Women and Business Communication – 5 Tips to Win the Deal

Women are an integral part of the business world today. Poised, authoritative and confident most women feel they have to sacrifice likeability for authority. If you have to list three major traits of any successful business communicator, they would be credibility, likeability and authority – not necessarily in this order. rnWith women, the likeability factor is high, which often creates a positive first impression and thereby gives them an edge over their male counterparts. At the same time, this can fast become a weak point if they are not able to immediately balance this factor with credibility and authority. As a business woman, you have to build on the likeability factor rapidly and maximize its impact to show your audience that you are credible and authoritative at the same time. Here are 5 critical tips that can help you do this: * Control the direction of the discussion Forget about social manners when you are in a business discussion. Interrupt if you must for this is common in business discussions. Focus on controlling the direction of the discussion and holding your ground. * Be linear in your conversation The most effective way to communicate in business is the linear way. You need to speak directly and honestly. Do not go into too many details; be crisp and succinct. An effective communicator knows to be direct without being unfriendly. * Practice ‘masculine’ traits Pay attention to your intonation; do not raise your voice at the end of the sentence. “Up-talking” makes the speaker look uncertain and unsure of herself. To look and be confident on the topic you are talking about you need to do your homework and be well informed; then you can speak with confidence and authority no matter the size of the group. * Do not use disclaimers Do not use ‘I may be wrong…’ or ‘This could be my opinion…’ or ‘I am sorry…’ in business communication. Most women feel this is an endearing trait which makes others comfortable. At the same time, this undermines your authority. You need to speak with conviction and full confidence; there is no place for ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ here. * Learn collaborative communication Authoritative business communication works best when it is intertwined with collaborative style of communication. This means you should be aggressive sometimes, and other times switch to a softer and more feminine approach. Collaborative approach works best when you are working on building strategic business partnerships or negotiating a tough deal. The Last Word In addition to all these 5 tips, you need to keep in mind your body language. Pay attention to your stance, eye contact and never fidget. Your body language should say, ‘I am in control and I know it’. In this way, you will be able to command respect and earn the recognition you deserve.