29 September 2017

Verbal communication in business: 3 benefits and 3 tips for improvement

Do you know the book “Silent Messages”Do you doubt the power of verbal communication? Are you looking for a way to credibly convey an inspirational message that will bring about change in people? In 1971, Albert Mehrabian published this book, in which he presented his research on verbal and non-verbal communication. In his conclusions, explained that only 7% of credibility was directly related to verbal communication.. To this limited percentage of influence of words on the confidence and motivation conveyed by a speaker, we must add the 55% of influence on the audience, which corresponds to body language and the 38% associated with tone and timbre of voice. But, Does the choice of language and the coherence of the message to be conveyed really matter so little? Is it possible that organisations should consider focusing on non-verbal communication? Each company will have to decide its priority, however, although Mehrabian's study was critically acclaimed, common sense suggests that verbal communication is not a secondary issue. How else is it possible that, more than 150 years after the Abraham Lincoln's speech At Gettysburg his two hundred and seventy-two words continue to inspire without anyone being able to remember his tone of voice or his gestures?

The benefits of good verbal communication in business

As the University of Pennsylvania states in its section on leadership, every word counts, and that's why executives must focus on developing their verbal communication skills, since:

Poor communication directly contributes to exacerbating, and even creating, issues with execution, control, and culture.
In addition to the message conveyed orally, during communication, constantly and often silently, ideas, behaviour and attitudes are being transmitted in the form of silences or gestures.; and clues about the product quality or design standards are being provided, without needing to utter a word.
It must be ensured that anyone holding a position of responsibility within the organisation, with regard to the verbal communication or non-verbal, can do well. To do so, Starting with the CEO, it is essential that every professional develops a solid understanding of what constitutes good communication practices. and strive to improve their skills in this field.

Verbal communication must be coherent, consistent with the actions to be taken, and inspiring. Are you capable of generating commitment with your words?

3 Keys to Improving Verbal Communication

Improving verbal communication will contribute to achieving better results, greater commitment from staff, and strengthening relationships with partners and suppliers. The company's image also benefits from a leader with good communication skills, something that can be achieved if the following premises are taken into account:

InspireBefore persuasion comes inspiration, and that's the way to ensure the message you want to convey truly resonates with the recipients. To achieve this, evocative words can be used, and examples that provoke emotions can be given, avoiding filler words and resorting to data to support the content of verbal communication, The Commission is also seeking to increase its credibility and, therefore, generate greater confidence in the audience.
Focusa great communicator knows how to address those in front of him. Every audience is different and, to get your message across effectively, You should show that you are interested in what the other person has to say and respond in a way that strengthens the relationship between both parties and moves towards achieving the objective pursued with the message. It is important not to forget to focus on the problem, rather than the person, and, at the same time, Try to ensure your body language is aligned with your words at all times..
Listening: effective verbal communication is not a one-way street; To help achieve an objective, communication needs to go beyond simply delivering a message. When communicating with another person, don't forget to listen to what they have to say and pay attention to the non-verbal cues they provide through their gestures and attitude.

What importance is placed on verbal communication within your company? Do you have an internal communication plan?