NORTHERN RIVER Financial

In the words of Jim Rohn:

“Take advantage of every opportunity to practice your communication skills so that when important occasions arise, you will have the gift, the style, the sharpness, the clarity, and the emotions to affect other people.”

Everyone has their own way of communicating. One of the skills we employ when interacting with clients is hearing what they are saying and watching how their body enhances it. The ability to listen is paramount. What is just as important is how we are communicating with them. Often categorized as a soft skill or an interpersonal skill, communication is the act of sharing information from one person to another person or group of people. There are many different ways to communicate, each of which plays an important role in sharing information. When we reflect on what we say, we realize that we use communication every day in nearly every environment. Whether you give a slight head nod in agreement or present information to a large group, communication is absolutely necessary when building relationships, sharing ideas, delegating responsibilities, managing a team and much more. Learning and developing good communication skills can help you succeed in your career. Rohn reminds us to take advantage of every opportunity to practice your communication skills. While it takes time and practice, communication and interpersonal skills are certainly able to be both increased and refined. There are several different ways we share information with one another. Verbal communication is the use of language to transfer information through speaking or sign language. It is one of the most common types, often used during presentations, video conferences and phone calls, meetings and one-on-one conversations. Verbal communication is important because it is efficient. It can be helpful to support verbal communication with both nonverbal and written communication. Use a strong, confident speaking voice. Be confident when speaking so that your ideas are clear and easy for others to understand. Use active listening. The other side of using verbal communication is intently listening to and hearing others. Avoid filler words. While it might feel natural after completing a sentence or pausing to collect your thoughts, it can also be distracting for your audience. Try to replace them by taking a breath when you are tempted to use them. Nonverbal communication is the use of body language, gestures and facial expressions to convey information to others. It can be used both intentionally and unintentionally. Nonverbal communication is helpful when trying to understand others’ thoughts and feelings. Notice how your emotions feel physically. Try to identify where you feel that emotion within your body. Developing self-awareness around how your emotions affect your body can give you greater mastery over your external presentation. Be intentional about your nonverbal communications. Make an effort to display positive body language when you feel alert, open and positive about your surroundings. Use body language alongside verbal communication such as asking follow-up questions or pulling the presenter aside to give feedback. Mimic nonverbal communications you find effective. If you find certain facial expressions or body language beneficial to a certain setting, use it as a guide when improving your own nonverbal communications. Visual communication is the act of using aids during presentations to provide helpful context alongside written and verbal communication. Because people have different learning styles, visual communication might be more helpful for some to consume ideas and information. Ask others before including visuals. Adding visuals can sometimes make concepts confusing or muddled. Getting a third-party perspective can help you decide whether the visual adds value to your communications. Consider your audience. Be sure to include visuals that are easily understood by your audience. You should never use sensitive, offensive, violent or graphic visuals in any form. Consult with trusted colleagues, managers or mentors to identify which areas would be best to focus on first. Written communication is helpful because it provides a record of information for reference. Writing is commonly used to share information. Emails and chats are common forms of written communication. Strive for simplicity. Written communications should be as simple and clear as possible. Don’t rely on tone. Because you do not have the nuance of verbal and nonverbal communication, be careful when you are trying to communicate a certain tone when writing. Try to keep your writing as simple and plain as possible and follow up with verbal communications where you can add more personality. Take time to review your written communications. Setting time aside to re-read your emails, letters or memos can help you identify mistakes or opportunities to say something differently. Incorporating methods or styles you like can help you to improve over time .