The ability to communicate and get our message across is one of the most critical business communication skills any of us can have. The way in which we communicate with others forms the basis of people’s opinions on who we are and what we stand for, and in a business sense can have a significant impact on our relationships with colleagues and clients alike. 

Obviously we are all individuals, and behave in varying ways when we are communicating, depending on our personality types. It is however, interesting and important to realise that there are ways to adapt our communication styles, changing our behaviour as opposed to our personality, in order to improve our influencing skills and achieve our goals in terms of interaction, persuasion and effective communication.

Any experienced facilitators reading this article will be more than familiar with the story of delegates attending workshops without really understanding what it is about, why they have been asked to attend or how they will be expected to apply the learning back in the workplace.  

“I’m here with an open mind” or “I have been told that this will be good for my development… apparently” are all too familiar reasons for attending when asked.  Be honest, we’ve all said it.

Delivering a presentation can be enough to drive fear into even the most rational and positive thinking people, yet it need not be the terrifying ordeal we often make it out to be.  Here are some tips that will improve your presentation skills, enabling you to prepare and deliver your presentation with confidence:

Whatever stage you are at with a valuable business relationship, there is one constant. Your competitors are all vying for that same relationship. One survey by RainToday.com found that over half of clients are open to switching from their current providers. A key component of consultative selling therefore is not to take these relationships for granted.

"Coaching employees" will feature prominently in the job description of most managers but what exactly is coaching and how am I supposed to do it alongside everything else on my ‘to do list’?

In the previous blog we looked at some of the reasons that can influence our assertiveness and dictate whether or not we are assertive, aggressive or submissive in our approach to others. So how exactly can I be assertive without alienating others or putting the values of others ahead of my own?