Written by: Joanne Martin, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Communicating effectively is a skill that successful leaders master and apply in all areas of their lives. Think about a leader you truly respect, who inspires you to be the best you can be and consider their communication style. What do they do differently? Why is their communication style so effective? With consistent effort and continuous improvement, you can master the same skills and catapult your leadership success. These strategies will help you up-level your communication skills:
1. Be present
Practice being in the present moment. Focus on the here and now by being aware and mindful of what is happening at this very moment in time. Don’t be distracted by past success or failure and avoid worrying about the future. Remain centered in the present moment and what is possible at this moment in time. Tune into your inner knowing. Practice mindfulness and make time to be in touch with your senses, breathe deeply and access your intuition to guide your communication.
2. Learn to listen
Hearing is natural but listening is learned. Top leaders know that listening is a crucial part of communication success. They have developed their skills past our natural innate ability to hear what’s going on around us. Learn to love listening and engage in the stories of others.
Really pay attention during a conversation, focus on what’s being said and practice active listening. Put away your phone and other devices, then focus on the conversation and give it your full attention. Practice paraphrasing the person’s story back to them to really hone your listening skills. Everyone wants to be heard. Others will notice that you are listening to them and will be impressed by what a great communicator you are, when all you did was really listen to their story.
3. Focus on being succinct
Successful leaders know that you don’t have to make a long speech to be effective and win the hearts of people. Practice being brief and getting your point across in fewer words and less time. People appreciate brief conversations and respect others who don’t go off on unnecessary tangents. Ensure you’re still providing enough detail, so people have the key information they need to make an informed decision. Practice often. Try to get your point across with less talking. Summarize the most important information and focus on communicating those points while you talk.
4. Show empathy and pay attention
Note how the other person or people are reacting. Words are powerful, and communication can affect people in many different ways. Show empathy and understanding when communicating with others. Take a global view and look at things from the other person’s point of view without criticism or judgment. Be passionate and maintain a positive attitude. People take their cues from others in business and social situations. You can influence others to have a positive attitude and be passionate about a topic by role modelling the behavior yourself.
5. Practice being charismatic
A key element of charisma is focusing on what you’re passionate about, sharing it with people and taking them on the journey with you. One of the most important aspects of charisma is confidence. Confident communicators know their value and worth. However, they remain respectful of others in all their communication. Be positive. Utilize the sandwich method in communication i.e. positive, negative, positive. Always strive to find the silver lining when communicating with others. Be on-point and relevant. Charismatic communicators are inspiring and always share interesting information with others. Focus on innovation, better ways of doing things and new ideas that inspire people to take positive action.
6. Learn to communicate effectively
Communicating more effectively will help you achieve greater success as a leader. Remember to be authentic, harness your inner wisdom and practice your communication skills as often as possible. Refine your communication approach and you will soon notice positive differences in your leadership capability. You’ll become a more effective and charismatic leader by up leveling your communication skills!
Joanne Martin, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Joanne Martin is the CEO and Founder of Golden Earth Publishing. She’s an International Best-Selling Author and Book Writing Coach for ambitious business owners who are ready to position themselves as the thought leader and go-to expert in their field.
Joanne works globally with clients to up-level their businesses, increase revenue opportunities, and magnify their marketing impact through published literary works. Her work is a bespoke blend of the book writing strategy, mindset mastery, and innovative business ideas to create exponential professional growth and positive global impact.
