Communication is a premium asset in entrepreneurship; successful leadership demands it.
Entrepreneurial tycoons like Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Jack Welch of GE, and the late Steve Jobs of Apple all share something in common.
They articulate an ethos about the importance of communication.
How can your verbal and nonverbal communication skills create a higher potential for success in your business?
When delivering the perfect business pitch, employees use various communication strategies. Aim to achieve the highest momentum of influence amongst investors. Effective communication is transferring information clearly and enabling receivers to understand the subject matter in the same sense as the deliverer. Powerful communicators master the technique of demanding the attention of the room.
As an entrepreneur and influencer, getting people to listen to what you have to say is vital to success.
This article highlights unique ways to improve your communication skills in any setting readily.
THE BASICS OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
It’s important to note that your audience is also listening to what you are not saying audibly. According to research, about 55 percent of presenter’s evaluations are based on nonverbal communication.
Physical cues are critical because they reveal confidence.
Four Confidence Builders
- Proper posture
- Standing tall without slouching
- Proper arm placement
- Good eye contact
Nonverbal communication is not just about body language; it includes appearance and facial gestures.
Your expressions send inaudible messages.
In addition to your words, your tone will also determine how your message is perceived when presenting.
As a result, your nonverbal delivery is just as important as verbal dialogue.
Remember the key aspects of nonverbal delivery are:
- The clothes you wear and how you wear them
- Your unconscious facial expressions and body gestures
- The ability to maintain eye contact and proper voice tones
- Good posture and proper distance between you and your audience.
Folding your arms is a sure way to get an unwanted response. Using nonverbal cues can work toward your advantage or disadvantage.
Communicating with excitement and enthusiasm creates a more significant impact on your audience.
The manner in which you deliver your message can often surpass the message itself.
Positive nonverbal communication draws people in and builds relationships, whereas the converse lends itself to conflict and distance.
Make sure you are employing effective verbal and nonverbal communication to lock in the commitment of investors.
OVER-COMMUNICATING VS. RELYING ON VISUAL AIDS
Studies show that it is essential to over-communicate when sharing new ideas. Otherwise, no one will remember your pitch.
Make your delivery catchy so that your audience will absorb as much as possible.
One way to create a catchy presentation is to use storytelling.
Using powerful words, compelling storytelling, and nonverbal cues to communicate your point is necessary.
Visual aids can be effective, but don’t compare to the impact of what listeners hear and feel during a powerfully persuasive delivery.
ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE FOR FEEDBACK
Be mindful that people have limited attention spans. You may be a great presenter, but you’ll still need to make your presentation interactive.
Ask questions.
Conduct interactive sessions where your audience is encouraged to speak out, even with hypothetical questions to more thoroughly and creatively engage them with the topic.
Create a climate where you foster feedback.
Good leadership requires honest feedback, and it’s critical to becoming a better communicator.
Engaging your audience and generating feedback will help you improve your pitch from one presentation to the next.
MASTER THE ART OF TIMING
Don’t be long-winded, but always take time in the end to reiterate your key points – this is your elevator pitch.
Be transparent and humorous – standup comedians are some of the best communicators.
Comedians have a limited amount of time to engage and captivate their audience. As a result, they master the art of timing.
Like all great communicators, determine when to move on to a new topic.
Know when to reiterate the details of your idea.
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
Get comfortable speaking impromptu. While it takes practice, it allows for more natural communication.
Impromptu speaking will help your audience engage – this is how you get to know your audience.
Getting to know the investors you are presenting to is an integral part of the process.
Interaction is essential, and adding originality improves audience retention.
People generally retain more information when what they are presented with is fresh and creative, as opposed to mundane.
Focus on earning respect, as opposed to laughs.
Lighthearted communication is tempting, but successful entrepreneurs know the importance of earning respect.
It’s okay to include a joke but always conclude with a reiteration.
COMMUNICATION IS CRITICAL TO YOUR BUSINESS PITCH
Communicating is one of the most effective skills you can cultivate as a business leader.
Visit www.PitchMasterAcademy.com to learn how to perfect your business pitch.
Remember to communicate using nonverbal and verbal cues.
Listen carefully to what others have to say and over-communicate in novel ways to ensure the content of the conversation sticks with the audience.
Most importantly, remember to be an active listener to connect with your audience and investors.
Experts at Pitch Masters Academy will teach you all the strategies needed to build the perfect pitch deck and gain the capital necessary for your business ideas to succeed.