How to improve business communication skills.

Hello Wealthy Affiliate Family,

I have chosen this topic for an assignment in the training. "Make a blog post on w.a."

The topic actually has two parts. After my introductory musings and rambling. We will look at How to improve business communication skills. I think we can all agree that if we are to be successful in our goals here then we must develop and nurture our skills at communicating.

Granted many here have been doing just that and are fabulous communicators. The remainder of us, especially newbies like me are pretty rustic in our skill level of communicating.

Most of our exchanges in our businesses (affiliate marketing) if that's what you are

doing will obviously be over the phone or through telephone calls and maybe video conferences.

Even so we should still strive to improve our skills. Better communications equal more sale and more satisfied customers (friends).

There is a huge amount of information out there nowadays. In fact more than I ever would have imagined. One thing that tells me is; It must be pretty important. If not vital. So....

Improving communication skills.

In my research I came across some interesting facts. One was a study where they observed @1,300 sets of two people. One was the "listener" of course the other the "speaker". Myself I assumed that a good listener would have these qualities or behaviors,

• Eye contact.
• Open posture.
• Small facial expressions to acknowledge listening to the speaker.
• Not allowing distractions.
• Doesn't try to interrupt or finish the others sentences.

Isn't texting. Or for that matter answering their phone!

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I realize that most of this is just common sense. However, did you realize that actively listening is a skill beyond being passive with constant eye contact and a few nods of the head?

Well it is more than that. Very much more! Here are some traits or behaviors that were garnered from that study I mentioned earlier.

A good listener will:

1. Do all those positive things from the list above as well as a few more.
2.Will clear everything distinctive from their desk, table, etc to make s safe environment for the conversation to take place. So the customer feels comfortable sharing their information.

3.While listening the person will actually be making comment, throwing up relevant ideas, asking specific topic related questions, all showing the speaker that they are really being heard and what they have to say IS important to the listener. This builds trust.

4. Instead of silently sitting there listening and absorbing the speaker energy leaving them feeling more "drained" than heard, they are injecting energy into the conversation!

5. So what a good listener is basically doing is drawing the speaker out very subtly and creating an environment that leads to the speaker opening up comfortably and also being energized.

There is more to that skill than this yet that's the number one thing that could really help us along the way in our business. Some other improvements a majority of us could improve upon are:

Improving our own body language, reading others body languages.

There is a ton of information that will come from people if we develop our ability to interpret non-verbal communication.

Working on our vocabulary, especially in relation to whatever our specific niches are. For if we want people to buy say...baklava from use we sure better be able to pronounce it correctly!

Myself I will do well just to improve my understanding of the internet and computer terms we sometimes seem to be drowning in. ?

Writing things down, taking notes more often, I'm terrible about not doing this when I should. To do lists are great to help keep organized. Which will help one to be clear and concise when speaking to people.

Thinking before speaking. I like to borrow the phrase; pause when agitated or doubtful. That alone has saved me several times over the years

Another thing we can do is another place I wanted to take us. Participating in group communication activities is a great way to practice communication skills.

Have you considered the ranking system here at Wealthy Affiliate? Isn't it a wonderful example of a gigantic group exercise in communication? I myself had not given it a moments thought other than whoa that's kinda "big.brotherish". At least until I was researching to write this blog post.

Think about it. The aspects of the ranking system are ideal for honing interpersonal skills.

I really like that feature now because it helps show me where I'm strong, improving, or even lacking in my levels of interactions ( communications).

Funny thing is the fact I had no idea that system was even in place. Until a day or two ago.

And I have been here approximately a month and a halftime. I marveled at that mysterious "ranking number" dwindling so fast yet had no clue what it really was or why it kept changing!!

I am abit embarrassed now saying that. Gives me a good chuckle. It also serves to indicate to me, that maybe these founders and those that have contributed to this whole W.A. Experience just might have a clue what they are doing!

Ok enough for now out of me.

Peace and prosperity overflowing for all!

Larry.