Anything we start, including communication skills, usually has reason and a starting point. While we become conscious about this fact for the obvious things like brushing our teeth to avoid tooth decay, we forget to give the same importance to our communication. We start talking, go through all the niceties and then some how stumble upon the reason for conversation or make it up by that time.
The problem with this approach is that the message looses its power. If you keep doing this often, you loose the power to bring it to work when needed. As a soldier polishes and keeps his guns fit even during peacetime, we have to keep our arsenal of communication skills handy to use, when required.
Develop flexibility in language and in approach:
Most people will think being flexible means using all the words in the Dictionary. Having a good vocabulary does not mean that people have to run for a dictionary every time you speak. Instead, a good vocabulary means that you have created enough choices and variety in your language to suit the listening or reading requirements of many people.
Flexibility is also needed in your approach to communication. Developing more than one approach is really good. If your style of approaching women is the Nice Guy, try the cocky and funny approach. See how that works. One more area that we can change and notice the results very quickly is by modulating our voice. Here is quick exercise to learn how to modulate your voice. Practice speaking a Para in a British accent. Do your best to be British. If you find it hard watch BBC and imitate them. Next, try sounding American and then French or Chinese (speaking in English).
Once you have done at least 4 accents, switch between them as often as possible, in practice. After you do this for a while, notice how you naturally are modulating your voice and how you find it easy to choose from different tones and tonality. More about this, on my website.
One Caution: Please do not measure any new skill by the initial response you get because, all new skills need to be naturalized before it becomes effective. (http://www.communication-skills-4confidence.com/effective-communication-skill.html)
As you develop flexibility, you will find yourself more comfortable to live with and then others will also find you comfortable to be with.
Forget techniques and learn the principles:
A lot of managers are fond of using something called a Sandwich technique. It is situation where you slip in a negative comment or feedback layered in between two positive comments. It is a good technique no doubt. But if you repeat it to the same old staff for 2 years, it means you are not capable of innovating. People get conditioned to any one particular behavior over time and so the technique looses its impact.
We all have a favorite way of reacting to situations. We gather these techniques by experience and by learning from others. What we eventually forget is that they are just techniques, and are replaceable. Something like software programs which almost always gets replaced by a better version. But since it works so well to us, we get possessive about it and find our selves bound by it. It becomes difficult to break that mould. A person in a mould is like a frog in the well. He has limited reach and limited awareness.
Using techniques is like giving a fish to the hungry man while understanding the principles is like teaching him fishing. So, instead of getting all cluttered up with techniques understand the principles driving them. You will find many on my website. (See http://www.communication-skills-4confidence.com/good-communication-skills.html)
So to be the survivor of the fittest in the field of communication skills, always start with an intention in your mind. Once you master this, your level of influence will increase rapidly. Take away your focus on techniques and learn the principles. This way you tap the source of power itself rather than a branch. The last and most importantly, develop flexibility in your language and approach. It will maximize your capacity to reach your audience and thus your power.
If you are in charge of a sales team for your company, then you know that you have goals to meet each month. Keeping a team motivated and working hard to reach them can be challenging, but one aspect that will help improve the situation is to provide them with the correct training to get their jobs done well. Sales training is crucial for your team's success, so it makes a wise investment. One factor that is most important to help your sales team reach their goals is to give them Communication Skills training, which is foundational to their ability to sell and improve your company's bottom line.
If you and your sales team can learn skills of persuasion, then you will be a step up when it comes to making sales presentations that are effective. Training seminars that focus on presenting your information are a great means of increasing your sales. You can learn a lot by having an experienced trainer video tape you as you present, and then critique the tape with you, so look for seminars that offer this type of service. Body language and the proper delivery of the words you use are the basis for a great presentation, and you and your sales team can learn how to implement both to excellent effect so that your next sales opportunity will be more successful than you ever dreamed possible.
If you are a woman in the workplace, you will need communication skills that work well for you. Search for communications skills seminars that are focused specifically for your needs, and you will learn skills that will help you shine in the workplace. Learn how to communicate assertively to put forth a confident and professional impression, and develop skills for determining if people correctly understood what you said. Also helpful are cultivating communication skills when you are faced with tricky situations at work. You will be glad you and your team got this training every time you find yourself in these common types of situations.
You can receive training in communication skills in a variety of ways. One popular method is to invite a trainer to come to your office to give an in-house seminar for you and your sales team. Teleseminars are also easy to work into your schedule. You place a live conference call with the trainer from the comfort of your office or meeting room, and you can put the call on speaker phone so that your whole group can benefit from the experience. Live webinars are another easy option for busy executives, because you can join them from your own computer with Internet access. Any training can fit around your schedule, so select a great seminar today.
Both Sri Hari & Jonathan Blocker are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Sri Hari has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marketing and Communications. Sri Hari has been developing new insights in helping thousands enjoy a happier life at. Sri Hari's top article generates over 480 views. to your Favourites.
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