High Impact Communications

Good communications boost the bottom line.

High-performance organizations treat communication as a key business driver.
Watson Wyatt Worldwide
Consulting
The ISC is committed to improving as a High Performance
Organization (HPO). High impact communications can make
an impact in each of our (HPO) areas of focus

What: How:
Who:
Focus on Focus on performance
Focus on talent
what matters

A. Inspire and empower A. Are rigorously focused A. Enhance skills and

employees to focus on attracting the best upgrade
on our shared vision talent performance

B. Foster accountability B. Continuous development B. Reward to build

- getting what really and upgrading of the winners
matters done RIGHT talent

Top 6 priorities Talent development principles Enhance managerial and

IMOTO Values
Rapid Transformation
Programs & IT enablement
Strategy well understood (T3)
Aligned goals for everyone
Next-generation leadership
programs
Talent scout program
Quarterly Talent Management
Review (TMR) process
Experience roadmaps
supervisory skills
Differentiate performance
Foster accountability for
results
Drive real recognition
Provide on-the-job growth 2
opportunities for every job
 What can I do today
to improve my
communication skills?

Step 1: Complete the Assessment Worksheet on the next page (p.4). Ask yourself what you
are good at and identify areas needing additional work. Ask your manager to complete it also,
evaluating your skills.
Step 2: Have a discussion with your manager and select one or two area(s) of focus that will
most impact your job.
Step 3: Consult the Resource Guide in this brochure (pgs. 6-10) for ideas on what you can
specifically do to improve. (Note: The guide is not an exhaustive list; be creative.)
Step 4: As you browse the Resource Guide, use the three approaches to learning. Select an
experience that will help you practice your skills, identify key work partners or others who can
give you feedback on your progress against your goal, and select an education offering to
help you build skill in your focus area.
Step 5: Finalize an action/ development plan using the Communications Action Planning Tool/
Development Plan in this brochure (p.5), discuss it with your manager, and put the experience,
feedback, and education actions into your PM development plan.
Step 6: Ask for feedback and track your progress frequently (p.11). 3
Communication Skills Assessment Worksheet (Completed by employee and manager separately)
Action Steps:
Use this worksheet to rate your own effectiveness on each communication area below on a scale of 1- 5
(1=poor, 3=average, 5=expert). Put the scores in the boxes to the right of each area.
Ask your manager to complete the worksheet with your skills in mind.
Hold a meeting: Have both parties bring completed worksheets to the table, and discuss your assessments.
Come to agreement on one or two development areas on which to focus for 2008, taking into account that which would make the
largest impact in your job. Write those areas of focus in the blanks provided on the right side of the worksheet.

Communication Area Score

Expresses thoughts and ideas clearly (e.g., listeners understand the message the first time)

Speaks with confidence and credibility to any listener/audience

Adjusts communications to meet the needs of any listener/audience

Understands and can adapt communications to address cultural differences

Key Focus Area(s):
Gets to the point quickly and respects the time of others
1)_________________
Well prepared for formal or informal presentations content and purpose are clear
2)_________________
Makes presentations exciting and interesting

Effectively handles questions on the spot from any type of questioner

Written communications are clear, concise and to the point

Leads meetings or calls efficiently clear agenda and purpose; no unnecessary attendees
Actively and constructively participates in meetings

Communicates effectively in a virtual setting (e.g., calls, Netmeetings, town halls, etc.).
4
Communication Skills Action Planning Tool/ Development Plan
(Completed by employee, then discussed with manager)
Now that you have picked the areas of focus on which to work, it is time to create a specific action plan regarding how you will
improve in these focus areas.
Action Steps:
Taking into account your focus area(s), complete items 1, 2, and 3 below.
Consult the resource guide on the following pages for ideas. This guide is divided into three key categories: Experience (e.g.,
opportunities to help you practice your skills), feedback (e.g., people you can tap to give you feedback on your progress), and
education (e.g., coursework that can help you build skill in your focus area*). The guide is not an exhaustive list--- be creative.
Pick an experience, feedback and education action item to help you develop in your specific communication development area of
focus. Record them in the spaces provided at the end of each section of the resource guide as well as in the table below.
Set a timeframe for completing each of your actions and record them in the space provided.
Record the content from the table below in your PM development plan.
Revisit this plan at PM checkpoints, and ask for feedback regularly

1) Describe what specific communications area(s) you will focus on for improvement. What impact will it have on your job?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) Identify obstacles to improvement and how to overcome them (be specific)
____________________________________________________________________
3) How will you know that you have improved?
___________________________________________________________________
Action Item Timeframe for Completion
Experience -

Feedback -

Education -

5
High Impact Communications
Resource Guide

6
Experience
Seventy percent of your development comes from direct experience. Below are some suggested opportunities to help you
practice your skills. Record your action item(s) for this category at the bottom of the page and also on the action planning tool/
development plan.
Within-job opportunities: Present in a meeting, represent your manager in a meeting, attend a career fair, call prospective
recruits, persuade someone to work with you, sell an idea to a stakeholder, lead a virtual team call, provide updates to a project
team, or lead an after-action review.

Part-time/ task-team assignments, temporary job rotations to another team/ organization: Pursue a communications-
intensive short-term assignment you can do in addition to current job responsibilities, pursue projects that would require you to
communicate with people with whom you are not familiar, or serve as backup for someone in a communications-intensive role
who is sick, on vacation, or away on leave.

Lateral moves: Move to a job that is communications-intensive.

Shadowing another employee: Watch others who communicate well; observe or shadow them for a day and take notes.

Mentoring or coaching others: Set up a 1:1 meeting or take advantage of coachable moments to give others feedback;
practice receiving feedback and keep track of your reactions.

Authoring opportunities: Write a business case, journal article/ publication, job description, or feature article for the ISC portal.

Speaking opportunities: Give a campus presentation, speak to a class, or deliver part of your teams town hall presentation.

Community involvement/ professional organizations: Teach Junior Achievement; attend a business council communications
event; host a professional organization meeting; join Toastmasters or a speakers bureau.

Planned experience action(s):

_________________________________________________________________ __________________
_____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
7
Feedback
Twenty percent of your development comes from feedback you receive from others. Feedback will help you
determine whether you are improving your communication skills. You can reuse the assessment tool you
have already completed. Here are a few sources that you might consider tapping to give you feedback on
your progress. If you and your manager think that a communications coach might be appropriate, please
contact Roshny Simmons for more information. Record the people whom you will ask for feedback at the
bottom of the page and also on the action planning tool/ development plan.

Manager
Customers (internal or external)
Peers
Work Partners (on your team or on other teams)
Suppliers
Coaches/ Mentors
Personal Network (e.g., family/ friends/ former
colleagues and others with whom you have regular
interaction.)

Planned feedback source(s):

________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
8
Education
Ten percent of your development comes from skill-building coursework/ educational opportunities. The education section of this
guide is divided into two sections based on levels of expertise: 1) those who need intermediate or advanced training* and 2)
those who need fundamentals or refresher training. You can sign up for these courses** on mu.mot.com or contact Ed Danahy
for more information. Before signing up for courses, discuss with your manager first. Record your training plan in the space
provided below and also on the action planning tool/ development plan.

Planned training course(s):

______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_
Topic Level of Expertise - Intermediate/ Advanced Training* Delivery/ Length
High-Impact PDE0969 Think on Your Feet- Learn how to get to the point-quickly and memorably; present ideas clearly; instructor-led
Communication handle questions quickly, clearly, and persuasively; structure thoughts to explain and inform; how to question Two days
and answer successfully; assert a point of view or change someones mind; make a stronger impact.

PDE0790 Global English- Business Communication- Learn to handle business communication in English, Online
including conversations, meetings, telephone calls, e-mail messages and important documents. Includes Multiple languages
business and writing skills center.

PDE0928 Master Communicator- Learn to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas in a clear, succinct and Asia only
compelling manner in public situations; convey confidence; and communicate in an exciting, motivating way instructor-led
with impact. Four days

Presentation PDE0973 Presenting with Impact (Advanced)- Learn to project a relaxed and positive image, persuade an instructor-led
Skills audience with supporting facts and examples, present written material in a captivating manner, lead effective Two days
question and answer sessions, and present in a result-oriented way.

PDE0844 Advanced Presentation Workshop- Learn to analyze audiences, prepare content to meet the China only
audiences need, optimize the use of A/V illustrations, keep audience focused, identify questions, provide instructor-led
succinct answers with confidence, and handle challenges and defenses during the presentation. Two days

Virtual MGT1364 Effective Matrix Management in a Virtual and Multicultural Environment- Learn personal instructor-led
Communication value preferences and compare to others; explore challenges of cultural differences; examine intercultural One day
and Matrix communication and collaboration; discover strategies to strengthen and implement effective virtual matrix
Management management practice.

*Note: Individuals may be nominated to attend special courses and will be identified through our ISC talent review process
9
** Note: Course availability varies by location, so dont limit yourself to our recommended courses)
Education
Topic Level of Expertise - Fundamentals and/or Refresher Training Delivery/ Length
High-Impact PDE0969 Think on Your Feet- Learn how to get to the point-quickly and memorably; present ideas clearly; instructor-led
Communication handle questions quickly, clearly, and persuasively; structure thoughts to explain and inform; how to question and Two days
answer successfully; assert a point of view or change someones mind; make a stronger impact.

PDE2347 Effective Communications- Learn to communicate a message effectively by identifying the receiver, Online
choosing the proper channel, responding to feedback, as well as how to overcome common forms of interference. Multiple languages

PDE0790 Global English- Business Communication- Learn to handle business communication in English, Online
including conversations, meetings, telephone calls, e-mail messages and important documents. Includes Multiple languages
business skills and writing skills center.

Presentation MGT201 Effective Presentations- Learn to identify the needs and biases of an audience, organize and structure instructor-led
Skills a presentation for maximum effect and develop effective audiovisual aids. Also teaches persuasive techniques, Two days
question-fielding strategies, influencing behaviors, and handling objections.

PDE0786 Presentations Alive- Learn how to make your presentations visually and vocally exciting, present with Singapore only
calmness and confidence, and create strong positive impressions when presenting. instructor-led
Two days

PDE0745 Effective Presentation Skills- Learn how to present you message logically and convincingly to top Malaysia only
management and colleagues, develop self confidence to communicate and speak effectively to all levels of instructor-led
audience and make your presentation exciting and interesting. Two days

Effective MGT202 Effective Meetings- Learn to plan and lead a meeting using the agenda item model (AIM) job aid, to instructor-led
Meetings handle difficult participants, and use analysis and feedback techniques to ensure continuous improvement in Two days
meetings.

Cultural PDE0666 Effective Communications & Human Relations (Dale Carnegie)- Learn to communicate with clarity instructor-led
Impact and impact, deliver ideas to audience viewpoint, project confidence, organize ideas to gain buy-in, reduce time 8-12 sessions
and cost of meetings, build synergy with other cultures and personalities, and strengthen collaboration skills. One
session/week
3-4
hours each

DIV102 Cultural Effectiveness Toolkit- Learn to identify pitfalls to avoid when working across cultures, Online
recognize and adapt to cultural differences in a range of activities (e.g., speaking and writing, giving feedback,
presenting, and handling conflict) and identify the golden rules for cross-cultural communications in specific
cultures.

Virtual MGT1285 Virtual Teams: Communicating Effectively- Learn to use the communication design process to Online
Communication enhance communication in a virtual team, to identify technological barriers that impede communication and how
to overcome them, and to elect technologies that best address a virtual teams needs.
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Additional Resources:
ISC High Performance Portal: http://
compass.mot.com/web/ischpt
Ed Danahy, ISC Motorola University Lead

Email: Ed.Danahy@motorola.com

(Helps identify education solutions to address individual

or group communications skill gaps)
Roshny Simmons, ISC Talent Development Manager

Email: roshny@motorola.com

Track Yourexperiential
(Helps identify Progressopportunities
Here: to practice high
impact communications and offers suggestions to get
Q1:
feedback)
__________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__
Q2:
__________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__
Q3:
__________________________________________________________________________________
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