It happened around 10 a.m.one sunny Saturday morning in March 2012 in Lagos, Nigeria.
Nine years ago this month, I instinctively whipped open my Blackberry device and began to write my first article. Eight hours later, after editing and honing my thoughts, I hit the ‘Publish’ button and the Rethinking Business Communications Blog was born.
And for each month for nine years, I have sat down to share my thoughts on effective communication to help you continue to influence people and thrive in your career and business.
But I’ve also benefitted from this habit. The process of constantly researching, reading and sharing my experiences has helped me to improve my communication skills. I’ve come to realise that mastery in communication is elusive. Nonetheless, if you’re desirous of steady progress in your nonverbal, public speaking and business writing skills, then you’d need to commit to the discipline of self-improvement and continuous learning.
But be encouraged: The results you’ll get as you prod along in your journey will be worth it. From becoming more self-confident in your delivery to winning hearts, changing minds and rallying support for your worthy causes – excellent communication makes things happen. I believe so strongly in its power that last month, I published my first business communication blueprint, ‘Influence and Thrive’, which is available on Amazon and other international outlets. More on that at the end of this article.
The bottom line is that on this blog, you’d continue to benefit from the latest insights, research and best practices of business communication, which will equip you to achieve great feats in your field.
So as has been my tradition since the blog’s first anniversary, I’m sharing quotes from articles posted in the months leading to this blog’s ninth year. If you read the articles that resonate with you and consistently implement recommendations, you’ll be amazed at the results you’ll get.
Let’s dive in:
1) “In virtual meetings or conferences, realise that good posture is benefiting of your position – so sit up straight with feet ‘planted’ on the ground. You’d want to project confidence and firmness.”
Post:
Virtually Speaking – Five Ways To Motivate Your Teams In The COVID-19 Era
Date:
April 2020
URL:
Description:
During this COVID-19 lockdown, you as a business leader would increasingly need to communicate virtually to inspire teams to action. Learn five ways to communicate effectively in this crisis.
2) “Limit your sentences to 20 words where feasible. Note that the longer the sentence, the more difficult it becomes to read – unless you use additional punctuation to break up ‘walls’ of text.”
Post:
Compel Results With Persuasive Business Writing
Date:
May 2020
URL:
3) “Always build a clear CTA into your piece, otherwise, your audience will be unsure of how to proceed – and so will do nothing.”
Post:
Writing To Elevate Your Corporate Brand? Trigger Results With These Three Techniques
Date:
June 2020
URL:
4) “Remember that no matter how loyal your customers have been, they would switch to your competitor if you don’t show you care.”
Post:
Let’s Talk About Brand Loyalty
Date:
July 2020
URL:
Description:
As a brand, you know the power of social media in keeping your customers committed. But how should you handle negative reviews? In this post, learn how to handle complaints online so that you coax loyalty to your products.
5) “How well you handle polarising views and gently stir discussions to the issues being considered is a skill my father displayed – and one I hope to hone as a communications professional.”
Post:
Communication Lessons From My Father
Date:
August 2020
URL:
6) “Writing fills the average Nigerian with dread. Whether it involves essays…filling in application forms…or writing letters to service providers…we Nigerians try to avoid writing tasks as much as possible.”
Post:
What Nigerians Need to Know About Effective Communication
Date:
September 2020
URL:
7) “Instead of worrying about how (unfairly) you’d be judged by your audience…concentrate on how to help them. Offer the most value by using the foundational question to frame your content. This tactic will amplify your confidence and free you to become exceptional in your delivery.”
Post:
The One Question That Will Transform Your Communication
Date:
October 2020
URL:
Description:
Many techniques abound for communicating with impact. But the foundational question is the one question that will ensure relevance and amplify your delivery. Find out how you can use it to get surefire results.
8) “Staff who are in the frontlines – who deal directly with the public, must be trained in interpersonal communication skills and emotional intelligence. They should also be empowered to offer creative solutions.”
Post:
How To Elevate Your Customer Services With Effective Communication
Date:
November 2020
URL:
9) “Lesson #1: Good health trumps everything else…”
Post:
Three Simple, Profound Lessons From 2020 To Enhance Your Life
Date:
December 2020
URL:
10) “The three critical needs your virtual audience members secretly wish you’d address: The need to be informed (in an entertaining way)…”
Post:
How To Wow Your Virtual Audience By Addressing Three Critical Needs
Date:
January 2021
URL:
11) “…First thing’s first: realise that it IS possible to get the nod from people who are beyond your circles of Influence – people you’re unlikely to meet or be introduced to.”
Post:
How To Write To Capture The Attention Of Influential People
Date:
February 2021
URL:
Conclusion
So in my ninth year of blogging, I’m still convinced that superb communication skills set you apart from your peers and signals your influence from afar.
Therefore, I urge you to stay the course and to remain resolute in the continuous improvement of your communication skills.
The one message that’s echoed in all the articles listed in this post is clear. It’s also my mantra:
Take action today to improve your skills because you cannot wish your communication problems away.
I’d be back next month with more valuable content to help you thrive.
Exciting news: My new business communication book ‘Influence and Thrive’ has been published!
I mentioned this earlier.
I’ve published my first business communication book. It took me two years and four months from the day I began writing impulsively, to the month it was published (February 2021). The book tackles nonverbal communication, public speaking, and business writing for two target audiences: professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders in the first group, and corporations and organisations in the second group.
Grab your copy today. The book, ’Influence and Thrive: How Professionals, Entrepreneurs, Business Leaders, & Corporations Use Effective Communication To Get Results’, is available on Amazon in Kindle, paperback and hardback versions, at Barnes & Noble, on Kobo, and in many other international outlets.
And don’t forget to check out the ‘Influence and Thrive’ website for all information about the book, including the trailer, advance reviews, exclusive offers to Nigerian residents, and how to contact me. Then email me your thoughts on how to intend to apply the foolproof techniques I recommend in the book to get the results you deserve. I’d also appreciate your reviews on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, Goodreads, and other platforms.
Note to Nigerian residents:
You can buy a special colour ebook/PDF directly from the website and pay in naira. (I believe this colour version is better than Amazon’s Kindle format because it retains the original stylistic elements from the book designer). The payment platform is powered by Paystack (now a member of the Stripe family) so your financial transactions are secure.
Soon, I’d be supplying books to selected bookstores in Nigeria who’d ensure nationwide delivery, so you’d be able to receive copies quicker.
Over to you:
Do you need help in boosting your business writing skills? Sign up here for my free quarterly newsletters and learn best practices. When you sign up, you’ll receive my evergreen resource on giving persuasive presentations. Ensure you download that document and refer to it before any high-stakes presentation or speech.
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N.B: First image is courtesy of Clker via Pixabay. Second, third and fourth images are courtesy of Gerd Altmann, via Pixabay.