Verbal communication skills: Improving your verbal skills

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.

It doesn't help that we typically work in isolation. It's not as if the cat's interested in what we have to say! So how do you improve these verbal skills in the absence of the hustle of a more typical office?

As a fan of the TV show The West Wing; I’ve watched with interest and amusement the “grooming” of the character Toby Ziegler from Communications Director to White House Press Secretary. In addressing the media his assistant constantly reminds him to use the verbal communication skills of wooing a woman. To be “witty and seductive.”

In winning over our clients or the media perhaps we don’t need to go that far but is does pay to put some personality into your customer communication.

Us soloists need to ensure each meeting or contact counts. We spend so much of our time setting up appointments, meeting new clients, networking and making connections with a number of new people. We are engaged with our personal and professional PR – communicating who we are, what we do and how we make a difference. How we communicate this truly matters.

Effective verbal communication is particularly important when building relationships with clients, customers and the media. A stimulating conversation or well-told story may be the most interesting part of a meeting, presentation or media interview. Even witty small talk with a potential client can evolve into a new business deal or project. Here is a few conversation pointers and verbal communication skills to keep in mind when meeting or networking.

1. A good business introduction includes your first and last name and the name of your company.

2. Always introduce yourself to those sitting next to you at a business dinner. If possible, meet everyone at your table before you sit down. Sit next to someone you don't know rather than someone you do know.

3. When introducing your guest or another person at a function, mention both first and last names and perhaps an interesting item of information about that person.

4. Before going to an event, business or social, be prepared to discuss items of current interest including books, films, television shows, or current events.

5. You can find your next conversation starter by reading at least one daily newspaper, weekly news magazine, or watching a morning news show.

6. Take the time to get to know others first. People don't care about you and what you do until they know you care about them. Build relationships and trust first.

7. Beware of being a pushy promoter. We’re often so passionate and excited about our business or latest project that we talk too much and oversell ourselves.

8. Listen closely and think before you speak. Don't interrupt, let the other person finish their thought before you give your opinion. Learn to do 80 percent of the listening and just 20 percent of the talking.

9. Listen attentively, smile and make good eye contact.

10. Practise the five words that help create and maintain small talk conversation by forming open-ended questions.The five words are: Who, What, When, Where and Why .

Sue Currie is a business educator and speaker on personal branding through image and media. Sue’s strategies help boost your public profile and increase profits by enhancing your professional image and building brand visibility.

19 Jan 07

Print this item

9 comments | Add your own 1 2 | Next» View all»

Hi Sue - what a great article ! People don't care about you, they care about them so if we want to build credibility quickly, we'd better very interesting which means listening and providing interesting views on current topics. That way people will enjoy your company and consider you to be someone worth knowing i.e. a great communicator ! Grant Hyman from Sydney | Read my articles
Sorry ..you can't have a 1 to to10 List for people skills
and knowing how to handle people,you either have it or you don't..that's the whole point of 'flying solo'
if it's not instinctive or comes naturally then you just won't cut it. Paul from Melbourne
Some people are natural communicators and we can learn from them. Some have great skills in other parts of their business but need help with communication. It is often just a couple of pointers, a bit of coaching and some encouragement that will turn them into good communicators. They may not have the natural style of the former mentioned but will feel so much more confident in their relationship building that it will make a huge difference to their success. Thank you Sue for the pointers and the coaching. Sofia of Joshua's Trumpet from Frankston Vic
Sue - very useful article.
Just as there are athletes with enourmous natural talent there are people for whom communication and people skills come very naturally to. Networking is a breeze for them and they build relationships easily.
Just as there are athletes who become successful by working really hard, practicing their skills and having sheer determination I think people can also improve their networking skills dramatically by polishing their conversation skills using the list Sue has put together. Linda Anderson from Sydney, Australia | Read my articles
Well done Sue,
these tips really do work! Chris Sutherland from Melbourne
Great article Sue with very comprehensive tips. A few people have commented that you have to be a "natural" with people skills or networking. This is 1/2 true. A brief personal example on a slight tangent: The first time I had to speak at a public forum, I was very sick with nerves the night before & that morning, was convinced a heart attack would kill me before I opened my mouth, and thought everyone was going to laugh at me. None of the above happened mind you but many people fear public speaking more than death itself, and I was one of them!! Through research, practise & attending regular Toastmaster's meetings, people now tell me I look like a "natural". Little do they know the flip-flops my stomach does before each presentation and how fast my heart is racing. Knowing the techniques for effective networking, and practising a few of them each time, can make everyone a "natural" at networking. Enter the room with a smile, introduce yourself to the first stranger you see standing alone, then become a host & invite them to come with you to join a group of people. People love to be included and appreciate your thoughfulness. Learn & practise Sue's great tips and you too can become a "natural" networker. Thanks Sue. Jeanette Inglis from Melbourne, Australia. www.dinnersforsingles.com.au

9 comments | Add your own 1 2 | Next» View all»

Add Your comments

Preview comment

Name

Website *

Town / city and country

Email (never sold, displayed or given away)

* This will link your name to your site. So please avoid self promotion elsewhere! We delete spam, disrespectful or off-topic comments.