Proper communication is one of the most important elements of a business. In fact, the whole thing relies on it, you can see its importance here. Without proper communication, deals can fall through, information can be misunderstood and so on.

However, it’s not as simple as speaking to another human – it’s more than that. It takes a lot of patience and several crucial skills that can allow you to purposefully give a message and take a message.

Here are some of those skills:

Conciseness and Simplicity

When communicating with your teammates, you need to be clear and concise. Talking a lot does not equal effective communication. You need to be easy to understand. The best way to do that is to speak in simple, understandable words and short, clear sentences.

Make sure that you are not using unnecessary jargon, especially with people who might not understand it. Avoid rambling on.

You should also get into the habit of saying the most important things first instead of giving a lengthy intro and explanation. Here is an article that explains the most important elements of communication: https://www.managementstudyguide.com/seven-cs-of-effective-communication.htm

The same goes for written communication. Be concise and quick to reveal the most important information. People are more easily confused during written communication because not everything you write will have the same tone as you thought. It’s best to read your email aloud before sending it to make sure that you are clear.

Listening

Along with speaking, listening is one of the most important communication skills – in life, not just in business. However, it’s even more important in a business setting. You need to be able to listen to what other people have to say to you.

Most people listen only enough to figure out what to say in response. However, good business communication relies on both parties listening mindfully, without trying to think of an answer. So, listen carefully, understanding what the other person is saying. Then, after you understand what you have just heard, you should ask appropriate questions that could give you more information.

Make sure that you truly understand what the other people are saying by repeating the information you got to them.

Politeness

It might be a bit old-fashioned, but politeness really goes a long way in a business setting. A friendly tone and a smile can help you come across as a more pleasant person, and as such, more people will listen to you. They will also be more ready to engage in an open and interesting conversation with you, revealing more information than they normally would.

You can replicate this politeness and friendliness in emails too, as you can personalize your emails, add in a personal question or something similar. For example, wish someone a great week or a great weekend, apologize if your email arrived after hours and so on.

Assertiveness (At The Right Time)

No matter how friendly you are and want to be, politeness will not always get you where you want to be. Especially so when people won’t hear your ideas, even though they might be better than theirs.

So, while being polite is important, assertiveness will help you get your ideas across. Make sure that everyone understands that you are serious and that you do not intend to let go until you are heard. You can even get some Bespoke Coaching if you want to be more assertive in your communication.

It’s important for people to understand that you are capable of standing your own ground.

Openness to New Ideas

At the same time, don’t forget to be open to other ideas, not just your own. Your teammates and your employees, coworkers and other people around you can have great ideas as well. They might not be experts or anything similar – but their ideas can work.

So, make sure that you keep an open mind when other people are telling you about what you should do. Of course, remember that you should still filter those ideas, but keep an open mind towards unusual things. It might just turn out better than expected.

Confidence

Finally, you need to exert confidence wherever you go. Confident people are charming and likable. It shows that you believe in what you are saying and that you are someone who should be trusted.

Making eye contact, having a firm but still pleasant tone and so on will show your confidence. Smile and believe in yourself.