Communication is essential in every type of business environment. It is crucial to spend as much time planning as it is executing the communication. Every interaction is an opportunity to make a positive impression. It doesn’t matter if you are sending an email or leaving a voicemail, presenting a topic, writing a deck/presentation, or writing an email. These are all essential steps that will ensure your success.
1. Determine your goal or objective.
A. What message do you wish to send?
b. Do you want to influence or sell something?
c. How will you know if your efforts were successful?
TIP: Communication should have a goal. Determine your goal.
2. Understand your audience/client.
A. Who are the audience members?
b. What is the audience interested in?
c. What might be their objections? How will you handle this?
d. Why should the company/internal resource care about what your words are?
TIP: Search the company/organization on Google and then search for the person on LinkedIn. This will give you great feedback and help you to understand the audience.
3. Draft your communication.
A. What will it say?
b. What length should it take?
c. How will it look?
d. Where is your money page? This page contains all the information you need to influence your audience.
TIP: Draw your slides on a piece of whiteboard or paper. This will allow you to think strategically about your work.
TIP 2: Keep your email short and direct when communicating via email. Then, create your email and then enter the email addresses. This will make sure you don’t accidentally hit send. You should highlight the key points that you want your reader to consider.
4. Practice, Practice, and Practice.
A. Have you ever spent time reviewing?
b. b.
c. Did you time yourself?
TIP! Before you call or email someone, make sure you review what you’re trying to communicate and what you hope to gain from it.
5. Execute
A. Did you execute b flawlessly. Are you sorry for something you did or said?
TIP – Make it easy for people to remember your information.
These simple steps, along with a little bit of work upfront, will ensure that you have successful communications throughout your business life.
Amy Masters is the CEO of Dante Consulting LLC. She has more than 17 years of experience in marketing and business development. Her clients and employers include Fortune 500 companies as well as start-ups. She was instrumental in forming a strategic alliance which resulted in significantly increased sales for American Express and Proctor & Gamble. She has also worked in other areas to establish strong partnerships.
Dante Consulting LLC is a marketing consulting firm that specializes in business development. They are the virtual sales and marketing department for small businesses.
