Ladies, have you ever heard your spouse say, “I can’t read your mind”?
A lot of communications problems are caused by trying to read people’s minds or expecting them to read yours. Problems like that can quickly sink a brilliant project or proposal in the business world. A good business leader is someone who can get people to respond to their ideas in a positive way. To do that you have to be able to say what your ideas are, say what you need to achieve them and say it in a way that doesn’t alienate people.
That means you have to be assertive. Here are some tips for achieving assertiveness.
Step 1 – Speak in a way that makes your message clear.
Don’t be wishy-washy about what you want to say. Remember the confidence factor I mentioned earlier? You have to know your own mind before you can get your message across. When you want to communicate clearly look the other person in the eye. In a calm tone of voice say what you want. Body language also speaks volumes so be aware of it. Are your arms crossed in a defensive way? Are your shoulders slouched? Both of those postures indicate that you’re insecure.
Step 2 – Become a good listener.
Good communicators are good listeners. An assertive leader who truly listens to what others are saying is someone who garners loyalty and respect. When we listen closely to another person they feel validated and that they are a valued member of the team.
There are two other steps for assertiveness that I’ll tell you about next time.
Learn, Experience, Enjoy Global Success !
Jinsoo Terry
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