Business Blogging Excellence

All too often we face people and don’t even realize what we are doing when we talk to others. Many people believe they are good speakers, but are you really? Below are 7 simple good tips for conversation that everyone should know, but don’t always practice. Take a look at them for yourself and see where you stand.

1. Listen! This is the first point for a reason. You may be really excited to tell someone about yourself or your business but give some room for the other person to talk first. Remember, people like to hear themselves. Also, this shows the person that you care, and the person will be more willing to hear your side. Don’t worry, you’ll have your chance to talk when they are through speaking. Just listen first, and who knows…you may learn something!
2. Make Eye Contact, but don’t stare. While it is true that you do not want your eyes to constantly wander around when speaking, something is to be said of the one who pierces their gaze straight through someone in either a creepy or threatening way.
3. Handshaking. A good firm handshake says a lot about your character. Find that nice balance between being too soft (giving the receiver that unsettling, snake like handshake) and too hard (it’s not good to cripple the hand of the person you are meeting!). This may sound like something you already know, but when you become aware of it you will see how many people don’t follow this.
4. If there are multiple people involved in speaking, make an effort to get everyone involved in the conversation. How often have you been in a situation where two people are talking and one is the odd man out? Try to keep everyone drawn in to keep things dynamic.
5. Remember the person’s name. With so many people you may meet, you may find it hard to keep track of who’s who. An easy way to remember the person’s name is to incorporate their name when speaking to them. This will constantly remind you who you are talking to. “Tell me John, what does your company do?” or “John, how long have you been practicing eastern medicine?” are a few examples.
6. Body language. The other form of communication. Avoid crossing arms. This is a defense mechanism that shows you are uncomfortable, feeling insecure, and setting up barriers. Leave your hands at your sides, or even behind your back is more inviting. Also be aware of your posture, it speaks volumes about your confidence.
7. Be aware of yourself. It is too easy to lose focus when you are deep in an exciting conversation, but you must maintain focus and be aware of your etiquette and behavior in a social situation.

These may all sound like things you’ve heard before, but so few actually follow these cues. Let this blog be a reminder of what dos and don’ts are out there in social situations. It may sound simple, but to some this is amazingly difficult to do. Keep these things in mind next time you engage in conversation and you’ll be amazed at what you see.