Improve Your COMMUNICATION  SKILLS     

For a successful career make the effort to get along with others regardless of race or creed.

          Success in life usually depends on how well you communicate with others.

          There is nothing like a smile and the use of a few simple words of praise to please people.

          The ability to ask simple questions and to take the time to listen carefully can change your life.      

A handful of tips to help you improve your communication skills 

* Establish a rapport

When you meet for the first time, smile and show a genuine interest in the person. Aim to establish a rapport by sharing common experiences and mutual interests. 

          Make a special effort to remember names.

          You may need to do some gentle prodding to get the person chatting.  ” How are you coping with this cold weather?” “Where did you go grow up? ” “Have you any hobbies or special interests?   “What do you do for a living?”

 * Be honest and sincere

          Be open with people. Express your own views and if necessary, give reasons why you hold certain beliefs.

          Always remember important words like: “please”, “thank you, “sorry”, and “what do you think?”

* Listen to others

          Have patience and let people talk. They like to share their successes and background experiences.  Listen carefully and don’t keep interrupting them.  Ask open-ended questions.

* Show empathy

          Try to understand the feelings, concerns and problems of other people. Put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if you were in their situation?

* Be supportive

          Make others feel better about themselves. Praise their successes and their good works. Help them take pride in their work.

          It is very important to make people feel they are needed and their contribution is valued. Use words like, “You did a great job!”, “Well done!”, “Thank you.”

          Praise loudly – blame softly!

          The most important word is “we” and the least important word is “I”.

-Geoffrey Moss(mossassociates.co.nz)

“Smile and the world will smile with you.”

SOURCE: For more on this topic see:  “Persuasive Ways” first published by Moss Associates Ltd, New Zealand and in Chinese by Shanghai People’s Publishing House and as “Secrets of Persuasion” by Cengage Learning Asia. (Available as an e-book from Amazon.com.) Also available as “Getting Your Ideas Across” from Kogan Page, U.K and a  Hungarian translation published by Bagolyvar Konyvkiado, Budapest.