5 verbal communication skills to develop for a career in business

Do you admire businesspeople who confidently run large meetings? Maybe you dream of securing big international deals yourself.

Fortunately, you can learn how to become a successful business communicator!

No matter which career path you choose in the business world, you'll need solid verbal communication skills. As a businessperson, you'll often find yourself in scenarios where your speaking skills and ability to present yourself are decisive factors. Take, for example:

• Negotiations

• Stakeholder meetings

• Sales presentations

• Team briefings

• Brainstorming sessions

Follow these 5 tips to become an excellent speaker in any business situation.

We trust people who speak confidently. A confident business speaker is well-prepared, knowledgeable about their topic, and responsive to the audience.

When you're pitching your brilliant business idea, clear speech is very important! Moderate pace, clear pronunciation, and a logical order of thoughts are key elements of presenting your message effectively.

Develop this verbal communication skill

• Work on your pronunciation: do some diction exercises like tongue twisters

• Train to speak up: take the initiative to give presentations to boost your confidence

• Prepare in advance: organize your thoughts and practice public speaking in front of a mirror or with friends

• Simplify your message: keep it concise and to the point

Nobody wants to do business with a stubborn person. At the same time, you don't want to be too soft and risk being taken advantage of in the tough business world.

It's important to find a happy medium — a win-win solution for both sides. For that, you need to know how to present your arguments effectively to convince people.

Develop this verbal communication skill

• Take courses on negotiation: learn negotiation techniques

• Learn to control your emotions: difficult negotiations can test your patience

• Simulate negotiations: practice withrole-playing exercises

Networking means building and maintaining positive contact with your colleagues. Approaching an interesting speaker at an international conference should be a no-brainer for you. With the right networking, you'll be the first to know about the newest industry trends and business opportunities. It'll also help you get support and promote your brand.

Entrepreneurs understand that their network is their net worth.

— Forbes.com, "5 Secrets Of Millionaire Entrepreneurs That Will Help You Get Rich"

Develop this verbal communication skill

• Create a professional social media profile

• Create a personal branding statement: give a summary of your professional activity

• Register for business conferences:attend events to meet new people

• Learn self-presentation techniques: master the elevator pitch

As a business person, it’s important to be flexible and diplomatic, but there are times when you must know how to say "no".

Time is a valuable currency in the business world. Being able to say "no" can save you a lot of time and protect you from stress!

Develop this verbal communication skill

• Keep track of your tasks and prioritize them: use tools like to-do lists

• Assess tasks: define what makes a task professionally interesting for you

• Learn how to say "no" with respect

• Develop a habit of giving feedback: when declining a task, give a short explanation and suggest an alternative solution

Imagine blowing a big international deal just because you said something culturally inappropriate.

You'll be communicating with people from different backgrounds. You'll also meet your colleagues in different settings.

A conference room meeting and casual negotiations at lunch could be very different. You should know how to adjust your communication style to match the situation.

Develop this verbal communication skill

• Be an active listener

• Research your partners beforehand: especially if you work with people from different places

• Adjust your tone of voice: adapt the way you speak and behave to suit the context