COMMUNICATION FOR BUSINESS GROWTH

Communication is the most important skill of any entrepreneur.

In my previous post, I wrote about getting your dream job. If you haven't read that post, click here.
However I personally prefer entrepreneurship, maybe because I'm an entrepreneur and I understand the dividends as compared to a 9-5 job. This week, I'll exposing the secret to great leadership and entrepreneurship.
This secret is effective communication.

As an entrepreneur, you must possess these two types of communication skills, and not just possess, but master them.

1- Interpersonal communication - This is simply self control. Business can be very challenging. When the going gets tough, only the tough get...............
Times of business challenges are when the true character of the entrepreneur is revealed. As an entrepreneur, you must possess strength of character. You character should never change due to challenges in business. For instance, some entrepreneurs go into hiding when they can't pay bad debts or some may device means to rip off customers to make extra-profit, some entrepreneurs would make mistakes and blame employees. As an entrepreneur, you must take responsibility for everything in the business, even when its the employee that makes the mistake. Focus on integrity and master your internal self.
When you face challenges, stick to your core mission and don't give up. Challenges would only make you stronger and smarter. If you break in the face of challenges, you're no better than you were yesterday, you've not grown, you're not smarter than you were yesterday. No matter how long it may last, you ability to face the problem and solve it is what makes you a true entrepreneur.

2- Interpersonal communication- is the ability of the entrepreneur to manage people effectively.

                                               Business is easy, managing people is hard. 

Its the job of the entrepreneur to gather different individuals and forge them into a team who would give their best to achieve the goal of the entrepreneur. Subsequently, its also the job of the entrepreneur to convince investors that his business is the best business they can put their money into and to make them trust him. The entrepreneur has to explain to customers why they can't do without his/her product or service and let them understand that his/her brand is the best that's available in the market. If you're not good at working with people, entrepreneurship is not for you.

You need great communication to convince people to give you their money for an idea that hasn't even become full reality yet. How do you get investors for business when you're not good at communicating your thoughts and ideas.
Communication in this regards goes beyond language. Its more of self expression and your ability to make people understand what you want them to. Its your ability to propel people to action to achieve a goal.

Let's take a deeper look at how communication can affect your affect your business.

Communication is necessary for success in all departments of the business.
These departments include - Mission, Team, Leadership, Cash-flow, Communication, Legal, Systems and Product :copied from Richdad's B-I Triangle.

The team won't properly understand the mission of the business if the entrepreneur doesn't communicate it well to them. Even the entrepreneur won't be able to come up with a realistic mission if he has a weak character.
The entrepreneur, who would initially lead the team, wont do it well without effective communication at all the levels.
Cash-flow is only consistent when communication at the sales and marketing level flows freely and effectively.
The Legal aspect is useless without effective communication, instead of company management, it becomes crisis management if communication at this level isn't effective.
The systems is basically how the different parts of the business works including production, staff structure etc. Imagine a company where all the departments don't work in unity or all the department heads are in disagreement; that's not a company, that's a mob.

Basically, as an entrepreneur, communication skills is what should first be developed. You don't need to be an expert in all the skills needed to run your business, but you need to be an expert to get people who have the skills required to run your business.

I doubt if Dangote knows how to mine limestone to produce Dangote Cement, nor does he know how to extract sugar for Dangote Sugar but these two products are the fastest selling in the Nigerian market today with over a thousand units produced daily.

Communication can either build or break you and your business. 

To gain effective communication skills, you will need to learn it. Read motivational books, read books on Leadership, read books on strategy; I would recommend, 'The ART of WAR' -SUN TZU : translated by Thomas Cleary, 'The Leader within you' - by Myles Munroe. Also read, 'Before you quit your Job'- by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon L Letcher.

As a true entrepreneur, communication would take you farther than talent can. Communication first with God, within yourself and with others. You're good to go. Adolph Hitler, Alexander the Great, Nelson Mandela and all other motivational speakers and Men of History all had great communication skills which is why they were effective leaders. You can't be a leader with bad communication skills.

Develop yourself, communicate well, build your team, build your business. Be a leader, Be great. I wish you success in your chosen field.

Think WITTEE! Think Intelligence