In this Edition
1. Communication: Your Greatest Asset
2. Inspirational Quotes
3. Recommended Reading
Communication: Your Greatest Asset
In my best selling book, Success is Not a Spectator Sport, I devote a whole chapter to the art of communication. In this newsletter, I would like to discuss a few further points on this, your greatest asset.
The greatest gift of the many you can give to someone is the gift of your attention. Not just passing attention, but your complete undivided attention. This involves maintaining eye contact, not interrupting the other person when they are talking, and showing genuine interest in them and what they are saying to you.
One of the greatest misconceptions people have is that to be a great communicator one has to do a lot of talking, and to some people, all the talking. On the contrary, in my opinion the best communicators are the people who do more listening than talking. Apply the 80/20 rule next time you are in a conversation. Speak for 20% of the time and listen attentively for 80% of the time. Learn to master the art of asking interesting, open-ended questions to engage people in conversation and then be quiet. Focus on what the other person is saying.
One of the few advantages I felt I had growing up with a severe stuttering disability was that because I could not speak very well, I became an expert listener. While I would like to take credit for being insightful related to this, but I frankly had no choice, however this skill served me well and still does to this day. The only bonus now is that, having learned to control my stuttering, I can respond when appropriate.
Today, in all my interactions, both business and personal, I always try to see the point of view of the other person, show true genuine interest in them. If you show interest in other people, they will show interest in you. That is the way life works. In a nice way, the message is to learn to shut up and not to focus on the sound of your own voice. This is a harsh but true message.
We connect with people through communication. We communicate with people through great conversation, and great communication is not about you doing all the talking, but more listening. In fact, the more listening you do, the more successful you will be.
“You will make more friends in two months by being interested in other people than you will in two years by trying to get other people interested in you”
Dale Carnegie
In general, the questions you ask are by far more important than the answers you will give. Successful people know how to always make the other person they are speaking feel important, special and great. Do you do that in all your interactions?
If you want to make yourself feel good, talk about yourself. If you want to make the other person feel good, ask about them. Build a relationship with them to make a great impression. This will lead you to learn something important about them and, if appropriate, result in you doing business together.
Click here if you have not already gotten your copy of Charles’ best selling book – I want my copy now!
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES
“Persistent people begin their success where others end in failure”
Edward Eggleston
RECOMMENDED READING
THE MILLIONARE MINDSET by Gerry Roberts
I was given a complimentary copy of this book at a recent convention I attended. The book is very well laid out, which is important to me as I have a short attention span. It contains lots of terrific content and words of wisdom with true life examples of how ordinary people can create extraordinary wealth whatever that may mean to you personally. Good read, lots of take home value, nuggets of gold and keepers. Well done for author Gerry Roberts.
