Effective communication is a vital tool for any business. Effective communication can help to foster a good working relationship between you and your staff, which can in turn improve morale and efficiency.
Success in any conversation is likely to be achieved through both parties listening to and understanding each other. The words you use are important, but equally important is the way you express them.
You are more likely to achieve positive outcomes when you use positive, rather than negative, language.
Positive language is helpful and encouraging; it suggests alternatives and offers solutions to problems. It is language that stresses positive actions and consequences. For example, 'I need more information to make a decision' sounds much better than, 'You need to give me more information before I can make a decision'. People can become unhappy when you tell them what to do. Even when talking to employees it is wise to soften language when asking them to perform tasks, as they are likely to respond better to requests than orders.
People you speak to can be motivated by a positive speaking style, be as clear as possible and try to engage the listener.
It is vital to make sure you do not let your attention wander. Important pieces of information can be missed if you are not alert and engaged. This can lead to misunderstandings or possibly embarrassing situations where you appear to have forgotten something you have been told.
One way to help you concentrate during a business conversation is to ask the speaker questions. Not only will this help you to guide the conversation where you want it to go and at the pace you want, it can also ensure your mind is focused on the subject at hand.
A huge part of the way we communicate occurs through non-verbal cues in conversations. This includes your body language, the way you look at others during conversations and the facial expressions you use. Negative body language creates a negative impression and tends to impede progress.
Our faces are extremely expressive, and often give our emotions away before we have a chance to say what we feel. It is important to try to keep your facial expressions positive during a business conversation.
Smiling is especially important a simple, natural smile is known to help the other party relax during a conversation. Avoid negative facial expressions as will come across as disinterested or uncooperative.