Communicate to Succeed

If you want to move your business and your life forward, you need to improve your ability to communicate well.

The best innovations will never change the world if they do not have a champion.  Someone to push them forward.  Someone to spread the word.

If you want to implement change in your business (whether you are the owner or an employee) you must communicate effectively.

How can you develop your communication skills?

One thing is to practice.  I have joined my local chapter of Toastmasters International here in Tempe, Arizona.

Toastmaster programs develop your communication skills as well as leadership skills with specific programs and recognition.

The communication program allows you to practice specific skills and a variety of topics.  Here are just a couple of examples:

• Speech organization,
• How to use body language,
• Vocal variety,
• Using visual aids,
• Persuasion, and
• Inspire your audience.

The leadership program has projects that help you practice skills and builds on the communication skills that are developed concurrently.  The projects include:

• Listening and leadership,
• Giving feedback,
• Time management,
• Planning and implementation,
• Organizing and delegating,
• Motivating people, and
• Team building.

This is just part of the introductory program.  The potential for improvement in this area of life is endless.

How can you be good at marketing without communication?  How can you make a presentation to potential investors without polished presentation skills?  How can you implement the best strategy without communication your vision to your entire team?

One of the most consistent things in any resume or interview is: ‘I’m a people person.’

You can’t be a people person without the ability to communicate and lead.  And most people far overestimate their abilities in this area.

In just a month at Toastmasters, I have seen how my skills in these areas need a great deal of development.  Don’t yours?

Tags: Communication, Leadership, Personal Development

This entry was posted on July 5, 2010 at 9:38 am and is filed under Communication. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.