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Member Spotlight

Gabriel Dukes, Shelcom Corporate Services

Gabriel Dukes, Shelcom Corporate Services

Shelcom Corporate Services help make the government registration process of starting up a company simple, fast and faultless for new business owners. Read more

Hazel Theocharous, Assisting U Virtually

Hazel Theocharous, Assisting U Virtually

Hazel Theocharous is a virtual assistant who listens to her clients and then assesses their admin, assists with their admin and answers their admin... Read more

Uri Maimon, Nominal Accounting

Uri Maimon, Nominal Accounting

Nominal Accounting Software develops, sell and supports a micro business management software. Read more

Rebecca Lynn, Lightbulb Coaching

Rebecca Lynn, Lightbulb Coaching

Lightbulb Coaching helps people find solutions to problems that are keeping them from shining brightly through face-to-face and phone coaching sess... Read more

Bev Wilkinson, Golden Days Images

Bev Wilkinson, Golden Days Images

Golden Days Images preserves old photos and places them on DVD and CD. They are also branching out into capturing small events involving filming an... Read more

Paul Coelho, Slidemaster – Professional PowerPoint Design

Paul Coelho, Slidemaster – Professional PowerPoint Design

Slidemaster is a PowerPoint specialist company offering comprehensive PowerPoint Presentation designs and solutions, which leave lasting impression... Read more

Maria Pantalone, Infinite Growth

Maria Pantalone, Infinite Growth

Infinite Growth works with individuals and businesses to improve their communication skills so that they can professionally present their products ... Read more

Jane Hinchey, Ace Video Marketing

Jane Hinchey, Ace Video Marketing

Jane Hinchey is an online video producer who makes videos for entrepreneurs and small business owners to help drive traffic to their website and sh... Read more

Dane Pymble, Small Business Wizardry

Dane Pymble, Small Business Wizardry

Small Business Wizardry gives small business owners the tools and resources they need to start and grow their business. Read more

Daniel Abela, Graphic & Web

Daniel Abela, Graphic & Web

Daniel Abela is a graphic and web designer offering digital and print solutions to clients of all sizes right around Australia. Read more

Jan Freitag, Proxim Group

Jan Freitag, Proxim Group

Combining both business coaching and business consulting services, the Proxim Group offers a fully comprehensive approach to helping small business... Read more

Peter Crocker, Sam Leader, Robert Gerrish - Flying Solo

Peter Crocker, Sam Leader, Robert Gerrish - Flying Solo

Peter Crocker, marketing head honcho, Sam Leader, editorial big cheese and Robert Gerrish, founder and general nuisance spill the beans. Read more

Alison Taylor, Cloverlea Designs

Alison Taylor, Cloverlea Designs

We are a small online retailer that sells gorgeous babies and children’s bed linen and homewares to Australian mums. Read more

Marie Quak, Ducks in a Row Professional Organising

Marie Quak, Ducks in a Row Professional Organising

We organise businesses and homes to declutter their environment (and their minds), to alleviate their stress, and to streamline their processes so ... Read more

Jane Woolard, WordLaundry

Jane Woolard, WordLaundry

Specialising in editing, proofreading and copywriting, WordLaundry takes the froth and bubble from communications, leaving them crisp and squeaky c... Read more

Banika Smee, Witjuti

Banika Smee, Witjuti

Witjuti has a range of bamboo clothing designed for yoga, travel, maternity or just lounging around. Read more

Mark Rubiolo, Bubbling With Energy Entertainment

Mark Rubiolo, Bubbling With Energy Entertainment

Bubbling With Energy provides entertainment and amusements for corporate events and private parties including jumping castles, mechanical bulls, su... Read more

Kalindi Chirmuley, Mulayam Products

Kalindi Chirmuley, Mulayam Products

Mulayam Products manufactures natural skin care products for all ages and all skin types. It helps to take care of the skin and enhance its beauty. Read more

Karen Churchill, The Churchill Consultancy

Karen Churchill, The Churchill Consultancy

Karen Churchill helps her clients achieve their goals by communicating as well as possible with the people who matter to them. This can be done by ... Read more

Alex Levashov, Altima Interactive

Alex Levashov, Altima Interactive

Altima Interactive provides web business consulting, web design and web development to help people grow their business online. Read more

Gabriel Dukes, Shelcom Corporate Services
Hazel Theocharous, Assisting U Virtually
Uri Maimon, Nominal Accounting
Rebecca Lynn, Lightbulb Coaching
Bev Wilkinson, Golden Days Images
Paul Coelho, Slidemaster – Professional PowerPoint Design
Maria Pantalone, Infinite Growth
Jane Hinchey, Ace Video Marketing
Dane Pymble, Small Business Wizardry
Daniel Abela, Graphic & Web
Jan Freitag, Proxim Group
Peter Crocker, Sam Leader, Robert Gerrish - Flying Solo
Alison Taylor, Cloverlea Designs
Marie Quak, Ducks in a Row Professional Organising
Jane Woolard, WordLaundry
Banika Smee, Witjuti
Mark Rubiolo, Bubbling With Energy Entertainment
Kalindi Chirmuley, Mulayam Products
Karen Churchill, The Churchill Consultancy
Alex Levashov, Altima Interactive

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HomeMarketingCommunication skills

Marketing | Communication skills

Clear and effective business communication skills are essential for running a successful business, but due to the different experiences and backgrounds of each client, it’s not always easy.

This section provides advice on a wide range of business communication skills including explaining difficult concepts, avoiding business jargon, managing anger and managing difficult conversations. It also looks at specific types of communication including telephone sales techniques and informal business communication.

Business communication tips

10 Feb 12 | Maria Pantalone

Even professional writers find business communication challenging sometimes. Here are four tips to help improve your business communication skills. Read more

Comments: 0

Responding to negative feedback online

30 Nov 11 | Lucinda Lions

In the age of online public feedback, negative feedback can cause irreparable damage to your business. But respond appropriately, and you could turn it into a positive. Read more

Comments: 13

Anger management: Don’t take that tone with me

27 Sep 11 | Peter Crocker

We’ve all been on the receiving end of spiky remarks or emails laced with venom. It’s not pleasant, but can anger in business be effective? Here we look at the issue of anger management. Read more

Comments: 35

Know your audience: Who’s in the room?

13 Sep 11 | Robert Gerrish

Amongst the many insights from our wonderful Independents’ Day speakers was a reminder of the importance of knowing your audience. Read more

Comments: 7

A guide to business email communication

08 Jun 11 | Heather Cox

“Hello” is fine when answering your home phone, but it’s more appropriate to answer a business phone with the company name as well as the greeting. It’s the same with your business email communication and email address – it should represent your business Read more

Comments: 19

How to get honest, useful feedback

11 Apr 11 | Madeleine Shaw

Most of us have selective hearing, albeit unconsciously. But when you tune out important feedback, you pay the price. Here are three steps to getting – and hearing – the honest information you need. Read more

Comments: 7

Listening tips: How to be a better listener

28 Feb 11 | Deborah Keep

In theory listening is easy: Ask a question (make it an open one for best results), zip your lips and open your ears. But in practice it’s easy to miss what people are really saying. Here are some helpful listening tips. Read more

Comments: 2

Listening before you leap

27 Jul 10 | Sam Leader

“Not like that! I’ll show you how to do it” is one of my daughter’s favourite sayings. She’s two and a half years old. Problem is, I think Amy’s desire to be in the right is inherited. Read more

Comments: 20

Help! I’m bogged down by corporate buzzwords!

05 Jun 10 | Gary Chow

I can’t stand corporate buzzwords, jargon, clichés, corporate-speak or other forms of gobbledegook. They drive me spare. Read more

Comments: 5

Are you paying attention?

17 May 10 | Zern Liew

Attention is the new currency. More than ever, customers crave attention and are prepared to pay for it. Are you paying attention? Read more

Comments: 2

Conflict management techniques: What NOT to do

30 Mar 10 | Zoe Routh

I'm never short of an opinion, so when my forthright comments in a recent board meeting elicited a response that equated to "Shut up, Buttercup, and respect your elders", my blood boiled. Read more

Comments: 9

Kapow! Writing hard-hitting headlines

07 Feb 10 | Lucinda Lions

Here are four ways of writing headlines to make them more compelling so they grab your readers’ attention, pique their curiosity and leave them wanting to know more. Read more

Comments: 9

Break free of flabby language syndrome

26 Jan 10 | Zoe Routh

When someone asks, 'How are you?' is your reply 'Good', 'Fine', or 'Okay'? Pshaw! How can you expect brilliance with such mediocrity! Read more

Comments: 15

Projecting the right business image online

11 Jan 10 | Robert Gerrish

A very popular area of the Flying Solo online forums is where members invite feedback to a new business concept, website or logo. Those responding with business feedback don’t mince their words and that’s half the magic. Here’s what I’ve learned. Read more

Comments: 3

Eight ways to beat writer’s block

07 Jan 10 | Amanda Gonzalez

Everything’s in place. The desk is organised, your pencils are sharpened, the distractions are distracted. Enter stage left, writer’s block. Now what? How do you beat writer's block? Read more

Comments: 8

Handling difficult conversations

31 Dec 09 | Robert Gerrish

Whether it's dealing with suppliers, chasing clients for money or simply dealing with other business owners, the odd tricky conversation is inevitable. In this video, Hugh Gyton shares some tips on handling them. Read more

Comments: 0

Beware tired and emotional typing

26 Oct 09 | Peter Crocker

We’ve all said things we regret. In the real world, a sincere face-to-face apology and explanation can usually put things right, but in the virtual world of online communication our words can take on a life of their own. Read more

Comments: 23

Business jargon: Don’t join the blandwagon

25 Oct 09 | Sara Howard

One of the joys of writing copy for different industries is that I can spot the clichés from a mile. However, a recent brochure brief won the award for cramming the most meaningless business jargon in one short sentence. Read more

Comments: 12

How acronyms help articulation (HAHA!)

12 Oct 09 | Robert Gerrish

It seems increasingly difficult to get far into a business conversation before someone chucks a curve ball question that leaves you tongue-tied. Enter the soloist’s saviour, the acronym. Read more

Comments: 14

Giving feedback: Being specific with praise

07 Sep 09 | Sam Leader

I’m at a time of life where I’m reading a lot about ensuring you have a healthy relationship with your kids. And guess what? I’ve found a useful lesson for business when giving feedback. Read more

Comments: 18

NLP: Speaking the language of your client

28 Jul 09 | Deborah Keep

Great communicators are able to speak the language of the people they are talking to. If you want to build quick rapport with clients, you need to learn how to speak their language. This empathy is at the heart of successful communication. Read more

Comments: 4

Business communication styles: mobile vs email

05 May 08 | Sam Leader

There’s nothing like an article on mobile phone manners to get people stirred up. In this article I look at the mobile vs email debate. Which business communication style do you prefer? Read more

Comments: 41

Communication skills and techniques: Showing empathy

06 Dec 07 | Zern Liew

As part of our lives as solopreneurs, we come across many different people who hold many different view points. To deal effectively with those who have a different opinion to our own, empathy is an important communication technique to develop. Read more

Comments: 5

Ten tips on how to avoid business jargon

11 Oct 07 | Megan Hills

Business jargon can be misleading, confusing and boring, but as a soloist it is a trap we can easily fall into without even realising it. Here are ten tips on how to avoid business jargon and learn to speak a language your clients will understand. Read more

Comments: 4

What it means to be a good communicator

20 Aug 07 | Sam Leader

Judging by our recent poll results, we reckon we're very good communicators. 70% of respondents describe their ability to communicate as 'higher than average'. Read more

Comments: 25

Clear communication: how to explain difficult concepts

10 Aug 07 | Jess Tyler

Do you ever struggle when trying to explain difficult concepts? Clear communication is important in business, but due to the different experiences and backgrounds of each of your clients, it is not always easy. Read more

Comments: 5

Effective Communication: Facing the frustration of "you don't understand!"

06 May 07 | Kath O'Sullivan

Do you ever get stuck trying to communicate a certain understanding of something? No matter what you say or how hard you try to make yourself plain, the person on the other end is just not getting it. So why aren't you having effective communication? Read more

Comments: 7

Telephone sales techniques: Preparing for calls to prospective clients

27 Mar 07 | Richard Woodward

The telephone is a communication vehicle where you only have one chance to make a first impression and like many aspects of the business development process, preparation can dramatically enhance your telephone sales techniques. Read more

Comments: 4

How managing anger helps you communicate

04 Mar 07 | Kath O'Sullivan

Managing anger enables you to diffuse conflict and open a new way to communicate that’s powerful and authentic and serves all relationships - at work, in love and even with phone operators. Read more

Comments: 5

Why informal communication styles work

25 Feb 07 | Megan Tough

For years, experts have been telling us it is essential to adopt a formal, professional communication style. But I believe it is way more powerful to drop the formality and add some humanity back into communication. Read more

Comments: 7

Verbal communication skills: Improving your verbal skills

18 Jan 07 | Sue Currie

It's easy for soloists to let their verbal communication skills lapse. If you worry about what to say at a networking event and would rather email than pick up the phone, your verbal skills may be a bit rusty. Read more

Comments: 10

Business communication skills: Throw away your crystal ball

28 Sep 06 | Kath O'Sullivan

You don't need psychic powers to work well with your clients, but you do need to be an effective communicator. Here are five steps that will make a huge difference to your business communication skills... and take away the guess work for good. Read more

Comments: 7

Get personal for effective business communication

24 Aug 06 | Karen Morath

Has modern technology stifled effective business communication and depersonalised our relationships with our nearest and dearest? Is a text message as meaningful as a hand-written note? I think not. Read more

Comments: 5

Effective communication skills: Managing difficult conversations

03 Oct 05 | John Raymond

Effective communication skills are critical to running a successful business. However, every now and again, we inevitably have difficult conversations. Here are some tips on how to face up to the task. Read more

Comments: 0

Client communication skills: The Power of saying 'No'

05 Jul 05 | Sam Leader

One of the most important client communication skills soloists need to master is the ability of saying ‘no’ to certain requests. Read more

Comments: 2

 

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Small Business is Australia's fastest growing sector – this business community site was created for those running a small business of one to five people. Here the solo and micro business owner will find small business forums, a small business directory, free resources, help, tips and advice on: starting a small business; working smarter when working from home; effective small business marketing; small business networking; the solo psyche; staying balanced as a small business owner; small business technology advice and small business finance tips.

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