How to Improve Your Business Communication Skills
Whatever your business may be, communication is key. It makes everything run more smoothly and ensures you are all on the right page, but how do you communicate more effectively in your business?
1. Drop the Corporate Robot Voice—You’re Human, Remember?
Okay, so you’re going to want, first and foremost, to stop talking like you’ve swallowed the entire Oxford English Dictionary and followed it with a side of corporate buzzwords. We’ve all cringed at the colleague who can’t get through a sentence without mentioning “synergy”, “leverage”, or “blue-sky thinking.” They might think they sound like the CEO of the century, but to everyone else, they’re about as engaging as a broken toaster.
Try stripping out the nonsense. Speak like you would to a real human being—because, shockingly, that’s who you’re talking to. If you’re delivering a presentation, imagine you’re explaining the concept to your nan or your best mate down at the pub. Keep it simple, keep it lively, and keep it relatable. Real people appreciate real language.
2. Master the Art of Listening
Here’s a not-so-secret secret: great communication isn’t just about talking. It’s also about letting other people get a word in edgeways. If your idea of a conversation is waiting impatiently for the other person to stop waffling so you can jump back in, you’re doing it wrong.
Active listening shows respect, builds trust, and helps you understand what’s actually going on. Nod along, make the occasional “Mmm,” and ask clarifying questions. Resist the urge to fiddle with your phone or mentally plan what you’re having for dinner. (Though, if it’s takeaway curry, I applaud your taste.) By genuinely listening, you’ll come across as an empathetic and engaging conversationalist—even if you’re just as clueless as everyone else.
3. Embrace Non-Verbal Communications
Your words are important, but your body language often does the heavy lifting. Arms folded and hunched shoulders can scream “I’d rather eat a box of stale biscuits than talk to you right now.” To convey confidence and warmth, try the following:
- Make Eye Contact: Not the creepy staring kind, just enough to show you’re listening. Think “friendly Labrador” rather than “serial killer in a horror film.”
- Open Posture: Unfold those arms, relax your shoulders, and maybe even tilt your head a bit. Let your body say, “I’m here for you,” rather than “I’m plotting my escape.”
- Smile (Genuinely): A fake grin that looks like you’ve smelt something suspicious won’t help your cause. A real smile, on the other hand, can defuse tension, show sincerity, and make you look approximately 72% more approachable.
4. The Art of Storytelling
If you’ve ever caught yourself drifting off during a meeting that’s just a series of dry facts and statistics, you understand the power of storytelling. Humans love stories. We’ve been gathered around fires telling tales since, well, forever. So why not use that ancient superpower in the office?
When you need to explain a concept, sell an idea, or inspire a team, try framing it as a story. Introduce a challenge, highlight a hero, add a dash of drama, and top it off with a triumphant conclusion. Stories help people remember information and, crucially, they make your message more engaging.
5. Perfect the ‘Email Tone’: Not Too Cold, Not Too Matey
We’ve all received those dreaded emails that read like a court summons—formal to the point of frostiness. Alternatively, there’s the other extreme: emails that are so casual you wonder if the sender composed them mid-pub crawl. Aim for a happy medium. Polite but friendly, professional but human. Use the person’s name, chuck in a “hope you’re well,” and maybe even a compliment or two if it’s appropriate.
And for the love of tea, check your spelling. Sending an email riddled with typos and grammar mistakes is like turning up to a job interview in a grubby tracksuit. Sure, you might be a genius, but first impressions count.
6. Embrace Professional Development
You don’t have to figure out how to improve your business communication skills all by yourself. There’s a whole world of courses, workshops, and coaching programmes waiting to transform you from stuttering amateur to suave professional.
If you are thinking about training the be a qualified coach, it is worth considering the ILM Coaching & Mentoring qualification options. These programmes can help you develop not only your communication style but also your leadership and mentoring abilities—handy if you fancy not just talking the talk, but coaching others to do the same.
Don’t worry, “professional development” doesn’t have to mean stuffing yourself into a cardigan and nodding seriously in a cold, grey seminar room. Plenty of training options are fun, interactive, and—dare I say—actually enlightening.
7. Humour: Use Sparingly (But Do Use It)
While some workplaces might think “fun” is a dirty word (the sort you’d never mention in front of the CEO), a little bit of humour can go a long way. When used skillfully, it can lighten the mood, break down barriers, and put people at ease. Just make sure you keep it appropriate—no rude jokes, no picking on people, and certainly no meme references that would make your mum blush.
Think of humour as seasoning: a pinch of wit can enhance your communication, while shovelling it on with abandon might leave everyone feeling overwhelmed and slightly concerned about your judgment.
8. Clarity is King (Or Queen)
Want to sound impressive? You don’t need to use words longer than the Thames. Simply focus on clarity. Be direct and honest. State your purpose right off the bat. If you’re asking for something, say what you need and why. If you’re explaining a policy, lay it out in plain English so everyone can understand.
People are busy; they don’t have time to decode cryptic hints and vague statements. Think of every conversation and piece of writing as a puzzle you’ve already solved for your audience. Hand them the solution on a platter and watch your reputation as a great communicator rise faster than inflation.
9. Adapt to Your Audience (No One-Size-Fits-All)
What works for your team of digital creatives might not work when you’re presenting to the finance department. Your clients might appreciate some playful banter, while your board of directors would rather see raw data and key takeaways. The trick is to adapt your style to whoever’s in front of you.
If you’re unsure, do a bit of homework. Learn who you’re talking to, what they care about, and what kind of tone suits them. It might feel like a bit of extra work, but your audience will thank you for not speaking to them as though they’re a carbon copy of everyone else.
Better communication, better business!