We have all met at some point a person or more who handle the knack of good conversation. They can talk with anyone about anything in a casual, laid-back manner that immediately sets people at ease. A complete stranger would walk away from such a person feeling that he has known them for years. It is true that some people simply have an innate natural charm, but the art of conversation is a skill that can be handled by anyone with a little help, and practically applied to resume writing too.
Although you might never get a silver-tongue, you can still learn how to have a conversation in ways that would set you apart at company functions and win business partners. You do not have to hire writers to prepare speeches for you. Here are some guidelines and advice on the do’s and don’ts of properly engaging in a business conversation.
Do’s
Provide the context
It’s very important during a conversation to offer the big picture first and then explain the relevance. This way, the person whom you are talking to will understand where he/she might fit into the conversation. Expand on anything that you consider relevant to them, not to you so that you will help them make a decision and make them feel confident about the conversation.
Required info only
Don’t throw a ton of information at you interlocutor. Stick only to what they want, in the way they want. Ensure that the person you are talking to will feel good after the conversation and will think “what a nice person” or “yes, I can trust him/her.”
Listen
Ironically, the art of a good conversation is in the listening, not in the talking. Act interested in who is talking, ask questions that will make them offer the details that you need, listen and nod your head. This that not mean that the conversation has to turn into a monolog and let only your interlocutor speak.
Think before you speak
Many foot-in-mouth moments happen because people do not think before they speak. In a business, conversation, do not say negative remarks about your competition or your former partners. You do not know if your interlocutor might know them or even have business relationships with them.
Remember names
You should use other companies’ and peoples’ names not ‘that marketing company on x street’ or ‘my web guy.’ It’s disrespectful. What you should do is make personal references, thank people who have helped you by using their names and know how to pronounce and spell the names of all companies and people with whom you do business with. If it’s difficult for you, better to make preparation and ask pervious writing help – your secretary to make a list with all the names that you cannot remember.
Be Respectful
Look people in the eye, know their names and nod to make them understand that you know what they are saying. If you communicate in writing, read twice before you sent the message to make sure it does not sound disrespectful or be misinterpreted. When you are on the phone, do not multitask even you think that the person at the end of the line doesn’t know you are. Even if you talk to your assistant don’t use direct words and imperative tone such as ‘write my paper today.’
Don’ts
Don’t talk to just one person in a group
Paying attention to only one person will make the others feel awkward. This does not apply only to visual contact with a single person, but also to topics that only one person would understand, such as inside jokes and things that only that person knows. Choose topics that appeal to everyone.
Don’t be disrespectful
One way to be disrespectful is by looking around the room when someone is being introduced to you or introduces himself/herself. In such a situation you should focus your attention on them. If you need to leave, simply excuse yourself, thank that person and move on gracefully.
No cell phone
Technology plays an important role in our lives, especially for businessmen who have to constantly take calls, reply to emails or text messages. But during business meetings, these actions can be very disruptive to the conversion and send a wrong message to the participants, who might feel offended. Turn off your cell phone during the meeting.
Don’t underestimate the power of email communications
Business communication can also take place through emails, and when you receive hundreds of them, you are more prone to feel information overloaded and answer emails with unstructured, rude, full of typos sentences. No matter how busy you are, think before you reply and make sure you read the entire email. There are many online companies offering writing services if you do not know how to write a professional email.
Don’t react or get upset
It happens many times for conversations to elicit the urge for an emotional response, but getting angry or upset will prevent you from thinking clearly and will put you in a bad light in front of the people involved in the interaction.
Take into account these do’s and don’ts and you will master the skill of a successful business conversation.
About the author:
Samantha Anderson is Educator, blogger and private tutor. She’ s interested in behaviouristic psychology and loves climbing. She spends her free time writing college papers for writing service WriteMyPaper.Today
