It helps to know who you are talking to and what sort of conversation is appropriate for the situation. If you are speaking to a new associate you should ask questions which cannot be answered by a simple yes or no. Encourage longer answers that will allow you to get to know the person better and offer a bit of background information about yourself in the process. If the relationship is business-related be friendly, but do not venture into personal subjects or topics that can be controversial (like politics, unless of course your business is politics).

However, if you have developed a good business relationship with someone, it may not be inappropriate to acknowledge personal interests that you may share. For example, if you are visiting the office of a long-term business associate and notice golf clubs, you may bring up the topic and ask them about that particular brand or where they play, to let them know it is a common interest between you. Whether or not you invite them to golf with you or wait for them to invite you should also depend on the nature and time period of your association.

The most important thing to remember about being a good communicator is actually the opposite – you must listen! This applies to all aspects of your business, whether you are talking to a client, an employee, or a sponsor and it is equally important in casual, social situations because you never know when you might meet someone who can become a valuable connection for your social-business network. Making a positive impression is paramount, because you are the face and voice of your business.

No matter who it is you are talking to and regardless of the nature of your relationship, listening is essential because you are better able to formulate a relevant response when you listen to whomever you are speaking with. Isn’t it annoying when you are having a conversation with someone and they look at you blankly and say “what”? Or when you are saying something that you feel is important and the person you are talking to continues typing, or reading, or (aargh!) even watching the television?

 “Do unto others as you’d have done to you” is just as meaningful when it comes to communication as it is in everything else. If you are too busy to listen when an employee or associate comes to you with an issue or idea, does that really encourage them to listen to your concerns or suggestions in the future?

Your willingness to see business matters from a new perspective and take advantage of opportunities to grow and expand your business has no doubt paid off. An inflexible perspective and plan for your business can be counter-productive and it is the very same in communication!

Being to set in your ways with your ideas and opinions can create boundaries and discourage open, candid conversation. While it is important to have core values and principles in your business and personal life, taking them too seriously can make you become very rigid and inhibit the growth and success of your business. In communication, becoming too rigid in your ideas can cause you to be less open and more dismissive of the ideas of others.

Being flexible, giving credence to the beliefs and ideas of others may not only create more open and progressive conversation with your personal and business associates, but it can also provide opportunity to evolve in several aspects of your life. Being able to see issues and situations from many different perspectives can mean the difference between growth and stagnation in your business and personal affairs.

The most important thing to remember about being a good communicator is actually the opposite to what a lot of people think, it is not talking – you must listen! This applies to all aspects of your business, whether you are talking to a client, an employee, or a sponsor and it is equally important in casual, social situations because you never know when you might meet someone who can become a valuable connection for your social-business network. Making a positive impression is paramount, because you are the face and voice of your business. It helps to know who you are talking to and what sort of conversation is appropriate for the situation. If you are speaking to a new associate you should ask questions which cannot be answered by a simple yes or no. Encourage longer answers that will allow you to get to know the person better and offer a bit of background information about yourself in the process. If the relationship is business-related be friendly, but do not venture into personal subjects or topics that can be controversial (like politics, unless of course your business is politics).  However, if you have developed a good business relationship with someone, it may not be inappropriate to acknowledge personal interests that you may share. For example, if you are visiting the office of a long-term business associate and notice golf clubs, you may bring up the topic and ask them about that particular brand or where they play, to let them know it is a common interest between you. Whether or not you invite them to golf with you or wait for them to invite you might also depend on the nature and time period of your association. No matter who it is you are talking to and regardless of the nature of your relationship, listening is essential because you are better able to formulate a relevant response when you listen to whomever you are speaking with. Isn’t it annoying when you are having a conversation with someone and they look at you blankly and say “what”? Or when you are saying something that you feel is important and the person you are talking to continues typing, or reading, or (aargh!) even watching the television?  “Do unto others as you’d have done to you” is just as meaningful when it comes to communication as it is in everything else. If you are too busy to listen when an employee or associate comes to you with an issue or idea, does that really encourage them to listen to your concerns or suggestions in the future?