{"id":64,"date":"2014-05-29T17:03:00","date_gmt":"2014-05-29T17:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/Blog\/index.php\/2014\/05\/29\/communicating-for-success-10-sure-fire-tips-to-master\/"},"modified":"2023-06-06T16:57:03","modified_gmt":"2023-06-06T15:57:03","slug":"communicating-for-success-10-sure-fire-tips-to-master","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/2014\/05\/29\/communicating-for-success-10-sure-fire-tips-to-master\/","title":{"rendered":"Communicating For Success: 10 Sure-Fire Tips To Master"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-cro1D1x089c\/U4dGW4l0FEI\/AAAAAAAABgo\/wDHIMr8zLQA\/s1600\/Hand+picking+out+letters+of+success++-+freedigitalphotos.net++Arztsamui.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"828\" height=\"733\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:39px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Professionals \u2014 If you have been reading this blog for a while, you&#8217;d be convinced of one fact:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Communication is to your career what water is to sustenance; it&nbsp;is critical for survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">If you are&nbsp;&nbsp;new&nbsp;&nbsp;to&nbsp;&nbsp;this&nbsp;&nbsp;blog&nbsp;&nbsp;and are unsure about the&nbsp;importance of effective communication, then let me ask you&nbsp;a few questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">How often have you needed to clearly convey your&nbsp;ideas\/suggestions\/plans in emails, during meetings or when&nbsp;delivering presentations?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">How many times have you needed to suggest, convince,&nbsp;refute, elaborate, or corroborate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">On how many occasions have you been required to take the&nbsp;lead in a team assignment or in overseeing an initiative?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Chances are that you have needed to do them very often.&nbsp;No, strike that. You do all these things, on a weekly&nbsp;basis, in one form or another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Leaders \u2014 count the numerous times you have been required&nbsp;to do the following:&nbsp;give a speech, conduct&nbsp;brainstorming sessions with your executive cadre, convince&nbsp;the Board (and for some unfortunate few), manage a corporate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Done?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Surely now you realise that being an effective communicator&nbsp;these days is a non-negotiable skill you must acquire, if, like&nbsp;most of us regular folk, you neither are blessed with the gift&nbsp;of the gab nor have the penchant for penning bestsellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">This means that for the majority of us seeking to&nbsp;communicate for success, we must learn this skill with the&nbsp;discipline that is required to learn a new language or&nbsp;to play&nbsp;an instrument. It must be a conscious,&nbsp;&nbsp;deliberate act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">So whether you are a \u2018newbie\u2019 in the corporate jungle or a&nbsp;seasoned professional, below are 10 tips that you should&nbsp;master:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-jD1vSwX5SmU\/U4dGzsRBeaI\/AAAAAAAABgw\/gEz95-hSA8U\/s1600\/Stock+man+on+computer+against+white+bk+-freedigitalphotos.net++David+Castillo+Dominici.jpg?resize=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"820\" height=\"615\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-jD1vSwX5SmU\/U4dGzsRBeaI\/AAAAAAAABgw\/gEz95-hSA8U\/s1600\/Stock+man+on+computer+against+white+bk+-freedigitalphotos.net++David+Castillo+Dominici.jpg\"><\/a><strong>1) Identify your audience and adjust your style as required<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">This is the number one rule for communicating for impact. It&nbsp;also encompasses being aware&nbsp;of cultural nuances when speaking. Remember adopting an&nbsp;informal style does not mean&nbsp;using crude language or&nbsp;slang. Have a \u2018professional\u2019&nbsp;mindset always in issues relating to your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">For the formal style, avoid archaic or redundant terms and&nbsp;use what I would call the&nbsp;<em>modern-formal<\/em> <em>style<\/em>. For&nbsp;example, use &#8216;many lives&#8217; instead of &#8216;many souls&#8217;: &#8216;Many&nbsp;lives perished in the ferry disaster&#8217;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2) Get to your point quickly and use simple,&nbsp;clear language<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Do not waffle on. For speeches\/presentations, capture the interest of your audience&nbsp;at \u2018hello\u2019.&nbsp; Imagine your audience comprises five-year-olds whose attention spans last about a minute.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">For the written word, keep it short and eliminate jargon at all costs. Clarity and brevity must be the rule of thumb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3) Avoid verbal outbursts and never&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>respond when you are angry<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-cUsBy4jh-t8\/U4dHIRkNZpI\/AAAAAAAABg4\/yZloU73QE5I\/s1600\/Quarelling+businessmen+-+freedigitalphotos.net++Jesadaphorn.jpg?resize=640%2C640&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"823\" height=\"823\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-cUsBy4jh-t8\/U4dHIRkNZpI\/AAAAAAAABg4\/yZloU73QE5I\/s1600\/Quarelling+businessmen+-+freedigitalphotos.net++Jesadaphorn.jpg\"><\/a>Do not engage in a shouting match at work with colleagues, no matter how aggrieved you are. Likewise, do not send a&nbsp;text or an email when you are angry, no matter how justified you feel. It is always counter-productive and after&nbsp;the storm has subsided, your reputation for being a rational,&nbsp;professional being would be tarnished, with the real possibility&nbsp;of being passed over for leadership roles. Basically, if you&nbsp;cannot manage your emotions, you lack the skills required for&nbsp;high-responsibility duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4) Do not underestimate non-verbal cues<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Learn to curb non-verbal cues that convey negative&nbsp;messages. Shifting eyes, fidgeting, slumping in a chair, an&nbsp;expressionless face \u2014&nbsp;&nbsp;all communicate a lack of confidence, an&nbsp;aloofness, and a notion that you are untrustworthy.&nbsp;You may not be aware of these slips, so do not get&nbsp;defensive when a well-intentioned colleague or friend points them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1hNqAptogOA\/U4dHjuex4zI\/AAAAAAAABhA\/eEVI7VxhK5g\/s1600\/Man+leaning+against+red+question+mark+-+freedigitalphotos.net++Master+Isolated+Images.jpg?resize=640%2C640&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"817\" height=\"817\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1hNqAptogOA\/U4dHjuex4zI\/AAAAAAAABhA\/eEVI7VxhK5g\/s1600\/Man+leaning+against+red+question+mark+-+freedigitalphotos.net++Master+Isolated+Images.jpg\"><\/a>Cultivate desirable traits such as smiling, active listening, maintaining eye&nbsp;contact, looking into the camera, being humble and&nbsp;gracious, and having a pleasant&nbsp;demeanour. Being likeable is beneficial to your career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5) In all written communications (emails,&nbsp;memos, letters, reports, statements or&nbsp;&nbsp;press releases) \u2014<\/strong> <strong>check your&nbsp;grammar multiple times and do not&nbsp;simply rely on spell checks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Ensure that the meanings of the words are given in the right&nbsp;context:&nbsp;<em>semantics <\/em>(<em>\u2018<\/em>cite\u2019 vs. \u2018site<em>\u2019 vs<\/em>.<em> \u2018<\/em>sight\u2019). Moreover, the word order\/structure should not clumsy: s<em>yntax (\u2018The man to&nbsp;whom the complaints were made\u2019, <\/em>and&nbsp;not<em>&nbsp;\u2018The man who the<\/em> <em>complaints were made to\u2019).<\/em><br><br>Remember that your message should \u2018flow\u2019 logically from&nbsp;one&nbsp;short paragraph to another. In order words, be coherent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6) The more important the recipient is, the&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>more formal the language should be&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Nonetheless, use the <em>modern-formal style<\/em> mentioned above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Verify the correct spelling of the name of the recipients and their official designations before penning the document&nbsp;accordingly. For requests, state the purpose of the document&nbsp;in the subject line and in the first sentence. Rephrase&nbsp;the request&nbsp;a last time at the end of the document as a \u2018call-to-action\u2019 feature.&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/2013\/11\/28\/overcoming-our-phobia-of-formal-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mastering formal writing<\/a>&nbsp;takes practice but&nbsp;it is attainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7) Give feedback whether requested or not<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-0U9-8N65e9A\/U4dJOobgC-I\/AAAAAAAABhM\/ay2CKmr3Y3g\/s1600\/Blue+puzzled+feedback+-+freedigitalphotos.net+Stuart+Miles.jpg?resize=640%2C504&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"821\" height=\"647\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-0U9-8N65e9A\/U4dJOobgC-I\/AAAAAAAABhM\/ay2CKmr3Y3g\/s1600\/Blue+puzzled+feedback+-+freedigitalphotos.net+Stuart+Miles.jpg\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">But only give&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/2013\/09\/28\/feedback-the-most-important-facet-in-communications\/\" target=\"_blank\">timely and factual feedback<\/a>. Do not wait until the information is favourable, or until you have all the facts. This is particularly important in a team project and during a crisis. For example, providing feedback during a team project facilitates cooperation. Difficulties are easily&nbsp;identified and solutions are provided for successful&nbsp;completion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">In a crisis, timely and factual feedback eliminates speculation&nbsp;and diminishes backlash. For leaders, providing feedback&nbsp;and addressing crucial issues demonstrate empathy for&nbsp;those affected by the crisis, as well as credible leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Case in point: General Motors\u2019 new CEO,&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/mobile.nytimes.com\/2014\/03\/19\/business\/gm-creates-a-global-vehicle-safety-position.html?_r=1&amp;referrer=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mary Barra\u2019s unreserved apology and pledge to the safety&nbsp;process<\/a>&nbsp;following 12 deaths that were linked to faulty ignition&nbsp;switches, leading to the massive recall of 1.6 million cars in&nbsp;the US and Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Then in May 2014,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marketwatch.com\/story\/gm-to-recall-another-24-million-vehicles-2014-05-20?link=sfmw\" target=\"_blank\">another batch of 2.4 million cars was recalled in the U.S<\/a>&nbsp;as the company continued to tackle&nbsp;safety concerns. The embattled CEO was also required to&nbsp;give a statement in a&nbsp;congressional hearing, which although&nbsp;daunting, was handled with notable professionalism. Her&nbsp;communication was  succinct and confident, but&nbsp;reassuring. She perfected the art of communicating&nbsp;feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">To be considered a trustworthy, proactive leader, you must&nbsp;cultivate the habit of giving feedback.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>8) Have a good communications strategy<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">This tip is for you CEOs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Even if your organisation&nbsp;has an effective communications&nbsp;team, it is a good idea that you have your own&nbsp;communications strategy to communicate your vision to the&nbsp;company. This is because you are the most important driver&nbsp;of perceptions. Having a clear idea of the basic components of a&nbsp;communications strategy would make it easier for you to&nbsp;drive organisation-wide acceptance and direct your&nbsp;communications team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">The six components of the&nbsp;&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/2012\/03\/24\/communications-strategy-paving-the-way-to-a-healthy-corporate-image\/\" target=\"_blank\">Communications Strategy<\/a>&nbsp;that I recommended by this blog\u2014\u2018The What&#8217;,&nbsp;\u2018The Why\u2019,&nbsp;&nbsp;\u2018The&nbsp;Who\u2019, \u2018The How\u2019, \u2018The When\/How Long\u2019, and \u2018The Crisis-Mode Plan\u2019\u2014tackle key issues of any proposed initiative. Adopt them on a regular basis.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>9) Embrace social media<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Social media is here to stay so you cannot ignore it any longer.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">LinkedIn is not just for job seekers (check out&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/barackobama\" target=\"_blank\">President Obama\u2019s Linkedin profile<\/a>),&nbsp;neither is Facebook only for \u2018young people\u2019. (Check out&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.jeffbullas.com\/2011\/03\/17\/what-is-a-facebook-like-worth-for-your-business\/\" target=\"_blank\">the post by Jeff Bullas analysing the worth of a Facebook \u201cLike\u201d for a business<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-FZ3vdTnuQv4\/U4dOHXf4fJI\/AAAAAAAABhY\/Vbz2BJyspKA\/s1600\/Cartoon+man+with+open+head+of+web+icons+-+freedigitalphotos.net++Iosphere.jpg?resize=640%2C640&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"812\" height=\"812\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-FZ3vdTnuQv4\/U4dOHXf4fJI\/AAAAAAAABhY\/Vbz2BJyspKA\/s1600\/Cartoon+man+with+open+head+of+web+icons+-+freedigitalphotos.net++Iosphere.jpg\"><\/a>In the same vein, Twitter is not simply for celebrities. It would&nbsp;interest you to note that the well-known Twitter hashtag&nbsp;campaign, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/blogs-trending-27392955\" target=\"_blank\">#BringBackOurGirls<\/a> triggered an international outcry in May 2014 against the shocking abduction of 200+ Nigerian schoolgirls by the terrorist group Book Haram in the previous month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">The social media campaign had far-reaching influence beyond the digital world and caught the&nbsp;attention of celebrities, politicians, and governments. It resulted&nbsp;in the provision of intelligence, support, and resources from&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/mashable.com\/2014\/05\/13\/u-s-nigeria-missing-girls\/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link\" target=\"_blank\">U.S<\/a>, UK, China, and France to assist the Nigerian authorities to locate the captive girls.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">The good news in social media is that you will be spoilt for&nbsp;choice given the numerous platforms available. Therefore,&nbsp;identify those that are most relevant to your business and key&nbsp;stakeholders and use  them wisely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">The bad news is, well ignore the social media revolution and&nbsp;you and your company could&nbsp;be losing out in a big way on influence and \u2018social proof\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Whether it is&nbsp;getting \u2018likes\u2019 on Facebook, \u2018retweets\u2019 on&nbsp;Twitter, \u2018mentions\u2019 on&nbsp; Google+,&nbsp;&nbsp;\u2018repins\u2019 on Pinterest, or&nbsp;\u2018followers\u2019 on others, getting validation on social media&nbsp;boosts reputations, promotes brands, and as some have&nbsp;sworn,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/heidicohen.com\/proof-that-social-media-drives-sales-research\/?utm_source=buffer&amp;utm_medium=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=Buffer&amp;utm_content=buffer2a965\" target=\"_blank\">social media drives sales<\/a>. Therefore, to&nbsp;communicate effectively by interacting and engaging with your&nbsp;stakeholders in an authentic way, in real time on social media.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>10) Practise, practise, practise!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Practice is essential for boosting your confidence, so make&nbsp;deliberate attempts to improve your communication skills.<br><br>You&nbsp;should read regularly and even outside your field if you are serious about becoming a great communicator. Reading materials could include short stories, blog posts, articles, white papers, journals, newspapers, books and e-books.&nbsp;Take&nbsp;your pick. What is essential for favourable results is consistency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">If your career is steeped in journalism, editing, PR,&nbsp;communications etc. then you should also read extensively.&nbsp;You must have heard the saying that if you want to become a&nbsp;better writer, then you need to read a great deal. In this way,&nbsp;you expose yourself to great vocabulary, different styles, and&nbsp;nuances you will subconsciously draw upon for your work. It&nbsp;would also help you discover your \u2018voice\u2019 and \u2018tone\u2019 that&nbsp;make you unique, even when your content is not original. Do&nbsp;not forget to brush up on your grammar as well. Did you&nbsp;notice the subtle difference between using \u2018practise\u2019 as the title of this tip and \u2018practice\u2019 in the first line?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">The same advice holds true for your verbal and non-verbal&nbsp;communication: practise. When a flaw is pointed out, correct&nbsp;it, and then practise the new \u2018habit\u2019. With time, practice would&nbsp;make \u2018incredible\u2019. It may not be perfect (we should&nbsp;always strive to improve our skills) but perfection is&nbsp;overrated anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-justify\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-8PYm1wKYJwI\/U4dQ9G4WlPI\/AAAAAAAABhk\/f-s_zURMRZg\/s1600\/Business+people+shaking+hands+with+upward+arrow+in+bk+-+freedigitalphotos.net++Phanlop88.jpg?resize=640%2C580&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"814\" height=\"739\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-8PYm1wKYJwI\/U4dQ9G4WlPI\/AAAAAAAABhk\/f-s_zURMRZg\/s1600\/Business+people+shaking+hands+with+upward+arrow+in+bk+-+freedigitalphotos.net++Phanlop88.jpg\"><\/a>Good communication skills are global prerequisites for successful careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Whether you are an entrepreneur or&nbsp;trudging along in&nbsp;\u2018Corporateville\u2019 or&nbsp;holding public office, whether you are a&nbsp;millennial or a corporate leader, you must communicate for success. With these tips in your arsenal,&nbsp;you are well on your way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:31px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\"><strong>What other communications tips do you know? Kindly post your comments below, anonymously if you prefer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Don\u2019t rush off just yet. Please remember to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">1) Share this article in your social media networks by clicking on the icons below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">2) Sign up for updates in the blog\u2019s right sidebar so that you are&nbsp;<em>immediately<\/em>&nbsp;notified via email when a new blog post is published. Never miss an article again!<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:37px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\"><em><strong>Recommended reading<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/2012\/12\/25\/workplace-communications-6-tips-on-what-not-to-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Workplace Communication: 6 Tips On What NOT To Do<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:31px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\"><br><strong><em>Need help in writing?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Hire me for a writing assignment, some consulting work and\/or coaching sessions in formal writing and communications. There are two ways to do this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">A) Send an<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>email&nbsp;to <a href=\"mailto:Lucilleossai@gmail.com\">Lucilleossai@gmail.com<\/a>.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">B) Call for advice and a\u00a0<em>free<\/em> consultation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\"><strong><br><\/strong>Nigeria: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0704 631 0592<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">International:&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;+234 704 631 0592<br><strong><br><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\"><strong><u>N.B-<\/u><\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;First image is courtesy of Arztsamui via&nbsp;&nbsp;freedigitalphotos.net.&nbsp; Second image is courtesy of David Castillo Dominici via freedigitalphotos.net. Third image is courtesy of Jesadaphorn via freedigitalphotos.net.&nbsp; Fourth image is courtesy of Master Isolated Images via freedigitalphotos.net.&nbsp; Fifth image is courtesy of Stuart Miles via freedigitalphotos.net.&nbsp;Sixth image is courtesy of Iosphere via freedigitalphotos.net. Last image is courtesy of Phanlop88 via freedigitalphotos.net.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Improving your communication skills would take your career to new heights. Master these sure-fire tips for success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[481,494,495,577,583,724,757,766,811,832],"class_list":["post-64","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-ceos","tag-communications","tag-communications-strategy","tag-feedback","tag-formal-writing","tag-professionals","tag-social-media","tag-success","tag-verbal-communication","tag-written-communications"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15,"url":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/14\/six-years-of-blogging-via-a-treasure-trove-of-insightful-articles\/","url_meta":{"origin":64,"position":0},"title":"Six Years Of Blogging Via A Treasure Trove Of Insightful Articles","author":"Lucille Ossai","date":"March 14, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The Rethinking Business Communications Blog is six! Celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Rethinking Business Communications Blog with the author with free access to a treasure trove of exclusive, didactic content in the field.","rel":"","context":"In \"business writing\"","block_context":{"text":"business writing","link":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/tag\/business-writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Happy2B6th2Bbirthday2B-2Bfreedigitalphotos.net2BStuart2BMiles.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Happy2B6th2Bbirthday2B-2Bfreedigitalphotos.net2BStuart2BMiles.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Happy2B6th2Bbirthday2B-2Bfreedigitalphotos.net2BStuart2BMiles.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54,"url":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/28\/three-years-of-blogging-in-memorable-quotes-part-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":64,"position":1},"title":"Three Years Of Blogging&#8230;In Memorable Quotes  (PART 1)","author":"Lucille Ossai","date":"March 28, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The Rethinking Business Communications Blog is celebrating its third anniversary. 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Global 4-Domain Communication Skills Rating Tool uses cultural intelligence and four equations to boost careers and business results.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;assessment&quot;","block_context":{"text":"assessment","link":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/category\/assessment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-Communication-Equations-A-Lucille-Ossai.png?fit=625%2C549&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-Communication-Equations-A-Lucille-Ossai.png?fit=625%2C549&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-Communication-Equations-A-Lucille-Ossai.png?fit=625%2C549&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29,"url":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/28\/career-advancement-be-the-purple-cow\/","url_meta":{"origin":64,"position":4},"title":"Career Advancement: Be The &#8216;Purple Cow&#8217;","author":"Lucille Ossai","date":"February 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"You may not have read the book Purple Cow\u00a0by marketing expert, bestselling author, successful entrepreneur and renowned blogger, Seth Godin. 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To celebrate the blog\u2019s journey, Lucille Ossai highlights the blog\u2019s awards. She also provides quotes from original articles published in the blog\u2019s seventh year. Read the insightful posts, build your knowledge and sharpen your business communication skills.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;communication&quot;","block_context":{"text":"communication","link":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/category\/communication\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Tick-on-done-freedigitalphotos.net-Stuart-Miles.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paARmI-12","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4386,"href":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions\/4386"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}