Communication for Small Businesses
What a great title for an article on communication, don't you think? LoBo recorded this song in the 70s about hanging out and traveling around the country in a car, just going wherever and however the spirit moved.That pretty much sums up the free-flowing way most of us communicate. We stay with topics for as long as they interest us, and we move on when they don't. Communicating effectively can be one of your greatest assets when you're running a small business. Ineffective communication, conversely, can be your greatest liability.3 Main Styles of CommunicationThere are three main "voices" or styles of communication: one-under, one-up, and equal.1. One-under communication is a style that is typified by minimizing what you are saying, or putting yourself or your words "one-under" in importance to another person's. The intent here is to focus on the other person in order to gain greater clarity about what he or she is saying. "Seek first to understand than to be heard" is an axiom that would apply here.2. One-up communication is an aggressive style that is often accompanied with raised voices and excessive reinforcements, absolutes, and "you" statements. Boundary-busting is what this type of communication is often considered. This is because the person speaking thinks that what he or she is