What’s one skill you can develop today that will make you several times more valuable than you are today? The answer to this question is probably not what you think. So in today’s video, you will get to know how to develop that one skill that, according to the third richest person in the world, will increase your value by at least 50 percent. And 50 percent here, is just being modest. This one skill can skyrocket your professional life to a whole new level.
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You’ve probably heard of Warren Buffet; the man who is said to be the third richest guy today. Buffett is one of the best persons you can get advice from if you are looking to become successful. And this has nothing to do with whether you live in a different society from him or not. Success principles are mostly universal. So you can definitely learn from the success of someone from a different society, such as Buffet’s.
Anyway, a 22 year old entrepreneur named Michael Hood had the chance to ride with Buffett in a car after being assigned as the multibillionaire’s escort for the day. He took the opportunity to ask Buffet the following question.
“What’s one tip you can give to people who are 21, 22, just graduating school?”
Without hesitation Buffet said
“It’s very simple. Invest in yourself. The one easy to become worth (at least) 50 percent more than you are now, is to hone your communication skills, both written and verbal”.
This was a simple, yet very clear answer. If you want to increase your worth, invest in developing your communication skill. If you cannot communicate, nothing happens. You can have all the brainpower in the world, but you have to be able to transmit it.
I think Buffet was being modest with the ‘50 percent’ increase. You can multiple your personal value by several whole numbers by developing your communication skill.
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People who can communicate clearly have a massive advantage over everyone else. Knowing the right words to use at the right time is among the most powerful skills you can possess. Politicians, entertainers, salespeople, bankers, realtors, insurance brokers and just about any other profession all thrive on effective communication.
If you really want to increase your worth by 50 percent, 100 percent, even 1,000 percent. What you really need is not more formal education or more money. What you need is increased personal value. So how can you develop this all important, life changing skill? Here are 7 practical steps to become a better communicator.
1. Look for Opportunity to Speak to a small group
No number of books you read about effective communication can prepare you to communicate effectively. The only way to develop this skill is to take up responsibilities that afford you opportunities to speak to people. Look out and seize any opportunity to speak.
2. Join a Public Speaking Club
In his 20s Warren Buffet was an awkward communicator. He dreaded anything that would put him in the spotlight. In his words, “I was terrified of public speaking when I was in high school and college. I couldn’t do it.”
Realizing how valuable this skill was, he enrolled in a public speaking course by Dale Carnegie. That, for him was a life-changing experience. He was 20 then, and today he values this training in public speaking more than his college and graduate school diploma. If you are afraid of public speaking, follow this advice. Look for opportunities to develop your public speaking skill. Toastmasters International is a great place to develop public speaking and leadership skills through a variety of activities. Look for a Toastmasters Club near you and register.
3. Write and Practice
Once you get an opportunity to speak, take the time to write your speech. Fine tune it as you rehearse. If you are to speak for 10 minutes, spend at least 120 minutes rehearsing your speech. It is best if you spread this time through different days so that you can sleep over it. This will help you internalize you speech rather than cramming it. If you are starting out, this exercise will likely not eliminate your nervousness, but early preparation will increase your confidence when you step up to speak
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4. Be an avid reader
Nothing gives more confidence than knowing what you are speaking about. Reading books opens you up to different worlds, diverse ideas, knowledge and information. People want to listen to someone who have something valuable to say. And the more people want to listen to you, the more confident you become.
5. Speak to one person
The most effective way to communicate with a group of people is to speak to one person at the time. Having a conversation with someone is not as daunting as speaking to a crowd. Instead of staring at the ceiling, and avoiding to make eye contact, pick the most interested person in the audience and speak to that on one person at every moment. Switch to another person at interval.
What this does is that it makes you appear more confident and interested in the audience. And as you are speaking to one person, every other person in the audience feels like you are speaking to them.
6. Remember to Pause
Often, out of anxiety, there is the temptation of wanting to rush through what you have to say so that you can get off the spotlight. Then you forget to pause and breathe. The pause is one of the most powerful moments of every great speech. [pause] It’s perfectly okay to pause and recollect your thoughts while at the spotlight.
Note this: your nervousness is not as visible to your audience as you think or feel. Your mind is over exaggerating it. Never apologize for being nervous. Pause, Breathe and speak.
7. Repeat! Repeat! Don’t forger to Repeat!
Developing the skill to communicate effectively before a group of people is like staying healthy. You have to keep eating right. Once you have taken that first step, resolve to accept any opportunity to speak.
If there is one thing you should take away from this video, this is it. Decide to accept any opportunity to speak. Decide to take on the next speaking challenge. And then the next… In the words of Mark Twain, “Do the things you fear most and the death of your fear is certain”
If you are afraid of public speaking, follow this advice. Look for opportunities to develop your public speaking skill. Reading books is not enough. You need to step out and practice.
The real payoff will come when you can put your newfound skills to use in your career or business. Your self confidence will increase; your personal value will increase as a result; and you could just increase your worth by 50, 100 or even 1,000 percent.
What steps are you taking to develop your communication skills? Let us know in the comment section. If you found this video helpful, thumb up and share it with someone. If you are yet to subscribe to After School Africa this is likely a good time to subscribe. Until next time, YOUR SUCCESS MATTERS!
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