Communication: An Opportunity or an Obstacle?

Everything we say or do not say, do or do not do, is OUR PRESENTATION.

And not just our personal presentation, but also the presentation of the company we represent.

To a large extent, it depends on US whether the COMMUNICATION we engage in will be our OPPORTUNITY or an OBSTACLE.

There are approaches and steps that can help ensure that OPPORTUNITY remains our DOMINANT STRATEGY, reflected in effective preparation for the communication process, the application of appropriate tools, and self-evaluation.

For your COMMUNICATION to be POWERFUL, PERSUASIVE, and INSPIRING, it is essential to reflect on your core STRENGTHS, what sets you apart, and the unique VALUE you bring to your work.

It is crucial to BELIEVE in yourself, in what you do, and in the company you represent. However, we must never overlook the IMPORTANCE OF PREPARATION in crafting a successful PRESENTATION and delivering EFFECTIVE MESSAGES in a business environment.

A useful TOOL for this can be the following QUESTIONS:

• WHY do you want to communicate your strengths? Is the goal to make a strong first impression, inform, persuade, sell a product or service, solve a problem, or something else?
• WHO are you communicating your strengths to? Is it an existing or potential client? Do they know what you do? Are they familiar with your industry? How much do you know about them? What could be their needs?
• HOW can you ensure effective communication and choose the right moment to highlight your strengths? What techniques of effective communication could help—active listening, asking the right questions, giving and receiving feedback, paraphrasing?
• WHAT should you communicate so that it is perceived as your strength? Should you highlight your experience, client list, recommendations, the advantages of your products or services, or their direct benefit to your audience?
• WHEN is the right time for communication? Is every moment appropriate to reach out, schedule a meeting, and present yourself or your work? Or would it be wiser to consider your audience and determine when the timing would be most suitable from their perspective?

WHERE is the right place to initiate the conversation? Should it be in your office, your client’s space, a conference where you will meet, or another setting?

Emphasize your AUTHENTICITY—be aware that there is no other person with your exact skills, experience, and energy. Show that uniqueness.

STRUCTURE is key—your presentation should have a clear FLOW, a strong INTRODUCTION, solid ARGUMENTATION, and an impactful CONCLUSION.

The first 15 minutes of your presentation are crucial—this is when your AUDIENCE’S ATTENTION is at its peak.

ARGUMENTATION plays a vital role in TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION—when presenting your arguments, never forget who is on the other side. Pay attention to COUNTER ARGUMENTS and OBJECTIONS from your interlocutor and prepare your responses accordingly. This approach will give you additional confidence and CREDIBILITY.

Each of us has our own MENTAL FRAMEWORK, which influences how we interpret messages. To communicate effectively, observe how your interlocutor speaks and what they focus on.

Asking the right QUESTIONS and practicing ACTIVE LISTENING will help you UNDERSTAND your interlocutor and their NEEDS, allowing you to present your strengths at the right moment and capture their interest.

Be mindful of both verbal and non-verbal aspects of your message.

VERBAL COMMUNICATION requires clarity, focus, and conciseness. Stick to the golden rule: LESS IS MORE.

NON-VERBAL SIGNALS—eye contact, handshake, facial expressions, body posture, smile, physical distance, and tone of voice—often convey a stronger message than words.

In other words, you can communicate without speaking a single word. And whenever your verbal and non-verbal communication are not in harmony, your audience will always trust the non-verbal cues more.

The CHANNEL through which you send your message also plays an important role in the communication process. Consider what should be communicated directly and what can be handled through e-communication.

Set a GOAL for yourself—to demonstrate through your messages that you believe in yourself and your work, that you are committed to your ideas, that you continuously enhance your knowledge and skills, and that you always give your BEST.

Such an approach will leave a STRONG impression that you are someone your potential and existing clients can rely on. And that is your ticket to new opportunities for BUSINESS GROWTH.

Make regular use of one powerful tool—SELF-EVALUATION.

After every business meeting, presentation, or conference—any situation where you had the opportunity to talk about yourself and your work—evaluate what you did well and what you could improve next time.

Do this from the perspective of an INNER MENTOR, not a critic.

This approach will lead you to EXCELLENT RESULTS in future communications and show that OPPORTUNITIES ARE IN YOUR HANDS.