Member Spotlight
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What say you?
Do you take on friends/family as customers?
14% - Sure! The more the merrier.
57% - Sometimes, but tread with caution
28% - No, best to avoid wherever possible
Marketing | Communication skills
Clear and effective business
communication skills are essential for running a successful business, but due to the different experiences
and backgrounds of each client, it’s not always easy.
This section provides advice on a wide range of business communication skills including explaining
difficult concepts, avoiding business jargon,
managing anger
and managing
difficult conversations. It also looks at specific types of communication including telephone
sales techniques and informal business
communication.
Developing your communication strategy
11 Apr 12Caroline JenkinsDetermining your communication strategy will ensure the style and frequency of your communication is useful to your audience and tailored to getting you repeat business and new clients. Read more
Comments: 1My worst week at work
27 Mar 12Sam LeaderThis month, I experienced the toughest week I’ve had in seven years at Flying Solo. Here’s why. Read more
Comments: 13Business communication skills
10 Feb 12Maria PantaloneEven professional writers find business communication challenging sometimes. Here are four tips to help improve your business communication skills. Read more
Comments: 0Responding to negative feedback online
30 Nov 11Lucinda LionsIn the age of online public feedback, negative feedback can cause irreparable damage to your business. But respond appropriately, and you could turn it into a positive. Read more
Comments: 13Anger management: Don’t take that tone with me
27 Sep 11Peter CrockerWe’ve all been on the receiving end of spiky remarks or emails laced with venom. It’s not pleasant, but can anger in business be effective? Here we look at the issue of anger management. Read more
Comments: 35Know your audience: Who’s in the room?
13 Sep 11Robert GerrishAmongst the many insights from our wonderful Independents’ Day speakers was a reminder of the importance of knowing your audience. Read more
Comments: 7A guide to business email communication
08 Jun 11Heather Cox“Hello” is fine when answering your home phone, but it’s more appropriate to answer a business phone with the company name as well as the greeting. It’s the same with your business email communication and email address – it should represent your business Read more
Comments: 19How to get honest, useful feedback
11 Apr 11Madeleine ShawMost of us have selective hearing, albeit unconsciously. But when you tune out important feedback, you pay the price. Here are three steps to getting – and hearing – the honest information you need. Read more
Comments: 7Listening tips: How to be a better listener
28 Feb 11Deborah KeepIn theory listening is easy: Ask a question (make it an open one for best results), zip your lips and open your ears. But in practice it’s easy to miss what people are really saying. Here are some helpful listening tips. Read more
Comments: 2Listening before you leap
27 Jul 10Sam Leader“Not like that! I’ll show you how to do it” is one of my daughter’s favourite sayings. She’s two and a half years old. Problem is, I think Amy’s desire to be in the right is inherited. Read more
Comments: 20Help! I’m bogged down by corporate buzzwords!
05 Jun 10Gary ChowI can’t stand corporate buzzwords, jargon, clichés, corporate-speak or other forms of gobbledegook. They drive me spare. Read more
Comments: 5Are you paying attention?
17 May 10Zern LiewAttention is the new currency. More than ever, customers crave attention and are prepared to pay for it. Are you paying attention? Read more
Comments: 2Conflict management techniques: What NOT to do
30 Mar 10Zoe RouthI'm never short of an opinion, so when my forthright comments in a recent board meeting elicited a response that equated to "Shut up, Buttercup, and respect your elders", my blood boiled. Read more
Comments: 9Kapow! Writing hard-hitting headlines
07 Feb 10Lucinda LionsHere are four ways of writing headlines to make them more compelling so they grab your readers’ attention, pique their curiosity and leave them wanting to know more. Read more
Comments: 9Break free of flabby language syndrome
26 Jan 10Zoe RouthWhen someone asks, 'How are you?' is your reply 'Good', 'Fine', or 'Okay'? Pshaw! How can you expect brilliance with such mediocrity! Read more
Comments: 15Projecting the right business image online
11 Jan 10Robert GerrishA very popular area of the Flying Solo online forums is where members invite feedback to a new business concept, website or logo. Those responding with business feedback don’t mince their words and that’s half the magic. Here’s what I’ve learned. Read more
Comments: 3Eight ways to beat writer’s block
07 Jan 10Amanda GonzalezEverything’s in place. The desk is organised, your pencils are sharpened, the distractions are distracted. Enter stage left, writer’s block. Now what? How do you beat writer's block? Read more
Comments: 8Handling difficult conversations
31 Dec 09Robert GerrishWhether it's dealing with suppliers, chasing clients for money or simply dealing with other business owners, the odd tricky conversation is inevitable. In this video, Hugh Gyton shares some tips on handling them. Read more
Comments: 0Beware tired and emotional typing
26 Oct 09Peter CrockerWe’ve all said things we regret. In the real world, a sincere face-to-face apology and explanation can usually put things right, but in the virtual world of online communication our words can take on a life of their own. Read more
Comments: 23Business jargon: Don’t join the blandwagon
25 Oct 09Sara HowardOne of the joys of writing copy for different industries is that I can spot the clichés from a mile. However, a recent brochure brief won the award for cramming the most meaningless business jargon in one short sentence. Read more
Comments: 12How acronyms help articulation (HAHA!)
12 Oct 09Robert GerrishIt seems increasingly difficult to get far into a business conversation before someone chucks a curve ball question that leaves you tongue-tied. Enter the soloist’s saviour, the acronym. Read more
Comments: 14Giving feedback: Being specific with praise
07 Sep 09Sam LeaderI’m at a time of life where I’m reading a lot about ensuring you have a healthy relationship with your kids. And guess what? I’ve found a useful lesson for business when giving feedback. Read more
Comments: 18NLP: Speaking the language of your client
28 Jul 09Deborah KeepGreat communicators are able to speak the language of the people they are talking to. If you want to build quick rapport with clients, you need to learn how to speak their language. This empathy is at the heart of successful communication. Read more
Comments: 4Business communication styles: mobile vs email
05 May 08Sam LeaderThere’s nothing like an article on mobile phone manners to get people stirred up. In this article I look at the mobile vs email debate. Which business communication style do you prefer? Read more
Comments: 41Communication skills and techniques: Showing empathy
06 Dec 07Zern LiewAs part of our lives as solopreneurs, we come across many different people who hold many different view points. To deal effectively with those who have a different opinion to our own, empathy is an important communication technique to develop. Read more
Comments: 5Ten tips on how to avoid business jargon
11 Oct 07Megan HillsBusiness jargon can be misleading, confusing and boring, but as a soloist it is a trap we can easily fall into without even realising it. Here are ten tips on how to avoid business jargon and learn to speak a language your clients will understand. Read more
Comments: 4What it means to be a good communicator
20 Aug 07Sam LeaderJudging by our recent poll results, we reckon we're very good communicators. 70% of respondents describe their ability to communicate as 'higher than average'. Read more
Comments: 25Clear communication: how to explain difficult concepts
10 Aug 07Jess TylerDo you ever struggle when trying to explain difficult concepts? Clear communication is important in business, but due to the different experiences and backgrounds of each of your clients, it is not always easy. Read more
Comments: 5Effective Communication: Facing the frustration of "you don't understand!"
06 May 07Kath O'SullivanDo you ever get stuck trying to communicate a certain understanding of something? No matter what you say or how hard you try to make yourself plain, the person on the other end is just not getting it. So why aren't you having effective communication? Read more
Comments: 7Telephone sales techniques: Preparing for calls to prospective clients
27 Mar 07Richard WoodwardThe telephone is a communication vehicle where you only have one chance to make a first impression and like many aspects of the business development process, preparation can dramatically enhance your telephone sales techniques. Read more
Comments: 4How managing anger helps you communicate
04 Mar 07Kath O'SullivanManaging anger enables you to diffuse conflict and open a new way to communicate that’s powerful and authentic and serves all relationships - at work, in love and even with phone operators. Read more
Comments: 5Why informal communication styles work
25 Feb 07Megan ToughFor years, experts have been telling us it is essential to adopt a formal, professional communication style. But I believe it is way more powerful to drop the formality and add some humanity back into communication. Read more
Comments: 7Verbal communication skills: Improving your verbal skills
18 Jan 07Sue CurrieIt's easy for soloists to let their verbal communication skills lapse. If you worry about what to say at a networking event and would rather email than pick up the phone, your verbal skills may be a bit rusty. Read more
Comments: 10Business communication skills: Throw away your crystal ball
28 Sep 06Kath O'SullivanYou don't need psychic powers to work well with your clients, but you do need to be an effective communicator. Here are five steps that will make a huge difference to your business communication skills... and take away the guess work for good. Read more
Comments: 7Get personal for effective business communication
24 Aug 06Karen MorathHas modern technology stifled effective business communication and depersonalised our relationships with our nearest and dearest? Is a text message as meaningful as a hand-written note? I think not. Read more
Comments: 5Effective communication skills: Managing difficult conversations
03 Oct 05John RaymondEffective communication skills are critical to running a successful business. However, every now and again, we inevitably have difficult conversations. Here are some tips on how to face up to the task. Read more
Comments: 0Client communication skills: The Power of saying 'No'
05 Jul 05Sam LeaderOne of the most important client communication skills soloists need to master is the ability of saying ‘no’ to certain requests. Read more
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Small Business is Australia's fastest growing sector – this business community site was created for those running a small business of one to five people. Here the solo and micro business owner will find small business forums, a small business directory, free resources, help, tips and advice on: starting a small business; working smarter when working from home; effective small business marketing; small business networking; the solo psyche; staying balanced as a small business owner; small business technology advice and small business finance tips.
