3 Tips to Improve Your Language Skills by Cindy Stradling CSP, CPC

As a business leader, good communication skills are one of your most important assets. You will learn that as you communicate with different types of people and in different business situations, some adjustments to your language can help your communication to be more effective. In addition, good communication skills, tailored to the situation at hand, immediately increase your believability with your audience. Here are three simple tips to help you improve your language skills so that you can be more effective in all sorts of situations.

1. Increase your vocabulary. A broad vocabulary helps you to be a more effective communicator. When training employees, for example, it is helpful if you are able to explain complex concepts in several different ways in order to ensure that everyone in the audience can grasp the information. Explaining the same thing over and over again in exactly the same way won’t help students to grasp concepts quickly, and can lead to frustration. In addition, having a larger vocabulary helps you to describe things in a more specific way. A good vocabulary also makes you come across as more educated, which gives others a good impression of you as a business leader.
2. Increase your knowledge. Reading articles and white papers about business topics and watching business oriented programming can help you to increase your knowledge about the world of business or your specific industry. As your knowledge expands, your communication skills regarding business principles will likely improve naturally. You’ll become more of an expert in your field, too.
3. Practice. Different business scenarios require different styles of communication. In presentations to clients or stockholders, for example, you may need to use more formal language than is required when giving a presentation to employees or holding an informal meeting. In order to be proficient in all these types of communications, you need to practice each type regularly. Role-playing with a trusted peer can be a good way to get started.

Few things about you have the same impact as your ability to communicate at all levels of an organization and with all types of people. Improving your language skills is relatively simple if you devote some time and attention to the task. Better language and communication skills can offer you many benefits, including increasing your credibility with others and your confidence within yourself. Mastering the art of language is definitely a worthwhile pursuit for any business leader.