The Need For Solid Communication Skills

Life is all about communication and, amusingly enough, it's not just about getting information "out there." Real communication is about sharing information in such a way that the receiver can appreciate the new knowledge and act according to what that brings. Simply put, it means getting through to someone and making it matter.

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Communication is a two-way process. There is the receiving and the sending of information, and each process has to be done with enough savvy. For example, really good speakers are actually good listeners. They are likewise usually good readers of information and situations. Without knowing how to first be silent, receive information, and read a situation, a person cannot communicate or get through to people. It becomes a thoroughly one-sided affair.

Building solid communication skills also involves looking at the "small " and "large audience." Small audiences can be as few as one person for interpersonal communication. Large audiences can be a group of people in a conference hall to a few million individuals on the Internet. Each type of audience needs a different approach and the skill to approach every group has to be built up slowly.

The new and growing avenues in the business world have highlighted new needs in intercourse. There are definite needs to develop teamwork and presentations. One of the most important in the current climate is the ability to negotiate. All of these skills are based on good communication, which should be given serious effort and study.

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If ever there is doubt on the importance of good communication, all a person needs to do is to write a haphazard donation request and send it out. The result is easy to predict: Nothing will happen. No donations will come in, and one can only assume the request did not resonate with the target audience.

Communication and education are of primacy to Patrick Dwyer of Merrill Lynch. Visit this blog for similar articles.

How education can reshape business goals

Continuing education is a direction toward which not a lot of business practitioners gravitate. Today corporate culture is slowly going through an awakening of sorts, one that encourages people in the career setting to take up further studies in their field. An education can actually reshape business goals. 

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Obviously, gathering more knowledge allows a person to join in the discussion of the most relevant trends in business. It’s a way to map out the corporate jungle, which can turn labyrinthine for someone unaware of upcoming challenges. Most discussions in MBA classes include present-world situations in the curriculum, which certainly provide a lot of insights. 

In such academic gatherings, it is quite common to belong to a diverse class of professionals from different fields. In a way, this is a space to foster good networking. However, more than the chance to become connected, what is more valuable is the exchange of various perspectives. 

All of this activity inevitably shapes an individual employee’s business goals, thanks to a better awareness of how things are in the business world. The end result is a more knowledgeable individual raring to apply a fresh set of skills to his work environment. 

It’s no surprise that people who never tire of the pursuit of learning end up being the ones who make quality decisions at work, which lead to better business goals. 

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Patrick Dwyer of Merrill Lynch shares that in the world of business, it is important for people to first invest in their self-growth through education. For more advice on continuing education, visit this page.

Goal getter: Making use of project management

In every business endeavor, there are different undertakings that help the organization achieve its vision or strategy. Temporary activities, which have defined start and end times, are named projects. They are not part of routine operations, rather they are distinct from everyday business tasks, and have unique, specific targets.

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There are some project constraints, however, that must be considered. It is not enough to work towards the defined output or outcome. Resource deployment constrains the movement of task accomplishments.

An expertly managed project aims to complete the project while staying within the following:

Scope: The specified features and functions of the project deliverables

Time: The target deadline of the project and the tasks therein

Cost: The budget that the completion of the projects and tasks should meet

Quality: This defines the specific requirements of the project and tasks

Project management is a tool which applies knowledge, methods, processes, skills, and experience to achieve every project goal while considering all the aforementioned constraints. Project management increases the likelihood of attaining the desired outcomes and output, while minimizing or absolutely eliminating wasted resources.

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Patrick Dwyer of Merrill Lynch is an advocate of both lifelong education and good business, which is why he loves teaching business leaders skills and tools they can use to have a successful career in the field. Read more articles by following this Facebook page.

Fostering Business Growth Through Strategic Planning

Having a clear vision and plans is necessary for any organization to grow and succeed. When communicated clearly to every team member, the vision can unify all organizational levels. Each employee can then understand his part and role, and focus on efficiently delivering his tasks.

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A common vision and set of goals can also prevent any perceived interdepartmental competition, and fosters solidarity across the entire company. Flow of information can also be increased, as well as the pooling of resources from the different silos in the organization; thus, coordination will be seamless.

The definition of the vision, direction, goals, and tactics can be specified through the regular conduct of strategic planning. The management initiates this activity, and in coordination with the entire organization, uses this to tackle fundamental decisions and actions that determine what should be done – and why – in the foreseeable future, as well as the adjustments needed to respond to the changes in the environment.

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Strategic planning follows no single framework. However, it typically involves the following phases:

•   Assessment of the organization’s current situation, as well as the trends in the environment

•   Vision casting, and formulation of short- and long-term strategies in every level of the organization

•   Creation of action plan on how to execute strategies, and how to evaluate said strategies

Patrick Dwyer of Merrill Lynch understands that education is needed for entrepreneurs and managers to survive the harsh and often complicated world of business. For more of his insights, follow this Twitter page.

Leadership Best Practices: Pave The Road For Employees' Career Advancement

A leader plays an important role in talent management. Only when those at the top help people at the bottom rise can a business succeed. An efficient organization is when every single unit is working in a skillful manner to help the whole achieve its vision. And one of the ways employees stay motivated collectively is when they see promise in their future by working with the company.

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Employee development can come in the form of personal coaching or mentorship from the leader, or by outsourcing training programs. Not only will the business benefit from the enhanced skills of employees, but it also nurtures commitment. As reports have shown, turnover or attrition is a costlier expense than investing in people's talents.

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By investing in people, an organization can also uncover hidden potential and discover future leaders. A business may save on resources for hiring officers by tapping its current pool of talents. Recruitment also becomes more effective because the best people always look for organizations with a strong reputation for developing talent.

In summary, a business that gives importance to employee development attracts the best talents, drives performance, engages and retains its employees, and maximizes the individual contributions of its members.

Patrick Dwyer of Merrill Lynch advises that for a business to succeed, leaders must always look for ways to improve themselves and their team. Follow this Twitter account for more advice on achieving success in business.

Innovation: How This Separates Great Business Leaders From The Rest

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Innovation is the ability to adapt to the changing climate while still being able to predict future trends. While there are many ways to define innovation, this is the simplest when discussing business success. Aspiring entrepreneurs should always seek to improve themselves by reviewing other successful business people. Dozens of business studies conclude that a single defining characteristic among financially successful people is their ability to innovate.

Yet, many people still confuse the concept with creating new things. This is not necessarily the case. Innovation in terms of new products or services only make sense in certain industries. Instead, economic professionals further define innovation as the level of adaptation with creativity. Innovative people are those that constantly look at current procedures and protocols and compare that with KPI and KRA (Key Performance Indicators and Key Results Areas, respectively). Regulations that are not in line with the business person’s goals are either removed or changed. This is not enough, however.

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Successful entrepreneurs are also those that have imagination. Their adaption of rules are also projections of trends. It is best to compare this to a chess game; where every move is thought of five steps in advance. Innovation allows business people to stay ahead of the game while still continuing relative comfort in the present.

This, of course, requires striking a delicate balance between what is workable right now compared to what could be in the future. Starting entrepreneurs should not be daunted by the prospect though; with enough education, practice, diligence, and persistence, innovation can be learned.

Patrick Dwyer from Merrill Lynch understands the importance of constant education in gaining financial and business success. To learn more about him, view this LinkedIn page.

How To Read Body Language For Effective Business Communication

All business deals and workplace operations involve communicating with another person. Technology might have allowed for dialogues to take place in an online environment, but personal contact is still the name of the game. Knowing how to effectively communicate a message involves different aspects. One of them is understanding body language.

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While a subtle art, body language can be easily read – as long as one remains observant to small movements. Some of the more obvious gestures are explained below.

Crossing of arms and legs: This is a defensive position and signals that the person is not interested in the conversation or wants to change the topic. This is usually the stance employees take when they are being criticized. Leaders should watch out for this and adapt their communication strategy to encourage relaxed dialogue.

Eye contact: Stable and constant eye contact is a good sign. This means the employee is being honest and is interested in what is being talked about. During one-on-one sessions, maintaining good eye contact signifies sincerity. If an employee is avoiding such contact, it could mean that he or she is uncomfortable with the situation. Take note that intense staring is also not good; it could signify a subconscious need for intimidation.

Twitching and other nervous gestures: Talking about business deals is a stressful situation, especially if it involves a lot of money. To gauge sincerity, nervous behaviors such as twitching, biting nails, constant movement, or rapid blinking could be taken as signs. There could be other reasons for the nervousness, but these show that the person is not relaxed.

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Learning these body language signals can determine the flow of business relations, and subsequently, success. These are cues that can lead to better communication.

Education is the passion of Patrick Dwyer of Merrill Lynch. He firmly believes it is the way to achieve business success.Learn more when you subscribe to this blog.