Seven ways to stay in touch

Your survival depends on it.

Your life is governed by it.What is it? Communication! Communication is vital for creating and maintaining effective relationships with family and friends.

In the business world, your job requires you to get along with others so you can exchange ideas with coworkers and customers to achieve goals.

If you want to enhance your relationships, increase your self-awareness or achieve more in your professional endeavors, then it is vital for you to improve your communication skills.

Here are seven easy and practical habits that you can employ to master your communication: Never offer an excuse.

Remember this: Nobody ever buys an excuse, even though most people are trying to sell one.

"I didn't because ..."What is your response when someone offers you an excuse? Do you really care? Are you annoyed? Lots of excuses are floating around as to why people are late, why they couldn't follow through or why they engage in poor behavior.

Excuses are little more than spineless rationalizations.

Set yourself apart from the majority by never uttering an excuse.

If for some reason you are late or do not follow through, you can apologize, but don't give an excuse because nobody really cares.

Only promise service and terms you know you can deliver.

Have people ever told you that they were going to do something yet they didn't follow through? Of course, it happens to all of us.

The question is: How does it make you feel when a person promises to deliver but doesn't? In our quest to please our friends, our family and our customers, we often promise more than we can deliver.

It's far better to get in the habit of under-promising and overdelivering.

This is true for personal as well as business dealings.

Don't promise your family you'll be home by 5 if you know you have a 4:30 meeting with a chatterbox.

Don't promise four-day turnaround to a customer if you've already promised the same thing to six others.

Give a realistic timeline and explain your policy of honesty in your projections.

Start asking instead of telling.

Do you like being told what to do? Few people do.

Actually, people generally resent being told what to do.

Unless you are a commander in the military, get in the habit of asking people to do what you would like them to do instead of telling them what to do.

Remember, people respond much better when they are asked rather than told.

Don't you? Keep negative thoughts and words to yourself.

If you choose to entertain negative thoughts, that's your choice.

But avoid sharing and infecting others with your negativity.

Keep your negative opinions of other people, your pessimistic perspectives and your acerbic disposition to yourself.

Nobody really wants to hear what you have to say when everything out of your mouth is bitter and defeating.

Do everyone around you a favor and keep it to yourself.

Better yet, do yourself a favor and change.

When meeting new people, introduce yourself first.

Be proactive, not reactive.

Avoid waiting for others to break the ice.

Take the initiative to meet and greet new people.

This behavior communicates your confidence and willingness to be open and accepting of others.

Be the first to give your name, to offer a handshake or a friendly wave.

Not only will you improve how you are perceived, you will also open yourself up to a wealth of new opportunities and experiences.

Clearly define and communicate your role.

Most problems with business partners, employees or family members can easily be avoided by defining and communicating your role.

Take out a sheet of paper and define your role at work and at home.Write a list of things that you believe are your duties and responsibilities in both areas of your life.

Share your role with your family.

Ask them if they think you need to add or delete anything from the list.

Do the same thing with your career role.

This will help clear up any unnecessary expectations or miscommunications.

Criticize the behavior, not the person.

A reprimand can correct behavior, but telling someone that they are a bad person or that they are useless or worthless only supports current poor behavior.

Nobody likes to feel as though they are inadequate.

That's why it is crucial to zero-in on specific behavior and how to correct that behavior, not condemn the person.

Once again, think back to how you have responded to both insults and constructive criticism.Which was more effective? Your success and happiness is directly related to your ability to communicate effectively.

Practice these straightforward, no nonsense communication habits and you'll experience an immediate improvement in your business and personal life.

Best of success to you! Jeffrey Benjamin is the founder of Breakthrough Training and co-author of the Real Life Habits for Success book series.

Visit www.breakthroughtraining.com to learn more.