Communication Toolkit
AFBG
August 5, 2025
Following the steps in this toolkit will lead to enhanced communication and connections in your family business.
Overview
The Communication Toolkit contains many smaller tools that will to more successful communications. Naming your goal is knowing what you want to accomplish. Make sure you spend time thinking about what is attainable given the time and circumstances available. Depending on the topic you may need to plan more than one session.
To stay calm and focused, both the physical environment and your physical and emotional states need to be conducive to productive dialogue.
- How are the temperature and lighting in the room?
- Do we need to be off-site?
- Am I hungry?
- Am I distracted with something else?
You’ve named your goal for yourself; it is helpful to share your agenda with the participants so you’re not catching people off-guard. You can have a more productive dialogue if everyone is prepared going in.
Employ active listening. This ensures that others feel heard and it also minimizes misunderstanding. By focusing on the speaker instead of your response, you will be more open to others’ perspectives and viewpoints. Active listening takes practice; it gets easier and feels more natural the more you do it.
Finally, know that change comes from within. The more you focus on your own behaviors, the more likely you will see change in others.
