You don’t have to be an amazing orator to be an effective business communicator, but you do need to have communication skills that are finely honed. If you’re an entrepreneur or a business team leader, your livelihood or your paycheck could depend upon your communication skills.
When you talk with a business owner who has effective communication skills you simply know it. That person is:
- Succinct
- Clear
- A Good Listener
If you aren’t certain whether your communication skills are as effective as they should be, or if you know they are lacking, I’m going to share seven ways you can easily improve your business communication skills.
- Be complete in your communications. There is no room for being vague when you’re speaking with a client, a potential client or a team member. Don’t leave the conversation hanging to the point where the individual has to fill in the blanks because you haven’t given all the pertinent facts. Being succinct and direct is always ideal.
- You need to be clear. This goes hand-in-hand with being complete. If you are delivering a communication and you’re stumbling over your words, backtracking to fill in the blanks of the earlier part of your conversation and being unclear you need to take a step back and work on your communication style. When you see the eyes of the listener glaze over or if they stop taking notes, you can rest assured they aren’t certain where the talk is going and they, too have lost track of it.
- You need to consider the feelings of the individual to whom you’re speaking. With whom are you speaking? Is the person on the same page or at the same level of information for the discussion you’re having? Make sure there is no information asymmetry as that will put the listener at a disadvantage and he or she may feel you’re withholding information.
- Offer concrete details. If there are steps in a process or in a project that cannot be wavered from you need to offer those concrete details and back it up with examples. A concrete detail will leave nothing to chance and will help clarify the overall message.
- All your business communications need to be correct. This is especially true if you’re communicating via email or other written forms of communication. There is no place for spelling or grammar errors. Don’t take shortcuts or do “shorthand” in your business communications. Every written communication you send should be as factually accurate and as grammatically flawless as possible. If you don’t trust yourself to deliver this high level of correctness, hire an editor to proofread your business communications. Spelling and grammar errors may make the reader mistrust the other information you’re conveying.
- Look at every business communication as a way to build relationships. Off-color jokes and misinformation will not build relationships, and it might even cause the listener to erect mental barriers that will prevent him or her from truly listening to the rest of your conversation.
- When you are an effective communicator you are helping grow the business or your own company. When you have a lack of communication or a roadblock to open lines of communication, the organization may collapse.
Take some time to review your own personal communication skills and see if you can spot areas upon which you need to improve and then take steps to improve.
The next time you’re called upon to communicate, you want to implement five key components.
- Are you giving the listener what he or she wants and needs? If someone asks you a question, do you give a full and complete answer or is the asker left with more questions?
- Are you a problem solver for the person you’re talking with? If someone comes to you for an answer to a problem, be the problem-solver, or point that person in the direction of the person who is better-suited to answer the question.
- Be mindful of the way in which you’re speaking to others. Don’t holler. Don’t stand too close. Don’t berate the speaker for his or her views if they differ from your own.
- Be emotionally intelligent. Emotional intelligence is the way in which you “read the vibe of the room.” Be aware of how others are feeling and reacting to what you and others are saying. If you feel emotions rising, do what you can to defuse the situation and more effectively communicate.
- Listening is key to be an effective communicator. Don’t let your thoughts wander when you’re speaking with someone. Be in the moment and give that person your undivided attention.
Are you a good listener? Are you an effective communicator? Do you believe your communication skills are furthering, or hurting your business endeavors? What will you integrate into your communication to enhance it?
Do you feel like your business has plateaued or you are sick and tired of being sick and tired? Could you use a shot in the arm to make even more progress on your goals? Consider working with The Accountability Coach. I’m here to help you accelerate your results, so you can enjoy your ideal business and ideal life! Reach out today for your complimentary consultation.
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