HOW CAN I COMMUNICATE MORE EFFECTIVELY?

Effective communication is the basis of every relationship.  So how can we create quality communication in our relationships in business and life? Building rapport is the cornerstone of getting people on your side. But there’s more to rapport than just mirroring – don’t worry, we’ll cover how that works too – there’s also a way your position your message in order to communication clearly and consise. Follow this model and you’ll be able to score a touchdown when making an ask, whether it’s pitching your business to an investor, getting a raise, or even asking a friend for a favor.

Just like asking a girl out on the first date, or positioning yourself to ask for the business, the last steps in communication can be the hardest if you are not confident in yourself.  But the rewards of effective, consistent communication patterns? Astounding. This is how to get you into position to ask for the sale, the rest is up to you.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION MEANS THINKING IN STEPS

The key to winning people over and getting them to say “YES!” is understanding how communication actually work. lt's kinda like ballroom dancing, sometimes you have to take the lead and in other situations you have to allow your partner to guide you.  In this explanation that is outlined shows not just how to communicate effectively with the most powerful order for crafting your message, but also how much time should be devoted to each step. 

BUILD IDENTIFICATION AND RAPPORT​

​Rapport comes from feeling like we have something in common with another person. When we think we have things in common, we’re more comfortable; when more comfortable, the more we enjoy being with others. Building rapport includes questions that are the backbone of small talk: where people come from, what they do, even talking about the weather.
But the real secret of building rapport lies in the nonverbal. How you use your body makes up 93% of what people respond to, so its critical for effective communication. This is why mirroring – where you match someone’s body movements, energy level, even breathing pattern – is a widely used technique to get people on your side. Start by following the person’s movements as a way to establish a connection. Are their legs crossed? Cross yours. Do they talk with their hands? Do the same. A quick test for physical rapport is changing your own position and seeing if they follow you. If so, you’re generating major rapport. If not, keep mirroring and try again a little later.
​
With this first step, you’re creating the solid base by getting your audience to identify with you. It takes the most time and is the most important part of any quality communication interaction. Your goal is to get your audience to identify and relate to you (and your message) right up front. Your want them thinking, “me too” as they process your message instead of saying, “so what?”

You often see politicians using these techniques. It’s why, to connect with voters, they talk about their childhood or struggles they’ve overcome. Get whoever you’re talking to, whether one person or a whole auditorium, to unconsciously think “yes, yes, yes” and you’re well on your way to Step 2 of how to communicate effectively.

LOGIC & REASON ​

With your audience on your side, it’s now time to bring out the facts. You’ll want to give them just enough of the details to justify an emotional decision or response. Remember: people make decisions for emotional reasons, but they need to always be able to justify them with logic. So help your cause by giving them the logic they need to create this justification. Laying out your details and facts also proves that you can provide the solution and establishes you as a credible source for whatever you’re advocating.

Quick word of warning: Launching into too much detail will likely kill the rapport you’ve built thus far. Integrate your information and continue to practice engagement. Guess what? You’re already halfway there!

ANTICIPATE & CONFESS

Anticipate possible objections
By articulating the possible objections your audience could have, you show empathy and smarts. Chances are you learned this on your high school debate team or in speech class – it’s a tried and true effective communication technique for winning people over. By anticipating objections, you’re also strengthening your own point of view.

Show the consequences
Claim that you had the same objections initially and attack yourself for it. In this phase your outcome is for the audience to realize the “hell if they don’t”– what is the consequence to them if they don’t follow through/take your suggestion? One way to accomplish this step is relating what happened to you before you took action.
SOLUTION
You’re almost to the end! Now it’s time to lay out your solution to the challenges you just brought up in Step 3. Instead of a vision of hell, you’re showing a vision of heaven. Help whoever you’re talking to think about all the positives and benefits if they take action/follow through. Another pro tip: use the negative consequences for contrast – they’ll make the positives seem even better by comparison.

Here too is time to pick up the pace so that you gather enough momentum for the final step that effective communication needs.

ASK FOR THE ACTION

Now you ask for the action you want. By this point your audience is sold on the power of following through – you’ve made it logical and feel good. However, don’t take it for granted that they’ll always come along – ask for follow-through by requesting a specific commitment. That could be something as simple as a phone call or email or on the scale of a major investment of money and/or time. This last step shows you how effective your communication has been; now get out there and do it again!

READY TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR YOU CAN BE?

DISCOVER HOW RON CAN TRANSFORM YOU, YOUR SALES TEAM OR YOUR BUSINESS AND TAKE YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO THE NEXT LEVEL 
Trying to achieve your company’s objectives OR the goals you have in life can feel lonely and overwhelming.   Don’t go it alone. Imagine having a certified transformational coach/ business consultant in your corner who works with you with proven results, answers questions with clarity, and provides constant encouragement.
 
The results for having a business consultant or coach in your business:
  • 53% of businesses had an increase in productivity
  • 39% of businesses had an increase in customer service satisfaction
  • 32% of businesses had a better customer retention rate
  • 23% of businesses found a significant reduction in overhead costs
  • 22% of businesses increased their bottom line profits​
                     The only question now is what are the benefits of NOT using a business coach?  The answer: none.