Mastering Communication Skills: A Guide for Entrepreneurs

I recently had the pleasure of hosting a workshop at Breakthrough Fitness in North Minneapolis on one of the most crucial yet often overlooked aspects of entrepreneurship: non-verbal communication. The event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and dive deep into strategies that can transform the way we present ourselves and our businesses.

The Importance of Communication Skills for Entrepreneurs

As entrepreneurs, developing strong communication skills is vital for success. Whether we're networking at events, pitching to investors, or creating social media content, the way we communicate and present ourselves has a significant impact on our business outcomes. I have included the main topics that we covered for those of you who were unable to join us.

Embrace Positive Internal Chatter

As a business coach, I often hear clients express that nerves and anxiety hinder their communication and presentations. To overcome this, start by changing your internal chatter. Instead of thinking, "I'm nervous and might mess up," or “I hate public speaking,” tell yourself, "This is my opportunity to shine and showcase my business." Our thoughts significantly impact our outcomes. Believing in your capabilities and focusing on what makes your business unique will make your communication more engaging and confident.

Understanding the Impact of Communication

Research indicates that only 7% of our communication impact comes from the words we use. The remaining 93% is split between vocal tone (38%) and body language (55%). This highlights the importance of not just focusing on what we say, but how we say it.

Vocal Tone

Your vocal tone can make a significant difference in how your message is received. Here are a few practical tips to vary your vocal tones effectively. (It was fun watching people practice this at our event!)

Vary Your Volume:Use louder tones for emphasis on important points and softer tones to draw in your audience’s attention.

Adjust Your Pace: Speed up your speech to convey excitement and urgency, and slow down to emphasize key points and allow your audience to absorb the information.

Change Your Pitch: Higher pitches can express enthusiasm or questions, while lower pitches can convey seriousness and authority.

Incorporate Pauses: Strategic pauses can give your audience time to think and reflect, and also help emphasize the importance of what you just said.

Body Language

Body language includes facial expressions, gestures, and overall body movements that complement your verbal message. Here are some tips to enhance your body language:

Use Hand Gestures: Hand movements can help emphasize your points and keep your audience engaged. For example, counting on your fingers when listing points or using open palms to show honesty and openness.

Maintain Eye Contact: Making eye contact builds trust and rapport with your audience. Try to make eye contact with different individuals around the room to make everyone feel included.

Facial Expressions: Smile when appropriate to convey warmth and approachability. Use your eyebrows and other facial movements to express emotions and reactions.

Posture: Stand tall and avoid slouching to convey confidence and authority. Lean slightly forward to show interest and engagement with your audience.

Practical Exercises

During the workshop, we practiced changing our vocal tones and body language to enhance our communication. You can watch the replay of this Instagram Live session to see these techniques in action and learn how to apply them in your presentations:

Watch the Replay

Final Thoughts

Communication skills are one of the most important skills you can develop to succeed at business. Remember to spend more time focusing on how you are going to say it, not just what you are going to say. By emphasizing your vocal tone and body language, you'll be able to deliver your message more effectively and make a lasting impression on your audience.

About the author

Ali is a Business Strategy Coach specializing in helping professional service companies achieve measurable and sustainable growth. With a focus on enhancing productivity and scaling businesses to run effectively with less reliance on the owner, Ali provides actionable strategies for team management, operational excellence, and sales techniques.

Having transitioned from a corporate background to entrepreneurship, Ali understands the challenges and triumphs of running a business. He is committed to empowering business owners to navigate their challenges confidently and efficiently, fostering growth and success in their ventures.

Mastering Communication Skills: A Guide for Entrepreneurs