Commun!cate Newsletter
calling all creatives
The first item I’d like to share with you in this newsletter is my exciting new venture, Assegai Magazine. If you’re a fabulous writer, poet or visual communicator, I’d love to see your work! For submission details, click here.
For those of you in business, as the end of financial year approaches, it’s a good idea to review your business stationery to see how it’s holding up, both quality and quantity-wise. One of my great new clients, Kim VanDuynhoven, is launching her business, TwentyToOne, in a grand way with the new branded business stationery I created for her. Here’s a sneak peak:
Apart from being rapt to have completed another great project, I'm still smiling about the awesome testimonial Kim sent along for me:
Having just started a new small business, I had a website made and then wanted stationery designed that followed the same theme as the website. I found Rising Star Designs & Communication on good old Google. In fact, I called two different graphic designers and one of them got straight back to me ... Renée.
Renée guided me through issues like copyright, branding, design and print quality. Her knowledge of her industry is impressive, and the fact that she is quick to reply, and thorough in the information she provides, was very much appreciated. But the single most impressive facet of Rising Star Designs & Communication is that Renée provides a highly personalised service. She involves herself totally in the process. Renée genuinely empathises with the frustrations, and celebrates the victories, right alongside her client. I honestly felt like I had someone on my side, which is absolutely invaluable.
Renée is such a positive person that no barrier proves insurmountable. I am extremely grateful for her patience, her help, and her guidance in getting my stationery from the vague idea stage right through to the exciting stage of receiving delivery of a very heavy box of gorgeous, crisp stationery branded with TwentyToOne. Thanks Renée.
Thank YOU, Kim!
This is also a great time to take stock of how you communicate with your customers, potential clients and even family members and friends. Dr Vesna Grubacevic of Qt has graciously provided a fabulous article that may well help.
Seven ways to improve your communication with others by Dr Vesna Grubacevic
When was the last time you had a misunderstanding or a disagreement with someone? Would you like to discover how you can easily engage others in what you say and capture their attention?
The following are seven ways that NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) techniques can help you improve your communication with others. You can apply these techniques in your business and personal relationships to empower yourself and others.
- Build instant rapport—Instantly create a feeling of trust and familiarity with anyone you meet within seconds of meeting them. A simple way to do this is to observe, then to subtly match or copy their posture i.e. how they sit or stand. This will allow the rest of your communication to be that much more effective. Remember that people who are like each other, like each other!
- Really listen—When we are caught up with all the thoughts inside our head, we can miss out on really hearing what others say to us. This can lead to misunderstandings in our communication. Instead, shift the focus from your internal dialogue (that little voice inside your head) and really listen, hear and focus your attention on what the other person is saying.
- Respect the other person’s model of the world—Each one of us has different experiences, memories, values and beliefs and these determine how we respond and react to situations and the world around us. Respecting each other’s model of the world enables us to see the other person’s point of view and helps to avoid disagreements and miscommunication.
- Use appropriate words—Tailor the language you use to the other person. There are four major communication styles: visual (pictures), auditory (sounds), kinaesthetic (feelings) and auditory digital (self talk). Each style uses specific words. Most people use a combination of communication styles and some have a strong preference for one or two styles. By identifying and utilising a person’s preferred communication style, they will clearly see, easily get in touch with and understand what you are saying.
- Chunk your information appropriately—Some people need a lot of detail before they can proceed with a task or make a decision while others simply need to be told the big picture. If you give too much information to a big picture person, their eyes may glaze over and their thoughts may drift off to other things. Leave out information for a detail person and they may not be interested in doing a task, not know how to do it or may even ask ‘too many’ questions in order to get the detail they need.
- Influence others through your questions—You can direct a conversation by asking appropriate questions. Formulating questions such as, ‘How specifically?’ will assist in obtaining clarity and detail on an issue. In contrast, using artfully vague language such as, ‘You may have noticed ...’ allows others to come up with their own solutions and empowers them to resolve issues in their own way.
- Be flexible—In NLP, we believe that the meaning of communication is the response you get. So, if your communication is not being received the way you intend it, be flexible and get a grasp of the above tools so your message can clearly get through each time. Now, imagine yourself as a master communicator!
© Qt, 2000 – 2009. All Rights Reserved.
About the a
uthor:
Dr Vesna Grubacevic, the founder of Qt, is an NLP Trainer, holds a PhD and a BEc and is the creator of breakthrough behavioural change techniques. Vesna is also a sought after speaker with over 27 years of business experience and a proven track record of assisting clients to transform their personal and business success. For more techniques on improving your communication (and for your FREE gifts), visit www.qttransformation.com today!
OK, I’d love to stay and chat, but book editing waits for no woman! Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Regards
Renée Barber
Writer. Editor. Designer. Strategic Marketing Adviser. Dreamer.
“Dreaming is an act of pure imagination, attesting in all men a creative power, which, if it were available in waking, would make every man a Dante or Shakespeare.” H F Hedge
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