Communication Tips from Valerie Torelli

It is imperative to learn how to communicate effectively in order to be successful in your business as well as in your personal life.  If you don’t have strong communication skills you will find yourself turning people off and/or losing potential business before you even get your business launched.  When you communicate effectively you may find people want to open doors to help you reach your goals.  This may include your parents, school instructors, advisors, business partners and even your customers/clients.

We are going to give you three tips for effective communication from Valerie Torelli, founder of Torelli Realty.  There are tips she finds essential in her real estate business and personal life.  We chose Valerie because she is one of the most highly rated women entrepreneurs presenting at the Realizing a Vision conferences.  Conference attendees described her as a “phenomenal person,” “engaging with the audience” and as a woman who “spoke to us as if we had been friends forever!  It made me feel so welcomed.”

You can learn more about Valerie and her business on the Torelli Realty Website. Each month in 2010 OC Metro magazine selected CEO’s considered to be the best in their respective fields, whether they were entrepreneurs or business owners. OC Metro recognized Valerie as their April 2010 CEO centerfold.

The tips on how to communicate effectively Valerie uses in business and her business life are found in The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.  

Tips to Communicate Effectively

1.  Be impeccable with your words:  Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using words to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use your words to elevate the conversation.  Most of us do not pay attention to how we express ourselves. We do not consciously choose our words, or the emotion, tone, and attitude that we express.  The responses that come out of our mouth are often automatic.

***My father use to say, “Think before you speak” as advice with speaking to family members and friends. He was a successful entrepreneur and I learned it was good advice to use in my business relationships.  Although sometimes it is hard to do.

 2. Do not take anything personally:  Taking things personally harms the relationship and hinders the communication process. Nothing people do is because of you.  it’s because of their perception and attitudes.

• This is a real-life example:  Young fashion designers typically have a hard time taking criticism about their work because they take things personally. They put their heart and sweat into designing the collections. It is their creation and their egos get in the way of making sales. It is truly difficult for them to sell to store buyers even when the buyer knows the designs are not a good fit for the customer.

3. Don’t make assumptions: None of us are mind readers. The more questions you ask, the less likely you are to make assumptions. How often do you assume information from a “reliable” source is accurate?

Do you have any suggestions on tips to communicate effectively?  Have you tried any of these tips or do you practice them and have stories to relate? Leave a message here or email at hello@girlsceoconnection.com.