Leadership, business management, and data analysis skills are needed to run a business. But did you know that communication skills are just as critical, maybe even more, for a company to succeed? Improved communication between employees can help increase efficiency. Nowadays, communication is considered an essential skill in all professions. These skills involve careful listening, interpretation, and responding efficiently.
You can improve on the different aspects of communication and polish your skills in several ways. Here is Jim DePalma’s guide for effective business communication.
Business Communication – A Guide by Jim DePalma
Practice Being Attentive
For effective communication, you need to be attentive. People using their phones while communicating or doing something on the side is a sign of poor communication skills. To tackle a customer complaint or to deal with a workplace conflict, you need to give your full attention to the situation or the person you are conversing with.
If you get distracted easily, have difficulty staying attentive, and cannot multitask, your communication abilities can suffer.
Jim DePalma Recommends Improving Your Nonverbal Communication
Most people believe that communication is only verbal. Your body language also shows how interested you are in the conversation. Hand gestures and other gestures like nodding your head are part of effective communication.
Jim DePalma believes in conveying more through actions for effective communication. Just nodding your head is enough for the other person to know you are listening. To communicate effectively, maintain eye contact and be upright. Don’t fold your hands because the people you are communicating with might take it as a sign of defensiveness.
Ask Questions
At times, you might not understand the message being conveyed in a piece of communication. This occurrence is natural, and Jim DePalma has some advice regarding it. Ask questions if you have trouble understanding and interpreting what you were told. It is better to ask questions for clarity than to interpret wrong information, directly affecting the task.
It also helps you convey the correct information to relevant persons.
Engage the Target Audience
Effective communication requires you to know your audience and engage them. Define your target audience and listen to their needs, wants, and desires. Giving your audience a voice and finding common ground between them and your brand will display your brand image and personality.
Building an emotional connection and providing multiple options for contact will make your audience feel heard.
From Jim DePalma’s point of view, you should make everyone in the workplace a part of the discussion. To achieve this goal, you should make meetings more interactive so people contribute and put their points forward. This way, people will actively participate, which boosts their confidence and make them feel their opinions matter.
Final Thoughts From Jim DePalma
Keep in mind that improving communication at work begins with you developing new, productive habits. Consider incorporating this guide to effective business communication in your work routine. Remember that communication goes both ways; you must listen attentively and speak clearly. A workplace with effective and open communication will add to accomplishing goals and the company’s success.