There’s no denying that good communication skills are key to succeeding in business. Whether you’re trying to inspire your team, entice investors or sell yourself to clients, you need to be able to connect with others effectively. In this series of TED Talks, we delve into the importance of communication and how to improve the way you interact with others.
The Importance of Authentic Communication – Sheryl Sandberg
In this talk, COO of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg speaks about the importance of how you communicate in your career and business relationships. As a tool to encourage better information sharing, she recommends that managers stay open with their employees and talk about their ‘beliefs’ rather than just stating what they believe as facts. She also shows the importance of taking full responsibility for your actions in a company, saying that this ownership is a crucial building block at all stages of one’s career.
Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are – Amy Cuddy
Posture isn’t something we all think about when it comes to communication, but it says more about you than you realise, says Social Psychologist Amy Cuddy. In this TED Talk, Amy discusses body language’s impact on how others see us and how we see ourselves. She also shows how ‘power posing’ can affect our confidence and can even improve our chances of success.
The ABC of Communication – Paul Hughes
In this useful TED Talk, designer and business consultant, Paul Hughes speaks about the impact and reach that proper communication has. For this reason, it is vital that we align our communication with how we act in the office and vice versa. In order to do this, he provides a practical model to work from to help you with successful communication.
Think Fast. Talk Smart – Matt Abrahams
As a Stanford lecturer and entrepreneur, Matt Abrahams is an expert in interpersonal communication. He has worked with executives to help prepare and present keynote addresses and IPO road shows, and even conduct media interviews. In this informative TED Talk, Matt speaks about the ins and outs of impromptu public speaking – something that almost every business owner has to do, whether it’s in front of a board of directors or your own team.
The Power of Listening – William Ury
A large part of good communication is listening well. In this TED Talk, William Ury explains how and why listening is the essential, and often overlooked, other half of communication. Cofounder of Harvard’s ‘Program on Negotiation’ and co-author of the bestselling negotiation book in the world, ‘Getting to Yes’, William is an expert in communication and has consulted with dozens of Fortune 500 companies over the years.
The Myth of Communication – Roger Graef
Often we assume that when we communicate, the person we’re talking to will interpret what we say in the way that we mean it, but this isn’t always the case, says Professor Roger Graef. In this talk, he shows the dangers of assuming that people always understand your message the way it’s intended, and how this can be especially treacherous in the world of business.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s post on communication. For more business tips, be sure to visit the rest of Instant Offices’ blog, or follow us on Twitter.