“The art of communication is the language of leadership.” – James Humes
Are you self-employed, a small business owner, or an entrepreneur who has shied away from public speaking?
Have you convinced yourself that you are effective in one-on-one conversations and see no need to take further steps to improve your communication and presentation skills?
Consider that clear, impactful, and powerful speaking is the top skill of all successful people, no matter the industry. While imperfect, unimpactful communication can stop you before you even get started, one of the quickest ways to increase your influence and income is through a command of engaging and enrolling communication.
This week in Unstoppable Mindset, we continue our series of talks designed to help you Master Your Communication. Learn how speaking has helped Social Media Strategist Turiya Hodge grow her business and engage and connect with her clients. Learn why her commitment to public speaking has increased her confidence and inspired her to stop hiding out behind her computer.
The digital era has opened up new ways to communicate, and face-to-face interaction seems irrelevant as the Yellow Pages. However, the opposite is true. Entrepreneurs who communicate effectively are more successful, according to Forbes. Simply emailing or using social media channels is not enough if you want to be truly successful.
In the famous words of Brian Tracey, “Your ability to communicate with others will account for 85% of your success in your business and in your life.” Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs often think public speaking skills are reserved for those special occasions when we have to address a large audience. And for many of us, the idea of public speaking makes us tremble with anxiety. However, every time you engage with another individual, you are utilizing your natural public speaking skills. Whether you are presenting your business to a small group or speaking to thousands of people – the goal is to engage and connect, which is what public speaking is all about. The truth is, you can’t make a sale unless you’ve demonstrated value to a prospect. You can’t do that unless you communicate that you’ve understood their problems and devised a strategy to solve the challenge. So, communication is critical. The foundation of sales success is the ability to provide information in a way that makes your prospect want to do business with you.
Practice, Drill, Rehearse: Moving from Good to Great
“Take advantage of every opportunity to practice your communication skills so that when important occasions arise, you will have the gift, the style, the sharpness, the clarity, and the emotions to affect other people.” – Jim Rohn.
Most people are not born natural communicators. Instead, communication is a set of skills that you can learn and, most importantly, practice. Therefore, committing to deliberate, focused practice is essential to improving this skill. For example, when I chose to add public speaking to my existing business toolkit, I was required to master a whole new area of mastery. To do so, I committed to speaking five mornings a week for four years. Regularly speaking magnified my strengths and weaknesses and gave me the insight needed to develop new communication skills and habits. The transformation that occurred was remarkable! In addition to mastering the art of public speaking, I saw a noticeable improvement in my writing, communication, negotiation, influence, and relationships.
In short, as entrepreneurs, each time we speak, present or sell, we provide the listener with an opportunity to make a snap decision about our brand, our values and our products and services. When you master the art of public speaking, you consciously choose how you showcase your professional expertise. This one skill can enhance your reputation and accelerate your business and career.
Leave a comment and share how Mastering Your Communication has impacted your business.