Leadership, sales, marketing, training, mentoring -they all demand communication skills. Understand a few communication theories and you can greatly improve these skills.

While I would like to give you simple pat answers, life is not always simple. Some of the most abundant oil wells require deep drilling. I say that so that you will not check out on reading something that can make a dynamic difference in your business. It will require some deep mental drilling. Hopefully we will be drilling and not boring. (Pun intended.)

I am going to talk about communication theories. I have discovered how important it is to have a basic understanding of communication theories in my work as a communication and e-learning professional and consultant.

If you want to communicate more effectively, base your communication on some of these theories. Understanding just a few theories is one of the most effective ways to improve your communication and marketing skills.

Definition of theory

What definition of theory will I use? Theory: It is a pattern of study that has been developed over time and contains a testable body of information or principles that guide activities. It is a systematic model that explains interactions in a way that helps you predict the future.

When you communicate as leader in business, education, church or marketing, you want to use proven patterns that have a history of success, don’t you? It makes sense to have principles that have been tested and proven to be good guides?

What theory is not

The theories I refer to are not abstract speculation that some John Doe dreamed up in the middle of the night because he had too much pizza before bed. Sometimes the term theory is used in this way.

Some people call speculation theory. Used that way theory is the opposite of fact. That is not the theory you need, although you probably know leaders that operate on those kinds of theories.

Sometime methods and accepted traditional models are defined as theory, such as music theory. It is closer to the definition — but not quite close enough.

The power of theory

The power of theory (the first definition) is when it can be adapted to guide your activities. You use the theory to plan; then you implement the plan; you check the results, and make adjustments to your understanding of the theory and do it again. That is the kind of theory that turbo-charges your thinking.

So the short definition for the kind of theory I reference here is: a systematic model that explains interactions in such a way that it helps you predict the future.

Theories are everywhere. Here are three ways a theory can serve you if you are a leader.

1. It allows you to learn from genius

The kind of theories I defined have been developed out of careful research and study, sometimes a lifetime of it. Because they have been developed by scholars and preserved in their writings, you can read and learn from past genius.

For example there have been heavily researched theories regarding face-saving. Face saving is the action designed not to cause the other person embarrassment. Theories related to face-saving indicate that persons who come from more collectivistic cultures engage in high face saving.

Conversely, people from more individualistic cultures tend to speak more directly and with less concern about helping the other party save face. This launches us into the next way theories help communicators and leaders.

2. Theory provides a basis for analysis you might otherwise miss

In the example of face-saving theory, I mentioned collectivistic cultures. Collective cultures are cultures with high interdependence. Examples of collectivistic cultures might include some Asian and Hispanic cultures.

Let speculate and say you are an individualist and you invite a Latin American you just met to a social event. This person says they will come. If you understand face-saving you will quickly analyze the situation and understand that the invitee may intend to come.

However, you also realize the invitee may be helping you save face, not wanting to embarrass you by refusing your hospitality. This leads to the third way a theory may serve you.

3. Theory provides a big-picture vantage point

Using the example above you know about face-saving, so you overtly provide a way in the conversation for the person to gracefully decline. Or perhaps it means you are a little slower to brand the persons as “not keeping their word” when in their culture “yes” means “I would like to” rather than a definite, “I am coming”.

Understanding the theory could help you understand the situation from a higher cultural view point rather than a personal view point. This keeps you from wasting emotional energy because you take it personally and are angry, hurt, or disappointed.

There are other ways that theories can help us understand our interactions. They can give us consistency in the way we mentally process interactions; they provide a common language and understanding of what may be occurring; and, they provide a point from which to develop new theories as the old are applied to new situations.

Know that the example above is only one example. Watch for upcoming articles on theories that you as a leader will want to know and apply. In the meantime, do a web search combining theory with words like, communication or leadership.

Practice looking at situations through the lens of some good theories and it will make you a better leader in religious, direct marketing, educational, training, and sales organizations. Theories give insight. Use them.

Rick Hubbard
http://www.articlesbase.com/communication-articles/what-leaders-need-to-know-about-theory-based-communication-284993.html

evaluate how important good ommunication skills are to achieving the mission and objectives of the firm.

the firm I have chosen is a law firm and the mission statement is "” provide superior legal representation to achieve optimal results in resolving a client’s legal issues, while exercising the highest standards of professionalism”.

But how does good communication skills help to acheive the mission and objectives of the law firm?

Thanks

As a law firm good communication skills are essential to achieve your goal. The first thing that has to be established is what good communication skills are and then we can evaluate how each of them is vital to achieve your mission statement.

1. Clear oral skills: If the lawyer/solicitor doesn’t have clear speech then they will not be to convey the law to their client nor will they be able to convey their clients case to the judge/magistrate. Both of these cases proof that the first part of the mission statement would fail if this communication skill was lacking.

2. Ability to actively listen: If the lawyer/solicitor doesn’t have to actively listen then they will not be able ask relevant questions to their client and may not hear vital information in relation to the case and thus not put the full case forward. The second part is that they may not understand the case that the opposition places before them and therefore not pull up the relevant points of law before the judge/magistrate.

3. Clear and concise written work: This is essential in writing and creating case bundles which would be vital in any courtroom. If the written work isn’t up to scratch then the barrister will have difficulty in conveying the facts of the case to the judge and may also mix-up evidence, thus compromising the case.

These are just the main communication skills, there are more that should be considered such as presentation skill, logical and emotional speech. However just these three show the vital importance of good communications.

Hope this has been helpful.

In the home based business there are many different ways to implement effective listening skills successfully. Everyday you are using your business communication skills with fellow workers, employees, clients, customers, vendors, accountants, advertisers and attorneys to name just a few.

Effective listening skills are on the top of the list of business communication skills. In my article;

Business Communications and Your Business Success, I discuss the many various forms of communication used in the business world.

With all the distractions in the business world today I am amazed that we communicate as well as we do with our business contacts. There are many times in the course of our busy days that someone talks to us and we just barely listen to what they are saying. Our minds are preoccupied with the next comment, thought, or task.

Have you ever caught yourself finishing another person’s sentence? Or have you interrupted a business contact to add your own comments before you even heard the other person out? What about interpreting what someone else said completely wrong because we did not let them finish their sentences or explain their point more clearly?

Here are some ways to create better and more productive conversations, stronger relationships and increase your bottom line.

Ways to Create Effective Listening Skills

*Use Direct Eye Contact

*On the Phone Visualize the Person

*Concentrate and Stay Focused

*Don’t Interrupt your Business Contact

*Leave a brief pause after the other Person Speaks

Use Direct Eye Contact

When you are talking to a business contact look directly at them and concentrate on what they are saying. Too many times we are thinking of what we want to say next and assume we already know what they are going to say. Not only is that very belittling to the person but it also can be the cause for many misunderstandings because we jump to a conclusion that may be incorrect.

On the Phone Visualize the Person

If you are on the phone visualize your business contacts in your mind even if you have never seen them. Create an image in your mind of what they may look like and treat them as if they were in the room with you. Do not do any tasks that are not related to the conversation at hand. It is way too easy to get distracted and miss the point being made.

Concentrate and Stay Focused

What is the message your customer or business contact is really trying to convey? Ask questions to be sure you understood what is being stated. The worst thing to do is to assume you know what your business contact is saying.

Get all the facts, clarify what you think they said and be sure to verify the key points of the conversation. If there is a follow up action needed, make sure that you both are clear on the matter.

Do not Interrupt Your Business Contact

Interrupting a business contact when they are talking is not only rude but you may totally miss the most important point the speaker is saying. Let them finish their sentence or sentences. The point that you may think you want to say might not really be relevant once you hear them out.

Leave a Brief Pause after the Other Person Speaks

Once your business contact has completed their sentences, leave a brief pause. It will give you three important results. First the listener will know that you are taking in what they said and are really listening. Second it will give you time to think of questions that may need to be asked to clarify what they said. Lastly it will give you time to address their questions or comments.

Creating excellent business communication skills will help you and your business profit in many very important ways. When we are all on the same page we can become unified in our efforts and become much more productive.

Benefits of Creating Effective Listening Skills

>Facilitates Better Decision Making

>Increases Rapport with all Business Contacts

>Creates a Friendlier Environment

>Fosters More Cooperation

>Opens doors for Increased Knowledge

>Will Create Increased Profits

Facilitates Better Decision Making

When your listening skills increase you will be more apt to ask the right questions, match the information and solutions that you received from other conversations and be able to discern the best information available from all the sources you talked to.

There are many times that we pay for advice and consulting. It could be an accountant, attorney or business consultant. Listening and learning from them will increase your specific knowledge of these subjects which you will be able to implement in your home based business.

Increases Rapport

Business contacts appreciate the respect that you give them while using effective listening skills. When they know that you are really listening to them and giving them your full attention it is amazing how much more can be accomplished.

In my article; Offer Excellent Customer Service I give numerous examples of ways in which to offer excellent customer service and most of them depend on effective listening skills. Customer service and business communications skills go hand in hand.

Creates a Friendlier Environment

Listening to your employees, business associates or other business contacts gives you the ability to understand what they need in order to get the job done correctly and with fewer misunderstandings. When everyone is on the same page productivity soars.

Fosters More Cooperation

When using effective listening skills, business contacts usually will be willing to share more time with you. As a general rule when people feel that you are being attentive they will offer more ideas to help you and your home based business succeed.

Opens doors for Increased Knowledge

With more effective listening skills you will find that you will remember more of the conversations, take the time to dig deeper and ask more thorough questions. The more time you spend with your business contact the more knowledge you will gain.

I find that people are very willing to share their wealth of information if you just take the time to listen and ask questions. This knowledge will help to propel your home based business forward.

Will Create Increased Profits

With all the great benefits we have listed you should be able to see how effective listening skills will increase your profits. You will be able to offer excellent customer service, glean valuable information from business contacts in regards to marketing, accounting, legal matters and so many other aspects of your home based business.

Effective listening skills are a necessary part of business. The home based business owner who takes the time to listen to what their business contacts are saying can and will be many more steps ahead of their competition.

Paul Kopp
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/what-did-you-say-ways-to-create-effective-listening-skills-81958.html