Everyone communicates but the champions
in life are those who master the keys to communication. I’ve been a lifelong
learner of communication and spent hundreds of hours on this subject. I believe
today’s discussion will propel you to a new level.
People communicate in different ways.
When women say, “I’ve no clothes to wear,”
they’re saying, “I have no new clothes to
wear.” When men say the same thing, they mean, “I have no clean clothes to wear.” Same sentence different meaning.
Here are seven secrets to effective communication.
Value
the person. When we value the person in
front of us, we’re honoring God. We’re all created in the image of God. We’re
all valuable. When we value someone we’ll treat them with respect and interact in
appropriate manner. We don’t have to have long drawn conversations but we don’t
have to be sharp, abrupt and rude either.
Take
genuine interest in people. When you’re
getting to know a person, it’s easy to get lost. Many people don’t have a clue
what to talk about in a social gathering. When you’re lost for words, ask about
F R A N K. Ask about their friends, relatives, associates, neighbors and kids.
These are pretty general conversation starters but once you get going taking
interest about them they’ll talk forever. You may never get to talk about your
product but that’s ok. It will always come back to you. The more people talk
about themselves the more valuable and important they feel.
Focus.
One of the greatest ways you can show value to someone is to give them your
undivided attention. We live in a technology driven world. The phone is
ringing, text is buzzing and social media is sending you notifications. If you
want to add real value to someone, give them your focused attention. Turn off
the cell phone. Don’t stare at your computer screen. Lift your head up from your
desk, look people in the eye and give them your focused attention. In a group
setting, don’t always look over people’s shoulders hunting for a higher net
worth person. Honor the person in front of you and God will honor you.
Be
a good listener. It is the most
important communication skill you can ever learn. When you’re a good listener,
you will learn a great deal about the other person. Being a good listener is a
balancing act. When the other person is talking, lean forward, clasp your hands
and put them under your chin. Look them in the eye/forehead area but don’t
stare. Make approving comments, “I see,
aha, wow, really etc.” Try not to interrupt too frequently. Don’t hijack the conversation with your own
story to tell. Oh there is so much more…
Give
advance notice. It will not
only prepare the other person but it will give them a chance to participate
more intelligently. If you’re going to take some time, be polite and ask, “Is this a good time to talk for a couple of
minutes?” Or “I need to talk to you
about something. When is a good time?” This is especially important if you’re
calling people on the phone.
Be
a person of value. Everybody
loves a resource person. Be a connector and a door opener. People always left
Jesus feeling better about themselves. That’s what we must also do. Give people
hope. Keep it positive. Lift them up from their pit. Check your phone and introduce
them to someone they’ll benefit from. Give a recommendation. Invite them to
your circle of friends and groups. What you do for others, God will make happen
for you.
Pray
for people. You’ll be surprised how many
people will allow you to pray for them if you simply ask. Prayer is the most valuable
thing you can do for others. When you pray, God hears and He answers your
prayers. You can have no better communication than to talk to the Creator of
the universe. Don’t just pray for people
pray with them.
Friend, today I challenge you to
become a life long student of communication. The better we communicate the more
influence we can have in our world. Learn, improve and get better. Good communicators
rule the world!
“The
right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry”
(Proverbs 25:11).
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