In this world of social media, is it any wonder how some people have lost the art of communication and speaking clearly, to the point where I could question whether clients understand you at all sometimes, or vice versa.
The casual insertion of slang and lazy words can often make your conversation jointed, and difficult to follow, meaning your reputation can be tarnished or worse still, lost business purely because you were not clear and understood.
Face to face communication and conversation empowers you to not only establish your credibility and knowledge, but gives you the opportunity to establish rapport with your client and encourage her to like, trust and respect you, important if you are serious about building your brand.
Are you a person who uses what I call ‘lazy words’ such as ‘like’ ‘you know’ and ‘okay’ in your conversation? It might be appropriate amongst your friends, but in business, people will judge you on not only how you look but also how you sound. Any inconsistency in these elements can cost you dearly.
If you’re wanting to be perceived as a true professional in a highly competitive industry, minding your language and verbal style of communication can significantly elevate you to the top of the class.
So what must you be mindful of in order to get it right?
- Make sure you pronounce your words clearly. If you are having to recite complex ingredients, learn how to say them properly and explain what they are, in language that your client can understand.
- Open your mouth when you speak and take time to think about what you are saying. Refrain from using common words that can become habit and demonstrate that you can’t find alternative words to express your thoughts.
- Speak kindly to others, give compliments and enunciate your words, don’t cut them short, such as dropping the ‘g’ from words that end in ‘ing’.
Remember, people will give up trying to understand you if it sounds alien. It also makes you sound uneducated and then you run the risk of not being taken seriously.
In the Business4Beauty Professional Program, I have a whole module on communication and how to ensure you are speaking clearly, sounding professional and demonstrating an understanding of your clients needs through effective conversation and choice of words.
After all, if clients are not understanding you, how can your business grow?
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