Communication problems can lead to lost clients, lost projects, lost proposals, and lost revenue.  Taking the time to "brush up" on frequently used business terms, and their meanings, is an important communication task.  All stakeholders of any enterprise should be aware of the importance of effective communication at all levels.

Whether you are consulting with your accountant about your business finances, negotiating a contract with a supplier, or making a presentation to your staff, understanding and speaking the language can help you communicate more effectively and accomplish your goals more efficiently.

Our productivity depends on the power of language to persuade.  Persuasion is the "name of the game!"  With this worldwide access to the Internet's vast knowledge inventory and with the recognition of English as the international language, global productivity is on the rise and is unstoppable, and the power of language becomes even more evident!

What is effective communication?

Effective communication is a system of written, verbal, and non-verbal messages in which both senders and receivers share the meaning and understanding of the messages.  Today, our written and verbal messages are transmitted via a wide gamut of communication vehicles/forms: newspapers, magazines,  personal/business documents, memos, letters, e-mails, fax, blogs, FaceBook, Twitter, video tapes, PowerPoint presentations, telephones, cell phones,    i-phones, voice mail messages, audio tapes, public speaking, etc.  And the list goes on…  It is quite easy to see the tremendous significance of accurate communications locally, nationally, and globally.

Styles of Assertiveness Communication . . .

If you listen closely to the interactions in today's workplace, you will hear each of the four different communication styles—passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, and assertiveness.       

Of the four styles of assertiveness communication, the assertiveness style is direct with the goal of creating a win-win situation. This assertiveness style respects one's own rights and opinions as well as those of the other person.  These type of people operate from the belief that each of us is responsible for solving our own problems, and that neither party in the communication process has to justify themselves to each other.  These people take responsibility for their own decisions and actions. Assertiveness Communication is the most likely way to ensure that everyone involved gets his/her needs met.  

Learning assertiveness skills, rather than aggressive or passive-aggressive behaviors, is an important step in discovering how to communicate appropriately with others.  Assertiveness communication is the most effective style of communication.  It means using direct statements to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas rather than indirectly or passively communicating to avoid conflict to appease others.  People who exhibit assertiveness are more successful in work, as well as, social relationships.

Assertiveness is a style of communication that greatly enhances our effectiveness with others and produces the most positive outcomes.  Assertiveness can:

Improve interpersonal relationships.
Enhance self-esteem.
Minimize stress.
Reduce feelings of helplessness/depression.
Reduce conflicts/anxiety.
Retrain self-respect.
Treat others respectfully.
Give a sense of control.

When an organization focuses on improving assertiveness communication more effectively, it evolves into a more creative, productive, and profitable entity; and in turn, the organization becomes more valuable to each of its stakeholders.