Communication is a Secret Weapon

Presented by Heather Mylan-Mains, MBA, CBAP

Effective Communication is a Secret Weapon!

Effective Communication

• What is communication?

Effective Communication

• What does communication feel like sometimes?

Effective Communication

• What is communication?

Effective Communication• Let’s Communicate!

– Goal of Activity: To place pictures face down in sequential order.

– Rules1. Look at your picture and study it.2. DO NOT show anyone your picture.3. Describe your picture to others without showing your

picture to anyone.4. Ask and answer questions about the pictures to

determine sequence. 5. Put pictures face down in sequential order

Effective Communication

• Let’s Communicate!

– Goal of Activity: To place pictures in sequential order.

– Rules

1. Without talking, put the pictures in order

Effective Communication

• How does this activity relate to me as a BA?

– Must know context of business

– Must understand the big picture AND the details

– Must listen to understand

– Must be clear in our questions

– Must confirm understanding

– Must communicate clearly to team

– Must lead the team!

Questions and Answers Matter!

Listening is key

"I only wish I could find an institute that teaches people how to listen. Business people need to listen at least as much as they need to talk. Too many people fail to realize that real communication goes in both directions."— Lee IacoccaFormer CEO Chrysler Corporation

Listening is Key

"A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he knows something."— Wilson Mizner

"If speaking is silver, then listening is gold."— Turkish Proverb

Effective Communication

• Now we heard what is needed, time to speak!• “But I said….”• As a leader, communication must be heard.• The message must be clear, concise, consumable and

understood• You must walk the walk AND talk the talk

“What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say."— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Effective Communication

BA Leadership, it’s a real thing.

Effective Communication

BA Leadership, it’s a real thing.

Questions? Comments?

Stay in Touch

• mylanmains@msn.com

Linked in Heather Mylan-Mains

• @HeatherM_M

• @B2T_Training

• #baot• #IIBA