speaking
“Wisdom is knowing when to
speak your mind and when to
mind your speech.”
Evangel
Sending Skill - Speaking
S = Structure
P = Purpose (Personal)
E = Enthusiasm
A = Audience
K = Knowledge
ASHRAE Communication
Chapter Technology Transfer
Committee
From CTTC Manual
• Coordinate dissemination of technical
information
• Maintain liaison with local & state
government advisory bodies
• Inform chapter on HVAC&R public issues
ASHRAE Public
Relations Guide for
Chapters
ASHRAE Public Relations
Guide for Chapters
“Public relations is a series of techniques
by which a group or an individual
communicates to target audiences a
message within a specific plan and
budget. The overall objective is to win
understanding and acceptance.”
ASHRAE’s Acronyms
& Abbreviations
Acronym Finder
www.acronymfinder.com/
ASHRAE Resources
ASHRAE Resources
ASHRAE Journal
March 2004
Achieving Vision Through
Communication
• A vision can only be achieved
through communication.
• Remember to “Listen, Care &
Respond.”
What Others Say
“Vision without action is merely a
dream and action without vision
just passes the time, but vision
with action can change the
world.”
Joel Barker
Thanks for listening!