In today’s world, good communication skills are necessary for the business owner and their staff – whether internal or virtual. Yet, good communication is an art that needs to be practiced and refined. In fact, if we really give attention to the people we talk to, it becomes clear that we can learn from each other just by having a normal conversation if we first seek to understand.
Although there are many principles involved in good communication skills, we wanted to highlight the important ones for you. Here are some factors of good communication skills:
A good reporter knows how to listen. Of course, nobody wants to spend their time talking to someone that doesn’t give their attention to what you’re saying so be present at the moment and give your full attention. Stop all your other tasks and ask relevant questions to assure understanding. Conversely, you don’t have to focus too much on what you’re going to say next after listening, instead, you can exchange thoughts by responding relevantly and smoothly.
Eye Contact
For important conversations have them face to face if possible. We work with clients who have virtual staff located around the world. When there is an important conversation, hop on Skype and have a video call. This allows you to better connect than over email or messaging. Eye contact is the first to communicate your thoughts which serve as the window for your feelings toward your interest in a conversation.
Be Clear & Concise
Too often people say what they think you want to hear rather than delivering a clear message. Making your point in a roundabout way can confuse the conversation. If need the other person to understand, then speak plainly and ask for understanding. This is different from being blunt and rude. You want to deliver your message in a way that is easily understood and then allow the other person to respond.
Appreciate
Once you have had the conversation, appreciate where they are coming from and share your appreciation with them. Whether you are the initiator or receiver, good communication is a gift. When we are able to have a clear understanding of each other’s perspectives, we can begin to develop deeper relationships even when we agree to disagree. We are all different. We have different social upbringing, different cultures, different communication styles. This is what makes a stronger organization. Understanding and appreciating our difference, allows us to work more effectively together.
Take time to develop your ability to connect to people by collecting a few ideas from this article. Gain more confidence by practicing and expanding your social circles, and as you go along, you’ll find it simple to connect with just about anyone in any situation. This strength will then take you towards an abundance of new opportunities that would not have been available otherwise. That’s the advantage of good communication skills.
If you'd like to learn more about how virtual employees can help increase your business productivity, feel free to book an appointment with me today and I'll help you all throughout the process.