Style 101: Ask Michelle
[Fashion and Image Consultant: Michelle Washington, AICI]
Style-ology LLC
www.styleology.net Effective Business Communication
Most conversations are simply monologues delivered in the presence of a witness
~Margaret Miller
Congratulations! After working hard on your resume, working on your interviewing skills, and “dressing the part” you finally got the job! As demonstrated by your interview attire, your physical appearance is an important element used to convey the right message, but what you say and your body language say a lot about you as well. The big question now is: How do I effectively communicate in the business world? It is not necessary to change “who” you are, but you do need to modify how you communicate.
Why do we communicate? Words are power…we use our words to teach, entertain, inform, and to put our thoughts into words that are well understood. A credible speaker can be defined by a large vocabulary, but the speaker should converse appropriately and avoid seeming pretentious by using too many large words. Speaking simply and directly will encourage effective communication without misunderstanding. More importantly, words are useless if they are not pronounced correctly instead of being toppled by a landslide of filler words such as: “uhh,” “umm”, “like,” “you know”…etc.
There are other issues that are common verbal problems as noted by Fabjob (2004):
• Profanity is best left out of business and social settings. Swearing reduces a speaker’s
credibility and distracts from the overall message.
• Slang should be eliminated or, at least, selectively used.
• Jargon or acronyms (abbreviations) should only be used if everyone present understands their meaning. (p.53)
The manner in which we communicate begins with four elements: words, body language, tone, and inflection. I will always remember the sage advice that was passed along to me “say what you mean and mean what you say”, but we often send mixed messages that end with negative results due to a break down in communication. We all have endless examples of when we have asked someone “How are you doing?” and their reply was “I’m fine”. Depending on how the person said “I’m fine” (with tone and inflection), the message received in two simple words could be sarcastic, sad, angry, or happy. According to Albert Mehrabian at the University of California Los Angeles, communication is:
7% -- words
38% -- voice, tone, and inflection
55% --body language
“Quite often, judgments are made about a person’s competence, education, and trustworthiness just by listening to them speak” (Fabjob, 2004, p.52). Communication begins with the speaker. Therefore, the speaker must remember to be direct, keep the message short, voice one idea at a time, and be concise. The receiver of the information must focus on the message, leave behind all judgment, keep an open mind, and wait for the entire message before responding. If these conversation tactics are not properly implemented, common mistakes will hinder productive communication: interrupting, contradicting, obsessive talking, and unsolicited advice.
When communicating face-to-face, body language has a power of its own (excluding cultural influences of body language when doing business in or visiting other countries). “If there is conflict between the words being said and the message communicated by the body, the body is more likely to be believed.” (Fabjob, 2004, p. 55). Body language is noted in several forms of non-verbal communication: facial expressions, hand gestures, body movements, posture, touch, and personal space. Despite our words, our body language intuitively reacts and reveals our state of mind in any situation.
Our ability to communicate can either open or close doors to beneficial relationships. All aspects of communication are important no matter if you are the speaker or the receiver of the information. Therefore, we must be mindful of everything we do or say when communicating. We may not be eloquent speakers such as James Earl Jones or Barbra Jordan, but we can certainly learn to open our minds and rise to the occasion.
References:
Fabjob. (2004). Communication and Behavior. Retrieved May 26, 2006, from the Fabjob
website:
http://www.fabjob.com What is Style-ology?
Michelle Washington, AICI is the creative mind behind Style-ology LLC. This fashion industry professional (turned Fashion and Image Consultant) has distinct skills and knowledge. As a registered and active member of AICI (Association of Image Consultants International), Michelle's forte is in creating a "true style" for clients; which means "being clever" and seeking out unusual shops. Michelle collaborates with top businesses and professionals to facilitate a full transformation for each client from beginning to end. Whether it is a total image makeover, personal shopping, fashion styling, or company speaking engagements; her personal one-on-one comprehensive service is what sets Style-ology LLC above all others.
Do you have questions? “Ask Michelle”:
www.styleology.net
Posted By: Jehan Bunch
Thursday, June 1st 2006 at 9:02AM
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