“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.”
– Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Do you have great conversations that stimulate your mind and make you feel wonderful? Every small business owner needs great conversations that build creativity, allow you to discover options for the future, and build rapport and relationships with customers, suppliers, and business associates in your network.
A great conversation is about what we say and how we say it. Having clear communication will aid productivity and ensure your small business succeeds. Here are some tips that every entrepreneur can use to have great conversations with anyone.
Take a Constructive Approach
When you plan to have a great conversation with a business colleague or associate, you need to take a constructive approach. Consider carefully what you want to say and consider how the other person will understand your message. Think about the best communication tool to send the right message – you would never fire someone by sending an SMS message for example. When you decide that only a face to face conversation will suffice, set the tone for a great conversation from the start. Choose an appropriate and neutral setting that allows both parties a chance to relax and really enjoy the conversation.
Be Clear In What You Say
Be clear and direct in what you say. The most common mistake people make when it comes to conversation is not speaking clearly. Avoid any jargon or terms that could be misunderstood. If you need to ask for clarification continually, you will not enjoy the conversation or find it inspirational. Be brief and to the point when you speak. Ensure your tone and body language matches what you say, so you do not send mixed or unclear messages.
Be Real and Positive in Your Interactions
Nobody likes to talk to someone who comes across as insincere. Be yourself and be real in your conversation. A conversational tone is relaxed and positive, so focus on harnessing your positivism for the conversation. Make the conversation a positive interaction for the other party, as well as for yourself.
Be Open to Inspiration and Creativity
Finally, a great conversation will leave you feeling inspired. Although you may plan what you want to say to someone before you start the conversation, you must be open to allowing the conversation taking twists and turns you couldn’t imagine before you started the conversation. A true conversation is not a monologue, with only one player, but a dialogue with at least two parties. Allowing the conversation to travel in unknown directions allows creativity and inspiration to work into the conversation. Be open to finding your inspiration for your business in the unexpected twists and turns of a great, inspirational conversation.
Be open to gaining new ideas and challenging long held assumptions or ideals that may be holding your business back. Entrepreneurs see the challenges and opportunities that new ideas present and enjoy the great conversations that bring forth these ideas.
Following these few tips will help any entrepreneur to make a good conversation into a great one that inspires, builds rapport, and stimulates thought. Whether you are talking to a customer, a supplier, or a business associate at a networking event, you need to know the art of having a great conversation.
Photo Credit:
photo credit: ☆Debs☆
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