Explode Your Sales With Good Communication
What do leadership, marketing and human communication have to do with each other? As a leader, you may be asking yourself this question -- and for good reason. If you're not a leader, it's worth considering that your relationships with others -- including those outside of your organization -- are just as important to success.
In this blog post we'll look at the importance of being fluent in human communication skills in an age where technology is constantly changing the way we communicate. Just like someone who can speak well is more likely to succeed than someone who speaks poorly, people who master these universal interpersonal skills are more likely to succeed on the job or in their personal lives.
Leaders Should Understand Their People
As a leader, you need to understand the needs, goals and limitations of the people you're leading. This understanding allows you to better tailor your approach and achieve greater results. For example, most people dislike being told what to do because they don't see leadership as a democracy. But if you can provide them with an explanation of your reasoning and offer options for them to choose from, they are going to be much more likely to respect your authority and follow through. You can achieve this if you speak their language: If you speak their language, they will listen to what you have to say.
The sales professional who is good at speaking other people's language will have a better chance of getting the sales they need. You have to be able to speak their language before you can reach them in the language they will accept.
Have you ever worked with a leader who was so rigid that he or she wouldn't even consider trying anything new or different with you? And what about the leader who constantly seeks your advice and opinion but doesn't offer any of his own? Neither one of these situations is conducive to achieving victory in the marketplace. If this describes you, then your lack of flexibility must be addressed.
You don't have to become dogmatic, but it's important that you be decisive and take action. As a leader, you must be able to offer guidance (and not just for yourself). You also have to be an example for others to follow. You can only lead others by example.
As a sales professional, you must be able to understand your customers and provide them with what they want. This is why a good sales professional is able to change according to his or her audience.
Mastering Interpersonal Skills Will Help You in All Areas of Your Life
These interpersonal communication skills are the same for leadership situations and personal relationship situations. A good communicator will have improved communication in both areas. Here are some of the ways that a person who is great at interpersonal communication can succeed:
1. Make Social Interactions More Enjoyable
You can spread positive energy among those around you simply by being able to talk well. You will be invited to more social gatherings -- and people will want you to speak at events you attend. Your conversational skills also make it easier for you to make friends more easily, which in turn helps you open doors to new career opportunities, expand your network and increase your chances of meeting intelligent, ambitious people who will later become colleagues or clients because they respect your communication skills.
2. Improve Your Relationships
If you're able to communicate well with your partner, family and friends -- not to mention your clients and colleagues -- you will be much more likely to keep all of these relationships strong. Studies show that people with good communication skills tend to have much better relationships than those who are poor communicators.
3. Be a Better Parent
If you're a parent, it's extremely important that you can explain yourself in such a way that your children understand the reasoning behind your actions. You also have to listen to their needs and respect their opinions.
4. Improve Your Performance in Business
Try to remember that your communication skills are not just limited to social interactions -- they also apply to business. Developing good interpersonal skills is crucial for all areas of business, and it will help you perform better at work because you'll be able to relate better with the people you work with. You'll have both an internal drive and external support that will allow you to succeed.
5. Improve Your Career Opportunities (Especially Negotiation Skills)
Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fact that their career success can depend on their ability to communicate with superiors and subordinates effectively. If you want to negotiate a better deal, you will have to be able to explain yourself and your needs clearly. The same can be said for breaking into new markets or starting a new venture -- you will need an understanding of the market and how these markets are developing in order to negotiate your way into success.
6. Build Better Relationships With Your Colleagues & Customers
In addition to establishing strong lines of communication with those on the inside of your company, it's also important that you build relationships with those outside of it. This will only help you further your career and make your business more successful. In order to build better relationships with other people, you have to be able to relate better with them on a personal level. Sales professionals should regularly seek out opportunities to establish stronger connections with their customers and clients.
7. Enhance Your Achievement Through Teamwork
When you're in a leadership position or are working on a team, it's extremely important that you understand the motivations of the people in your midst -- what they want and what they need. If you are a good communicator, then you will be able to help your team members reach their goals by making sure your words do the following:
Help them come up with a course of action that achieves their goals.
Build rapport with them so they will want to follow your lead.
Help them feel comfortable communicating with you and opening up about themselves.
Communication is one of the most important skills for leaders and sales professionals alike.
Conclusion
To sum up, great communication skills can get you noticed and help you achieve your goals at work. They are also essential for leadership. You may have to be laid-back and choose your words carefully when speaking with someone you don't know -- but if you have great interpersonal communication skills, it will take no time at all to convince people that they should listen to and follow you.
About the Author
Steve Warren is an expert in Sales, Leadership Development and Personal Development who is passionate about helping people achieve their goals in life. He realized early on that with the right training, it is possible for anyone to dramatically improve their results in business -- even without experience or a formal education.
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