1. Internal
The conversation you have with yourself is the most important conversation ever! With sales people, I say “the biggest sale you’ll make everyday is to yourself!” This is so true! And, it is the foundation for anything that you do. If you are not pleased with yourself or if you are negative, it will shine through in all of your actions. Make sure you are pumped, passionate and positive before you connect with other people.
ACTION STEP: Start a gratitude journal - it will change your internal language.
2. External
This is image and your body language. It is all communicating louder and clearer than your words. Whether you’re one on one, working a crowd or a couple of people, your external language is 85% of your communication.
ACTION STEP: Work with a professional coach or a professional team of friends who will be willing to tell you what is hurting your external communication.
3. Music
People hear your music…not your words! It is important to be POSITIVE! However, there are many people who “say” they are positive. The best way to tell if someone is positive, is to listen to their words. If they’re speaking negative words - steer clear.
ACTION STEP: What are the things that keep you in the “happy” frame of mind? Stay focused on those things. Like a magnet, you attract others with similar thoughts and strong feelings.
4. Tone
Your tone - like your music - will give you youth or portray you as immature; it will show you as focused or controlling; it will highlight if you are fun or ditsy. The tone determines the type of person delivering the message.
ACTION STEP: Are you a lyrical talker? Do you speak in monotone? Are you animated? Find out which is your communication style and the predominant tone you exhibit.
5. Words
Yes, words can be powerful words or those weak words such as “I was JUST wondering…” or this is what you “SHOULD” do. I used SHOULD today by accident and it took away from everything I said.
ACTION STEP: One by one remove those weak words from your vocabulary. Practice using another word in their place. Practice for at least 21 days - it takes 21 days to change a habit.
6. Credibility
Do you know your stuff? Do YOU believe you know your stuff? Your credibility is not just doing what you say you’ll do - it is also believing in what you know. Someone I know “says” he’s passionate about what he does and yet when you ask him what he does or what he enjoys about what he does, he hesitates EVERY SINGLE TIME.
Action Step: Do you believe in you? That doesn’t come from outside influences like other people or owning a nicer vehicle…that comes from within. Sit down right now and write down the 25 things you accomplished last year and then the top 10 things you do better than any one else.
7. Knowledge
Yes, you do need to know your stuff. From “book knowledge” to “experiential knowledge”, you need to know your information inside and out. As you're learning it, you may know more than anyone else in the room. That’s a great start. However, as a professional it is your duty to continue to learn more. Did you know that if you read about a subject everyday that in a course of a year it is like you studied with the intensity of a college degree on that certain subject?
ACTION STEP: These were listed in order of importance. Begin on the area you need help with first and it will make a world of difference in your communication.
Like a well grounded radio station, you will be heard loud and clear. Miss any of these aspects and you will communicate with static and be difficult if not impossible to understand.
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