Communication is Key to Your Success
Last month, we brought you an article about Mark Cuban and how being nice pays off. And, let’s face it - he’s got the creds to prove it! He owns the Dallas Mavericks, stars on ABC's "Shark Tank", and is worth an estimated $3.9 billion. However, let us be real with each other. The chances of you or me getting to his level of success by being nicer can seem like pie-in-the-sky dreams…but are they?
According to a study conducted by the Carnegie Institute of Technology, only 15% of our financial success is due to our technical abilities and knowledge, while 85% of our success is due to our personality and our ability to communicate, negotiate, and lead.
But, what other ROI might you expect from being nicer?
I read about one that paid off significantly. A study conducted by McClelland, showed that after supervisors in a manufacturing plant received training in how to listen better and improve communication with their employees, the company’s lost-time accidents decreased by 50% and grievances went down from 15 per year to 3 per year. The plant itself exceeded productivity goals by $250,000.
Now, those are hard dollar business numbers that are definitely doable in almost any company.
Besides being nicer, what’s the secret to getting ROI like a Mark Cuban, having your company increase their productivity by $250,000, or improving your financial successes?
The answer is becoming a better communicator. To do that, we wanted to give you these three key elements to get you started.
The first key to becoming a better communicator is self-awareness. People with a high degree of self-awareness have a solid understanding of their own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and what drives them.
The second critical key to success is the ability to use your self-awareness to connect and communicate with others on a level that builds trust and fosters strong relationships.
The third key element is the ability to self-regulate your emotions. People who self-regulate their emotions, especially their negative emotions, have the capacity to wait until their emotions pass, allowing them to respond from a place of reason, rather than simply reacting to feelings. Being aware of your own emotional reactions and how they affect your relationships with others is crucial to your success.
So, there you have it. Being nicer, becoming self-aware, and using that awareness to build your communication skills will serve you well in all areas of your life, whether personal or professional. Everyone wants to be with people who are supportive, easy to get along with, and can be trusted.
If you want to learn about becoming the leader everyone wants to follow and to build up your own ROI, you owe it to yourself to check out our Brilliant Leader Program. We know you, too, can achieve amazing results!