You are the owner of a company and create beautiful things to sell, such as metal barn doors. The company runs smoothly, but working with others can cause some trials. Not only do you have to be creative in what you sell, but you have to be creative in how you handle others.
Dealing with people on a day-to-day basis just in normal life can be a challenge. The world today is changing and we’re even more distanced from one another, making our attitude more jaded than before. Mix this mess with business and you have a timebomb you’re responsible for defusing. Beyond that, we’re more sensitive than we’ve ever been, so getting your point across takes a lot more thought than we realize. These tips will help you communicate comfortably.
Tip One: Your Name is Your Motivation
As an entrepreneur, you have a name and a reputation to protect. Not that those working as employees don’t, but you have a lot at stake that can harm your good name. The moment you meet with a difficult personality in a colleague or client—especially client—take a step back and consider this point.
What do you want to aspire to? When the public talks about you and your brand, what do you want them to say? How can you not only avoid conflict at this very moment but also elevate your image?
Then, and only then, should you make a move to communicate your point.
Tip Two: Being Real and Relatable Calms Conflict
Being real and relatable is the accepted norm today if you want to affect the lives of those around you. Colleagues and clients are in that mix. People respect those who are real and comfortable with those that they can relate to. Strive to be that person who represents your brand in a way that makes others want to approach you. Why? Conflict doesn’t arise when people aren’t defensive. If you make them feel comfortable, then they’ll approach you respectfully even if they’re offended.
Tip Three: Cultivate Flexibility
A flexible entrepreneur receives more benefits than those that are rigid and antisocial. In fact, it’s near impossible to be a successful entrepreneur and be inflexible. When people know you’re flexible, they’re more likely to volunteer crucial information that will catapult your business. Flexibility is not a weakness; it’s a strength though many disagree.
This positive trait will win you the collaborative efforts of others, and that’s the cornerstone of entrepreneurship. Teamwork is at its core. The most successful entrepreneurs know who to work with and who to delegate to in a moment’s notice. You’re a leader and flexibility is a trait of effective leadership.
Tip Four: Cultivate Excellent Listing Skills
The best entrepreneurs understand that listening to someone with your undivided attention is the key to intrapersonal relationships. People know if you’re taking in what they’re saying. Clients and colleagues are of equal importance in this. It’s both conscious and subconscious when the person you’re conferring with feels heard. The brain is a powerful tool. It will create a comfortable feeling in the person next time they see you. This makes people more willing to collaborate with you or become a client.
Tip Five: Promote Others and Build Relationships
There’s nothing more attractive than an entrepreneur that isn’t self-absorbed. If you want to be a people and opportunity magnet, then promote others and build genuine relationships. You’ll inspire more collaborative efforts than you know what to do with. Those you promote will promote you and it will build success on a bridge of camaraderie.
Tip Six: Motivate Others
Confidence makes a successful entrepreneur. You have the wisdom, experience, and skills it takes for that success, right? Then share it with others. Motivate others on your team and your clients in whatever service you provide them. You can get involved in things that are unrelated to that service and still lend your wisdom. Be the excellent listener and pick up on what others need. Step in and with permission tell them what you know.
Tip Seven: Keep your Integrity and Ethics
You’ll garner respect from clients and colleagues when you act from integrity and keep your ethics intact. Today, that’s so hard to find. Acting from this space will pull more opportunity and people into your arena every day. We live in a reputation-based society and judge people by the way they behave towards others.
As an entrepreneur, you are the face of your brand and are in the spotlight. It’s an unfair policy, but this is how we are as humans in our current society. Make this last tip your priority and all the other tips will fall into place.
