Published by Allen Brown
Communication is the common thread between humans. This is a fact in personal life and in business. Poor communication can cripple relationships, ruin deals, and in extreme cases, even cost lives. While you might not be dealing with life-or-death stakes, you do still want to ensure that your communication skills are top-notch.
When it comes to business, good communication can result in a far more efficient workflow. Projects run far more smoothly, and you can build relationships with employees, other businesses, shareholders, and clients alike. Here are some ways to improve communication in your business.
In-Person Communication
The gold standard for communication is still to meet someone in person and speak to them. Whether a formal meeting in a conference room is more appropriate, or whether you meet someone over a meal, this is where you can use body language and the tone of your voice to your advantage.
This is also true in the office itself. Communication tends to run a lot more smoothly when people are able to simply talk. Other forms of communication can lead to misunderstandings or lost messages.
You can always improve your communication skills as well. The more you practice, the better you are. When making presentations, work out what you want to say and make it natural.
Other Forms of Communication
However, this isn’t to say that other forms of communication have no place in the office. On the contrary, these are the backbone of a lot of projects. Video conferencing has become a lot more popular in recent years, as it allows people to have meetings without being in the same area. This makes it vital for remote workers and can allow them to work with people in different countries.
Instant messaging, emails, and similar forms of communication are also very useful. It helps to have a paper trail, even if you have a conversation in person, it’s a good idea to recap the main points of that chat over an email to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Business phones are also a useful tool to have for quick, easy communication with colleagues and clients. Use a quality VOIP provider for your business phones to make sure your phone system works properly.
Customer Service
Finally, when it comes to dealing with customers, you may have to communicate in a different way. Customer service training can help you and your workers to improve interpersonal skills and learn how to more effectively deal with customers.
True, customer service isn’t always pleasant, especially when you have to deal with complaints or other issues. However, it’s a vital part of running a business. Good customer service can encourage customers to return and provide repeat business.
Customer service can also help you make more sales and help customers more effectively. While the product is usually the main draw of a business, customer service can have a massive effect on how customers view your company and how likely they are to buy from you.