How to Develop a Strong Communication Style

📣 If you’re a startup founder, you can’t afford not to know how to have crucial conversations. This can make or break your entrepreneurial journey. While I certainly have plenty of room to improve, the book “Crucial Conversations” changed how I think about hard conversations where relationships are built and important decisions made. Here are 4 great takeaways: 1️⃣ Focus on the Problem and the Goals of the conversation: The goal of a conversation is rarely to win an argument, but often hard conversations evolve into that. Tensions run high and it no longer becomes about solving a problem and moving the company forward, but being right. It’s important to go into conversations with clear the Goals in mind and push ego aside. 2️⃣ Create psychological safety Difficult conversations are inevitable, and that’s especially true in a startup setting, so you need to embrace them as opportunities for growth and innovation. Focus on creating an environment where your team feels safe to voice their opinions, challenge ideas, and provide feedback. The name of the game is “psychological safety,” and that means people feel free to speak without judgement or consequence. The more of this you can create, the better. 3️⃣ Master the art of the conversation If you can’t articulate your thoughts clearly and listen actively with empathy, you have not yet mastered the art of the conversation. You need it to build trust and better relationships with investors, your team, and any other stakeholders. Do you ask open-ended questions? Do you focus on facts over assumptions? Start there and you’ll see a difference. 4️⃣ Stay focused on mutual goals and respect in high-stakes conversations There will be conversations that determine the future of the business. Most of the time, you will prepare for them. But what about the ones you don’t see coming? Increase the chance of a positive outcome by bringing it back to mutual goals and respect as much as you can. When conversations go south, it’s typically because the two parties feel threatened and either gravitate towards silence or violence. When you sense this, establish mutual respect and purpose. This will help you keep the conversation on track and diffuse most tension while positioning everyone on the same side of the table. Incorporate these lessons and watch your communication skills soar. Leave a comment on how/if this makes a difference for you! 🚀

A recent Bloomberg job skills report highlights a fascinating trend in the UK: communication and interpersonal skills are the top-ranked competencies in demand for driving innovation. This revelation resonates deeply with me, as it mirrors the aspirations of many clients I guide towards enhancing these very skills in their professional landscapes. Why does this matter? In our diverse workplaces, communication seasoned with Cultural Intelligence (CQ) isn’t just beneficial; it’s essential. It’s about appreciating the myriad flavors each one of us brings to the table and creating a symphony of collaboration. Here’s a starter kit to becoming a communication connoisseur: 📍Explore Your Cultural Palette: Begin by understanding your own communication style. Are you bold in your expressions, or do you prefer subtlety? Knowing yourself is the first step towards valuing diversity. 📍Cultivate Curiosity: Learn about the cultural backgrounds of your colleagues. Every new understanding is like adding a unique spice to your repertoire. 📍Perfect Active Listening: Truly listen, with empathy and patience. It’s about catching every nuance in the conversation. 📍Adapt Your Communication Style: Be agile in your communication, adjusting your approach to suit the audience and setting. 📍Cultivate Inclusivity: Create an environment where all voices are heard and respected, celebrating the rich diversity around us. 📍Welcome Feedback: Use feedback as a golden opportunity to refine your communication skills. 📍Engage in Continuous Learning: Embrace every interaction as a learning opportunity, constantly practicing, reflecting, and adjusting. Integrating CQ into your daily communications transforms mere exchanges into opportunities for building bridges and enhancing collaborative spaces. It’s like preparing a meal together - every ingredient, every flavor is vital. I’m curious - what unique ingredient would you add to this mix? Let’s discuss below! 👇🏼 📸: Celebrating communication as a superpower, with a nod to DALL•E’s creativity. 🔗 For deeper insights, feel free to visit my website. 🔗

How to level up your communication so you can build stronger relationships with your team and key decision-makers: The short answer? Be aware of your tone of voice. The way you communicate matters! Your tone of voice can instill a sense of friendliness and good intentions in the people you meet... OR it can erase those feelings, create a sense of unease, and erode their trust in you. For example, I've worked with a few people that always sound confrontational, even when they're talking about fun or erroneous topics. This tone of voice puts folks on edge because they feel like they're being called out, even when the person who sounds confrontational isn't talking about them. Basically, we all need to be aware of the way we're sounding to others. When talking, ask yourself, "What tone/attitude am I conveying right now?" Remember, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou Your tone of voice determines how others perceive your emotional state and therefore how they should react. I do my best to keep this in mind with every person I communicate with and follow what Dale Carnegie preaches in "How to Win Friends and Influence People." I smile, ask questions, and genuinely engage with others. Am I perfect at this? F**k no. I definitely don't always get it right, but I do my best to always be friendly and smile, even when having tough conversations. If I'm having a bad/off day, I usually start the conversation explaining the reason for my blah-ness. This provides context for the person I'm talking with so they know it's not them. This helps me build great relationships with basically everyone I work with, which is absolutely crucial at any job/work engagement. I believe the relationships we cultivate are equally, if not more important than the skillset we build. At the end of the day, do you want to be known as a happy, genuine, and curious person who is fun to work with? Or known as something less positive? The way you communicate with others is a big determining factor in that distinction. #Communication #Relationships #ToneOfVoice

𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝟮 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 💬 Struggling to get your ideas across clearly? You're not alone. Many leaders find themselves grappling with this. I hear from them about it. I know it's more than just frustrating. When your thoughts don't translate as you intend it not only doesn’t land with your listeners, it starts a whole inner dialogue of self-critique that can really knock your confidence, both in and out of the office. And communication is the most important part of leadership, so if you don’t get this handled your progress will be blocked. ⚠️ But why stay stuck in this communication rut? The ripple effects are real: misunderstandings, weakened team dynamics, and yes, it even stretches into your professional relationships. It's time to shift gears and find your voice! So, here's a strategic pivot to transform your communication: 📢 Audience-Centric Approach: I had an eye-opener years ago. I used to think that as a speaker and leader, I was the big deal. Wrong! The big deal is not my talking or leading, it’s their listening! It's all about how the audience receives your message. When they're engaged, your words take on a whole new life. So, shift your focus from just speaking to ensuring your speaking really has the audience listening. This perspective shift is a total game-changer. 📢 Break the Ice with Impact: Time to ditch the same old intro. You know, the "Hi, thanks for having me..." yawn-fest. Instead, why not start with something that really hooks your audience? Throw a curveball – ask a question that gets them thinking, share a slice of your life, or drop a statement that makes everyone sit up and listen. Make your speech memorable from the get-go. ✔️ Incorporating these methods into your leadership approach will do more than just captivate your audience; it will also enhance your confidence and enhance your communication game. Have you tried any of these approaches? Or do you have other communication tips to share? Let's hear them in the comments below! #communication #personaldevelopment #leadership #management #selfhelp #leadershipdevelopment