How to Communicate Effectively
Good communication skills are vital to becoming successful or more successful in business.
Being able to easily connect with others and then form strong business relationships is the key to gaining new clients and receiving referrals in business.
Having good communication skills are essential to do this. Here are some ways to help you communicate effectively:
- Stop and think before you respond
How many times have you responded to someone else’s question or comment and then wished you had not even opened your mouth?
But by then it was too late!
One way to stop this happening as often, is to try to pause before you respond when you are in a conversation with others. This should give you more time to think about what you need to say and to give a more appropriate answer.
- Be Honest
Trust is built when people are honest with each other. So, when you are in a conversation with someone, always be honest and true to yourself and your business. People can usually tell if you are not being honest and sincere. They may not even be aware that you are not telling the truth or not being sincere, but sub consciously, they get a feeling of uneasiness or just ‘tune out’. They stop listening!
You will gain the respect of others if you are always honest.
- Keep it simple
Whether you are talking with just one person or in a large group, it is important in every situation to keep your communication simple. You must understand and remember that others may not be familiar with terms or jargon used in your business or industry. You may be accustomed to using technical terms but if you use these types of words when talking with others, they may not understand and eventually lose interest, possibly resulting in a loss of sale or a valuable alliance partnership.
Always make it simple for others to understand!
- Be Yourself and Use Your Own Words
Successful communication is based on finding your ‘own voice’ and using your own words. Trying to use words that other people use or standard lines or phrases which we believe to be appropriate in that moment, does not portray your true self as an individual.
You are unique and your words are unique to you. Of course you need to speak words that are appropriate to the situation, but they need to be from you and not someone else.
- Listen more than you speak
Use the 80/20 Pareto Principal with how often you speak and listen to be an effective communicator.
Communication is a two-way process, and you need to ensure that you listen more than you speak. In this way, the person in front of you will realise that you care about what he or she has to say and that you’re someone to be trusted.
Not only do you need to speak less, try to show in your body language that you are really listening and not just waiting to speak again. If you practice this principal always, you will gain the respect of others and the reputation of someone who cares what others have to say and think.
- Pay attention to body language
Communication is not just about words! Body language plays a much more significant role when we are talking in any situation.
Successful people do not only watch their words but also their gestures.
Imagine if you are speaking with someone and they are yawning, rolling their eyes or continually looking at other things or people in the room, and yet they say to you that they are ‘Really interested in what you are saying’.
Of course, you would get the impression that the other person was not interested in what you are saying. These examples of negative body language gestures are obvious, but every day in every conversation, we show different forms of body language gestures, maybe without even knowing it. Always think about what body language gestures you are showing that could be either positive or negative so that you are displaying the appropriate impression you wish to portray.