Truly successful professionals are leaders who have mastered the art of effective communication. They are well liked by colleagues (including subordinates and superiors), clients of your company seem to love them too, and they always seem to close important deals.
It may seem that these people were blessed with a natural talent for speaking well, and perhaps they were. But everything can be learned, including how to speak like a star.
Apply these 5 Cs of effective communication to improve your relationships and set you on the path to greater career success:
1. Articulate clearly
If your listeners cannot understand what you are saying, your message will never be effective. The easiest way to instantly improve the clarity of your speech is to slow down. When we get nervous or stressed, our rate of speaking often increases. And these are the times when quiet eloquence and tact are most needed. Take a deep breath, slow down, and speak clearly.
It’s also important to formulate your thoughts clearly so that other people can understand your message. Stick to your main point, be as concise as possible, and support your arguments with examples and stories that make sense to your listener.
2. Speak correctly
Like it or not, you will be judged based on the way you speak. People with poor grammar and sloppy speech patterns are often seen as lazy, uneducated, and even disrespectful.
Make correct speech a priority. Improve your grammar skills and develop a healthy vocabulary. Read as much as you can, ask your friends, family or colleagues for help, or join a grammar refresher course.
You may not see this as a very important point, but as our world becomes more global, just speaking English is not enough. You have to speak it very well.
3. Be considerate
Before you even open your mouth, focus on being considerate of everyone you meet. Make eye contact with people when they approach you. Have a good attitude and show your winning smile.
Show that you care by asking questions and showing interest. Remember the personal details that are important to them and build a relationship that consists of more than just the job at hand. A little limited talk is imperative to build rapport and stronger relationships in the workplace.
If you are considerate of others, they will also treat you with care and respect. We all like to work with people we like, so your goal should be to please others. The way you do this is by being kind, considerate, and showing you care.
4. Give compliments
Besides being considerate, another way to establish an instant relationship is to give sincere compliments. Recognize those around you for a job well done. Show interest by congratulating others on their achievements.
If your colleague mentions that you finally finished that big project you know you’ve been slaving on for months, respond with a heartfelt “Good job!” or “Good for you!” These types of comments are always appreciated.
Keep in mind that compliments should be subtle and appropriate, and the closeness of your relationship also determines how a compliment will be received. Discussing the physical appearance of a colleague, for example, may not be acceptable in the modern workplace, unless they are also very close friends outside of the office.
5. Be confident
In the end, a successful communicator is a confident communicator. It’s hard to take someone seriously who doesn’t seem to believe their own words.
Confidence comes not only from what you are verbalizing (saying), but also from what you are vocalizing – in other words, the rhythm, tone, and volume of your voice. A calm, firm voice that we can hear always sounds louder and more confident than a quiet, mousy screech.
Your visual appearance can also radiate or inspire confidence. Be sure to stand up straight and make firm eye contact when addressing other people. Even the least confident people can “fake” an image of confidence by simply forcing themselves to do these two simple things.