So, you’re interested in becoming a business owner, but don’t quite know if you have what it takes. Or perhaps you already are a business owner and you’re looking to brush up on your skills to ensure you’re doing everything you can to be successful.
Allow us to introduce you to one of the most important aspects of being a business owner: proper communication skills.
Communication is one of the most important aspects of owning a business because you quite literally have to do it every second of the day, no matter what. From the moment you inquire with a franchise network about owning a business to the moment you welcome your first customer in your doors, you are communicating. Without the proper communication skills, you are setting yourself up for potential failure.
Here are just a few tips to ensure that you are the best communicator possible.
– Communicate with confidence and intention.
It’s important to ensure that when you are speaking to someone (whether verbally, nonverbally, or in writing), you are doing so with a purpose. What we mean by this is that you have a clear purpose for your communication and that you are speaking with confidence in the fact that you will get that message across. For example, if you are trying to speak with a customer about your services, you should be confident in your ability to describe your services and how they will benefit and enrich his or her life.
– Nonverbal communication is just as important as verbal communication.
Remember to smile, make eye contact, and be engaged. People pick up on body language relatively quickly, so ensure that you are taking every opportunity to show them that you care about speaking with them. If you are speaking to a client about a concern he or she may have about your business, make sure you treat that client with the same respect you would want if you were in his or her shoes.
– Understand the difference between undercommunicating and overcommunicating.
This one is a bit more tricky, because some people tend to overcommunicate and others tend to lean towards undercommunicating. Both of these can lead to misunderstandings, which ultimately can be detrimental to a business. For example, if you are trying to boost morale on your team by getting to know your employees on a personal basis, try to remember that you should get to know them in a professional way. Remember to give details when they are needed, but ultimately know how to read cues that you may be sharing a bit too much, which leads us to our last point.
– Communication = listening, as well as speaking.
Just as we pointed out that it is important to pick up on the cues between overcommunicating and undercommunicating, we encourage you to pay attention to cues between communicating and listening! If you are trying to have an open conversation with your employees or a client/customer of yours, it’s important to listen to them when they are speaking, just as they did for you. Listening to their thoughts and feelings allows you to interpret and decipher, while gathering your thoughts. Remember: while listening to the other person, try to really be engaged. If you mind starts to wander, try to bring yourself back to the present moment and the conversation at hand. This can take a bit of practice.
At the end of the day, communication comes naturally for some, while it may take a bit of work for others, and that is perfectly OK. At F45 Training, we help our franchisees understand the basics of successful communication and how it can ultimately help them become the best version of themselves, personally and professionally, when they communicate at a top-tier level. Our franchise owners take pride in their ability to problem solve, communicate, and ultimately conquer whatever obstacle they may face.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can own your own business and become a part of our F45 family, simply reach out to us today. We are ready to help you become the best version of YOU!
Successful Communication for Business Owners
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