Successful people are not born; they are made. They are made from their own efforts: efforts directed toward becoming successful. They may choose to put a lot of effort into a specific area, but successful people tend to have success in several aspects of their lives. They pursue their goals, step by step, and complete those goals, regardless of the detours life might take them on. Successful people have also learned the skills needed to effectively communicate with all those they come into contact with. And believe it not, there are common communication traits that all successful people use in their daily interactions with others. Because they are common you can integrate them into your style of communications to become more effective and successful.
The first communication skill that every successful person has is the ability to listen. Listening is not about just nodding your head in understanding while the other person is talking. No, true listening requires that you maintain eye contact with the one you are listening to. Make you’re your eyes are not looking side to side or over the other’s shoulder, but instead are focused on the eyes and face of the person you are talking with. The successful person does this with the intention of understanding exactly what the other person has to say. When you really listen to people, not only do you get to know them, but they might provide you with some information to help you farther along toward future success.
As the other person is speaking the successful person will, during the other person’s pauses, paraphrase what he has heard. Paraphrasing is repeating, to the one you’re communicating with, what you just heard them say, but in your own words. Paraphrasing clarifies that you understand what the other person means. This is engaging and interactive communication skill and every successful person uses it.
In addition to the ability to listen, successful people possess excellent non-verbal communications, or
body language. As the successful person is communicating with another, their posture is relaxed. Their hands are free, maybe at his side, but seldom kept in their pockets. Their hands or arms are also not tightly wrapped around each other in a closed gesture, nor do they scratch their head, arms or face while they are either listening or talking. All those things make the other person nervous.
Successful people have a posture which is erect, but yet relaxed. They don’t stand stiffly, nor do slouch over while either standing or sitting. In a sitting position his legs can be crossed or comfortably side-by-side. The successful person never toe-taps or bounces their knee. They are calm and patient and his is the image they want to project.
The tone of voice of the successful person is always even. Also, successful people are very careful in the words they choose to express themselves; they take their time as they speak so as not to use wrong or inappropriate language. The successful person has a good command of language and knows how to use it effectively.
Successful people don’t assume they know everything and therefore are very inquisitive, even when communicating with others. This means they ask questions, truly interacting with others. They know that others possess knowledge too. Asking questions educates them, and successful people know the value of being educated. It helps them make better decisions and choices in their life and work.
There is one key factor about the successful person that comes out in all their behaviors and communications with others. The key factor is, successful people seek more success. This is the thinking of most successful people; they use the above strategies to learn more to build on their successes and achieve more.