You can get ahead in business and in any relationship by improving your communication skills.
All it takes is a little time to connect to the people around you.
Maribeth Kuzmeski, the founder of Red Zone Marketing, and author of the book
The Connectors, says she found that some of the most successful people all had good communication skills.
She studied those skills and offers some of the simplest tricks to help you improve your communication, which will help you with your business and personal relationships.
1. Share something personal. When you share something that isn’t about numbers and the bottom line with another individual (e.g., a story about parenting or your struggle to balance your job and your personal life), he’ll be able to personally identify with you, and he’ll become more invested in your goals and achievements.
2. Don’t pretend to be perfect. Everyone loves it when an underdog wins.
It’s natural to want to root for someone who faces the same challenges you do—so don’t feel that your customers and colleagues have to believe that you’re perfect!
3. Always say 'thank you'. Nobody makes it to the top on her own, so be sure to sincerely thank the people who have helped you succeed—no matter how large or small their contributions!
4. Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that reads, “Make me feel important.” This was the life philosophy of Mary Kay Ash, the well-known cosmetics mogul.
Her genuine concern for others catapulted her out of poverty and was the secret to her success.
