The Power of the Word

Words are powerful in everyday life. Communication plays a vital part in all our relationships, whether business, pleasure, or family.

For instance, what happens when you order a decaf at your favorite coffee café? Boom! Someone quickly calls you to get your coffee at the counter. 

The same can happen in your business. You deliver your pitch the right way to a potential client. Boom! You turn in a profit.

You can say you owe much of your success to how you communicate with other people for a definite purpose. It’s insane how much you can achieve when you say the right words at the right time. 

Then again, not everyone has the natural ability to enchant other people through words. But if you’re not born with such talent, you can certainly learn to build valuable relationships and make impressive pitches. Here’s blogger Genie Fletcher to share some ways you can improve your communication skills.  Ms. Fletcher’s article was initially intended for those in the corporate work environment but has proved incredibly valuable to business owners who sell themselves and represent their own business.

Improve Your Communication Skills

The ability to communicate effectively is the most important skill for building your career. As you interact with your clients and colleagues, the way you communicate speaks volumes about your professionalism, and it allows you to forge powerful connections that will take your career to the next level. It is important to remember, however, that good communication involves more than just the ability to speak eloquently. Keep these strategies in mind as you work on your communication skills, and you will notice improvements in every area of your career.

Focus on Listening

Too often, communication breaks down because people are too distracted to listen. Although it’s tempting to try to guess what the other speaker is going to say next or plan your response, it is important to stay focused throughout the other person’s speech. Avoid staring out the window or glancing at your phone. Instead, look directly at the other person and make it your goal to hear every word they say.

Show Interest

People enjoy talking to people who give them a favorable response and showing interest in the other person is essential for building relationships with clients. In fact, a simple smile or nod as they talk can prompt them to provide you with more insight into their preferred style of financial management. While you do not have to agree with everything a person says, it does help to show that you are genuinely trying to understand their perspective.

Pay Attention to Nonverbal Cues 

Body language can often reveal far more than a person’s words. Yet, you can also give off the wrong signals if your body language does not match the impression you want to convey. Make sure to maintain a calm, relaxed posture. Avoid crossing your arms or leaning back casually in your chair. Instead, lean toward the person who is speaking and make eye contact so they know you are fully involved in the conversation.

Ask for a Preferred Method of Communication

Everyone has a preferred way to communicate and tapping into a person’s preferences will show you care while also getting you faster responses. During your initial meeting with someone, ask how they prefer to communicate. You may also notice when a client ignores your voicemails but quickly responds to an email. When this happens, switch your main method of communication to reflect their preference.

Provide Feedback

Misunderstandings are one of the biggest breakdowns in communication that can occur. For this reason, it is best to end every conversation with clarification of what has been discussed. Rephrase what the other person has said and ask questions about anything you do not understand. This gives the other person an opportunity to correct anything that may have been misinterpreted.

Improving your communication skills will bolster your career by eliminating misunderstandings and allowing you to build stronger professional relationships. As you work on this critical career skill, remember that communication strategies are always a work in progress. Treat each new contact as an opportunity to continue improving your ability to communicate and you will see results in the favorable responses you receive from your clients and colleagues.

The power of words bolsters your professional relationships by eliminating misunderstandings, allowing you to build stronger professional relationships, while you unlock valuable opportunities down the line. 

Using these tips will make you stand out while you build your network and your profit. However, there is no point in working hard to make more money just have it slip through your fingers due to inefficient systems and paying too much in taxes. Here is one more valuable tip – check out how The Business Untangled System can help you save time, have less stress, and pay less in tax while working toward consistently better profits!