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| 22 Summarize what you hear to get better clarification Tori Foust, director of project management at Samtec, shared another key lesson from her studies on effective communication. "When I'm listening to someone, I try to first summarize what they're saying," says Foust. Then, she responds with an action plan or a response to the message. With clarification up front, she can ensure that she understands what's being communicated and tailor her response to be more productive. Effective communication doesn't always mean being more assertive Esugasini Subramaniam, director of supply chain and engineering at Micron Technology, recommends avoiding a victim mentality. "Early in my career, I believed that women needed to be additionally assertive in their roles. Where a man would say five words, I needed to say twenty words to make things happen," says Subramaniam. "But then I realized that it put me in the victim mentality. Effective communication and the right level of assertiveness go hand in hand." She suggests trying to stop yourself after you've delivered your initial message; overexplaining doesn't make your message more effective. Keep Working on Yourself Determine your weak areas and work to improve them To be a more effective leader, spend time exploring what areas of communication you need to improve. Foust shares that taking tests and courses helps you see your blind spots. "I've taken tests to discover my strengths and weaknesses. I need to know how my brain processes information," says Foust. "I've taken several courses over my career to help improve weaknesses, hold better meetings, and practice conducting difficult conversations with role-playing." Don't let unconscious bias take over To be an effective communicator, Subramaniam recommends leaving personal biases aside: "You need to make sure you don't let unconscious bias kick in during crucial conversations. It's important to teach yourself to be open and not react to differences in perspectives." For many, that means being present, focusing on the words and message of the person with whom you're speaking, and asking for clarification. For others, that can mean reviewing messages and communication from a factual point of view, leaving past experiences at the door, and making more room for openness. "For women in male-dominated fields, clarity and effective communication are absolutely essential" -Mitra Tayareh

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