How to Improve Business Communication Skills

Good business communication skills are what often sets apart a rising corporate star from an also-ran. If a person can effectively sell ideas to others, that skill can catapult you to the corner office. But good business communications skills are often learned, not a part of your DNA. Here are some ways to make it to the corporate heights by improving your ability to communicate effectively. Step 1 Find a mentor who exhibits the ability to communicate well at your company, soon after you are hired. Tell him that you want to improve your ability to communicate and that you are impressed by his skills. Ask him to share what he did to hone them. Finally, ask that he keep track of your progress and give you pointers on how you can improve. As you become a "seasoned employee" who is on the rise, volunteer to become a mentor to someone who has just been hired. Step 2 Improve your ability to listen, and you are halfway to being a good business communicator. You may think that you listen well, but the chances are you are actually figuring out what you should say next. Ask good questions, and then listen well to the answers. You are likely to break through someone's "hidden agenda" and learn what is really important to her. Above all, remember there is often a difference between what someone may say and the opinions she might actually have. Step 3 Practice your business communications skills as frequently as you can. Start by writing memos and emails. Always write your findings, recommendations and other requirements of your job, even though you normally offer them face-to-face. Curry favor by offering them as an adjunct to your oral presentation. It demonstrates both professionalism and forethought.

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Step 4 When you attend a meeting, be sure your presence is felt by the questions or answers you give. If necessary, force yourself to do this until it becomes second nature. When you are asked to present your views to a group, prepare a formalized presentation then practice it beforehand. Increased familiarity will ease presenting to a group. Step 5 Take communications courses that your company may offer, or request permission to attend sessions by Dale Carnegie Corporation or something similar. Also, learn how to address an audience by becoming a member of Toastmasters International, an organization with chapters across the country.

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How to Improve Editing Skills

Learn how to improve your editing skills for effective communications. In your career or business, your superior editing skills will help you communicate more clearly. Follow these steps to improve your editing skills for stronger business writing.
Things youll need: Step 1

Read the content to be edited. For example, it may be the first draft or a later revision of a business letter, website page, or article. Read it slowly to understand the content, while also reviewing the flow, grammar, and spelling.
Step 2

Read for the big-picture issues such as the logical organization and quality of the content. Consider the target audience, and whether the article appears to be informative with a useful takeaway. Make corrections or take notes of needed changes while you read the content.
Step 3

Use a dictionary and spell check to correct spelling. Memorize the most common grammar mistakes and review your writing for grammar. Use a thesaurus to replace redundant words. Synonyms add variety and interest to your writing.
Step 4

Edit the introduction paragraph and conclusion. Grab the reader's attention with an engaging introduction and finish with a strong conclusion.
Step 5

Confirm that the rest of your writing supports your story -- include specifics, details, and examples for a more credible and interesting argument. Add transition words to start each paragraph for a logical flow. Remove unnecessary or redundant words for tighter writing.
Step 6

Put the writing aside for a few hours or days. Return to it for a second revision and fresh perspective. Repeat Steps 1 to 5.
Step 7

Ask for feedback and editing help from friends or colleagues. Note any mistakes you make, and aim to avoid them in the future.
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How to Improve Your Leadership Skills

10 ways for you to improve your leadership skills and enhance our communication skills to increase your ability to be an effective leader.
Things youll need: Step 1

Have you ever heard someone say, "Actually, I have to admit that I think I have bad leadership skills. My co-workers all hate me and I'm incapable of doing my job". The answer is no, of course. No one says this either because they don't believe they have poor leadership skills, or because they don't want to appear incompetent. Unfortunately research tells us that from the employees' perspective, there are many managers out there who have poor leadership skills and communication skills. What should we take out of this dichotomy? Perhaps at the least, we could all admit to ourselves that there is room to improve our leadership skills and enhance our communication skills to increase our ability to be an effective leader. After all, it's not the sort of skill that is easy to get 100% right all of the time. It might just be that we don't specifically know what improvements to our leadership skills we need to make, so here's 10 ways to start:
Step 2

Get a reality check Finding out what others think of our leadership skills and our communication skills can be real eye-opener, and is often the most powerful driver for change. Using a 360 survey where you receive feedback from your staff, peers and manager, and family gives you some concrete information on a sometimes intangible subject. Use an existing tool (and there are some highly regarded ones out there) or else simply let your staff know that you are seeking feedback from them in order to improve your leadership skills. A word of caution though, your staff may not feel safe in giving feedback if they believe you are going to use it against them, or become defensive about what they
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say. It's up to you to create a safe environment so they feel comfortable in being open and honest with you.
Step 3

Don't use the power of your position to get things done If people are questioning why certain things are done, or the logic of decisions, never pull rank in response. A critical component of effective leadership skills is getting the buy-in from your team and colleagues. You don't get buy-in by telling them that the decision is the right one because you are the boss and you made it so your communication skills are extremely important. Your team may not always agree with what is being done, but they are more likely to respect you if you take the time to explain your rationale.
Step 4

Don't think of employees as things that need to be controlled or managed instead, give them the latitude to take actions and make decisions. Trust is a vital component of leadership skills. If you can't trust people to do their jobs well, then you either have the wrong people in the jobs, or you have the right people but you haven't trained them sufficiently. Let them do what they are there to do, without leaning over their shoulders all the time, or demanding to know how they spend each minute of their time.
Step 5

Listen, listen, listen If there are unhappy or disgruntled people in your business, you can guarantee that at some stage they've tried to tell you what the problem is. It's likely you weren't listening (or didn't want to listen), or perhaps your initial reaction made the person think twice about bringing the problem to you. Truly listening is one of the greatest leadership skills to develop, regardless of your role. Good listeners are genuinely interested, convey empathy, and want to find out what's behind the conversation. Great leaders have great communication skills -without exception.
Step 6

Stop providing solutions Managers often achieve their positions after being technical specialists, and so will have an opinion or view on how to "fix" situations or problems. They believe that it's faster to tell someone what to do, or do it themselves, than give their employees an opportunity to figure it out. By always providing the answers, managers take away opportunity for their employees to learn and come up with alternative (and potentially better) ways of doing things.
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Step 7

Always be constructive - always Language and communication skills set great leaders apart from mediocre ones. Don't patronise or be critical of others - take complete responsibility for how you are heard. If you catch yourself about to make negative remarks, take a breath and rephrase your words to get your message across without the emotional attachment. One of the Great leaderships skills is to always find a way to say things calmly and constructively.
Step 8

Judge your success by the success of your team The true success of a leader can be measured by the success of the people that work for them. As a manager of others, your prime responsibility is to ensure the success and development of your team. If they are successful, you will automatically be successful. Focus on building their skills and removing obstacles in their way. If you can achieve this, you will see the results in the productivity, motivation and satisfaction of your employees. This in turn filters through to bottom-line results.
Step 9

Don't do things just because they will "look good". Nothing is more transparent than managers who make decisions and behave in ways simply to look good to their superiors. If you want to improve your leadership skills, one of the qualities you need is integrity. The integrity to make decisions because they are right, and the integrity to stand up when you truly believe something is not in the best interests of the business. Whether or not it is in your personal best interests is much less of a consideration.
Step 10

Include humor in your diet Nobody likes to work in an environment that is devoid of any fun. People are more productive when they are enjoying themselves. Creating a workplace where fun is permitted and encouraged can make a significant difference, and it's even more effective when the boss participates. It increases team spirit, and encourages people to see you as a person, not simply as the boss.
Step 11

Let people get to know the real you Being open about yourself helps to break down the barriers that hierarchy puts in
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place. When your employees know the person behind the faade, that's when you start to build the foundations of good leadership - trust and respect.

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How to Improve Your Leadership Abilities

Your leadership skills are important in the workplace and other situations. It can take years to become a great leader, but there are ways to improve your abilities. This article will explain how to improve your leadership abilities.
Improving Your Leadership Abilities Step 1

Remain honest when speaking with employees. There will be a higher level of respect for you if you do not try to lie and deceive your employees.
Step 2

Give unbiased feedback. Keep your personal feelings aside when it comes to feedback and responses in the workplace.
Step 3

Be open to constructive criticism. If you can dish it out, you should be able to take it as well. Constructive criticism is a great way to improve yourself.
Step 4

Propose new ideas. If your workplace remains the same for too long, it will be outdated and behind its competitors. Always think of new ways to improve the work environment.
Step 5

Take responsibility when something happens.

Step 6

Recognize employee accomplishments. Many employees don't get credit for anything that they do. Be the leader that recognizes and encourages achievements.
Step 7

Be clear when giving directions and instructions. Don't leave room for interpretation. If possible, have two forms of instruction--such as written and verbal--so that everyone can understand.
Step 8

Monitor and coach employees when needed. Simply share your knowledge when you notice an employee is in need and offer help to everyone.
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Step 9

Stay calm during crises. Employees normally follow their superiors' reactions. If you're openly panicking about a situation, your employees will do the same.
Step 10

Practice ethical reasoning when making decisions of all kinds. Ethics are becoming a major issue in the workplace.
Step 11

Be active in conflict management. When problems arise in the workplace, try to nip it in the bud as soon as possible.

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How to Improve Communication Skills

Good communication skills are a necessity in your personal and business life. Some people are naturally good communicators. For everyone else, communication is a skill that must be nurtured. With a little time and effort, no one will ever know you weren't born with the gift of gab. Follow these steps to improve your communication skills. Step 1 Think before you speak. Plan your presentations and other addresses to groups whenever possible, especially in business. Even if you don't know everything you want to say, you should have a general idea. In more private conversations, take the time to be clear about the points you want to make before talking. Always be honest in your communication. Step 2 Be an active listener. Listening is often more important than speaking. To improve your communication skills, pay attention to what others are saying without getting distracted. Step 3 Make good eye contact. Shifty eyes make you seem less than trustworthy in business and personal life. If you are looking everywhere but in the eyes of your audience, it will arouse suspicion. This doesn't mean you should initiate a staring contest. Just make sure to put your audience at ease by holding the gaze at times. Step 4 Take it slow. Don't slur your words together or mumble. Enunciate. If you speak too fast, then you'll lose your audience. Use words only if you are sure of their meaning. Make yourself easily understood. Step 5 Use appropriate volume and tone. Of course, you should speak louder when addressing a group than you would in private conversations. Reflect emotion in your voice. A monotone approach is never appropriate in any setting. Step 6 Practice; it's the best way to improve your communication skills. The more you do it, the easier it will get.

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How to Improve Your Communication Skills

You've already conquered the first major step in improving your communication skills: wanting to do it! Now you can move on to the next practical steps to improving your communication skills. Step 1 Think before you speak. What do you want to say? Avoid needless chatter to better communicate your point. Step 2 Think about your audience, and determine your words appropriately. Who are you trying to communicate with? If you are communicating with children, you'll obviously need to use a different approach than with adults. Use examples your audience will understand. Step 3 Use examples your audience will understand. Make your content relative to Step 4 Make direct eye contact. If your eyes are darting all around the room rather than looking straight at the person you are talking to, you'll come across as distracted, immature, and a poor communicator. Step 5 Be considerate. Try to think how the person or people you are communicating with will interpret what you say. Anticipating others needs will help you be a better communicator.

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How to Improve Verbal Communication

Verbal communication skills are essential to articulating ones thoughts, ideas and feelings. A successful communicator speaks clearly and articulates words and meanings distinctly. The opposite is true of person who needs improvement. Their verbal communication skills may be disorganized and lengthy or too wordy, which leads to a breakdown in communication. The better one verbally communicates, the easier it is to obtain gainful employment, give advice and obtain a business and or personal loan. Since people tend to form thoughts based on a person's ability to verbally communicate, it is important to constantly improve verbal communication in order to progress in your career, personal and spiritual life.
How to Improve Verbal Communication Step 1

Pronounce all words clearly. Start by listening to yourself when you speak. There may be times when you hear yourself mispronouncing words. Practice pronouncing words properly. Also, pay close attention to the way that you pronounce the ending of a word. For instance, some people leave out the "tuh" or the "duh" sound at the end of a word. Take the word "band," as in marching band, for instance. The "d" should be pronounced completely, instead of saying "ban," as in prohibiting something.
Step 2

Add emphasis to certain words in a sentence. This shows the importance of a word by giving it more meaning. For instance, "Can you believe what the best man did at the wedding?" sounds better when you emphasize the word "believe." Listeners will better understand that the best man's actions at the wedding were unbelievable.
Step 3

Moderate your voice level. Have you ever been told to "Use your inside voice?" If so, use a softer, more pleasant voice. A loud person seems to yell when speaking to others. They may not mean to be boisterous, but a loud voice tends to be disruptive in such quiet settings as a church, library, hospital or on public transportation. The opposite applies to a sof- spoken conversationalist. If your voice is soft or low, practice speaking up.
Step 4

Structure your thoughts before speaking. If your words sound jumbled or your sentences are in disarray, practice formulating key points that you would like to make before verbally communicating those thoughts. Think about what you need to verbalize. Quietly analyze your thoughts then clearly express yourself. Instead of saying, "Well, I guess it will be okay to do that," simply say, "That is fine."

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How to Communicate Better and Demand Respect

The following six easy tips will improve your communication skills so that you can demand respect in the business world, despite your youth: Step 1 Keep things simple. Have you ever written a sentence and then said, "What I am really trying to say is: 'xyz?'" Forget the complicated wording and say what you mean. People don't want to read a longwinded rant and only find what they needed to know at the very end. Aim for clarity, not complexity. Step 2 Anticipate questions and provide answers. Business people are busy. To save your time and theirs, anticipate questions that might arise and address them directly. The less Jennifer Co-Worker has to clarify, the more time she can spend doing her own job. So help her by providing more than enough information in case she needs more details. Example: "Jen, I just finishing taking notes on the guerrilla marketing tactics PDF (www.guerrilla.com/pg2.htm) you showed me on Tuesday. The notes I took outline some new tactics we might be able to use. You can find the notes, called 'New Guerrila Tactics.doc' here: http://companyx.com/internaldocs" Notice what I provided Jen: - The day Jen showed me the PDF, to jog her memory in case she forget what article I was talking about - The URL of the PDF, in case she wants to reference it - The content of the notes I took - The name of the document containing my notes - The location where I uploaded the notes I have just saved Jen and myself a lot of time by providing that information up front. I answered any potential questions she could have before they popped up (What article are you talking about? Where did you upload the notes? etc.), eliminating any more back-and-forth emails that would waste both of our time.

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Step 3 Spell check. You've heard this one before, but a surprising number of people still don't do it. Do not scan the document with your eyes and call it done. Let Microsoft Word's spell-checker do the initial dirty work. After confirming any changes, re-read for mistakes such as using "too" instead of "to," "effect" instead of "affect," or "you're" instead of "your." See CopyBlogger's 5 Common Mistakes That Make You Look Dumb and Weber State Online's Commonly Misused Words and Phrases. Step 4 Take a moment before responding to angry emails. One of the true virtues of a professional is the ability to remain calm under pressure. If you receive a nasty email, stop for a minute. Imagine yourself one year in the future, looking back at how you responded. Did you remain poised and professional? Or did you weaken your personal brand by lashing out? Responding to an email in hotheaded haste will make people think you are disrespectful - a label that's nearly impossible to remove after it's been given. Also keep in mind how easy it is to misinterpret the emotions of an email. Text can only convey words, not feelings. The person at the other end might not have been angry at all, even if it appeared that way on paper. Step 5 Communicate frequently. Send thank you emails immediately after meeting new people. Ask your superiors questions. Provide articles your co-workers will find useful (but don't spam them with pictures of cats). Use frequent and strong communication as a way to progress yourself within your field. Step 6 Take a breath. When asked a question in person, no one will complain if you take an extra second to pull together your thoughts. You can also rephrase the question to give yourself more time to form an answer. By not immediately jumping in, your response will be much better articulated. Communication is the most important aspect of your job. It is how you interact with other people, and that's what business is all about: people talking to people. Remember that communication can make or break your reputation and, subsequently, your career.

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