You know those people who can start a conversation with anyone, about anything, at any time? These people are effective communicators. For parties and social occasions, their conversation is lighthearted and fun. For business, it is serious and knowledgeable. People like this are able to evaluate their audience and situation. One skill that crosses all lines of business is communication. Being able to tailor your style is essential.

We say that some people have the gift of gab. What they really have is the gift of getting people to do two things: first, to listen, and second, to understand. It is very difficult to use a single communication style: it’s like a carpenter with tools. That hammer is important, but screwdrivers, wrenches, and levels come in handy, too. Here are some techniques that I as a consultant employ to better serve my clients – but in fact, these ideas are helpful for anyone:

1. Understand my audience. At the beginning of every project I look to uncover: What motivates them? What concerns them? What is in it for them? This helps me to deliver my messages in a way that is compelling and meaningful to them.
2. Beware of the fear factor. Fear and completely autocratic leadership doesn’t work unless you’re in the military, and even drill sergeants are toning down their communication styles. Communications should always be respectful, immediate, and targeted towards the individual or group of individuals. I never put myself above anyone; I’m there to help, not to take over, demean, threaten, cajole, or intimidate.
3. Remember to whom you’re speaking with. As a consultant I must deliver the information that people need depending upon their role within an organization. For instance, at the ground level, I really drill into the details because these employees are concerned with the day-to-day functioning of the organization.

A CEO or board member, though, is not going to want what they consider minutia. In fact, if I delivered the same information to the CEO that I did to the ground-level employees, I’d be written off as someone who doesn’t “get it”. They don’t want the details; they want the bottom line.

Communication is a fundamental building block of business; it is the protein that makes organizations healthy. If there is one skill that is worth working at, it is being able to communicate. Luckily, we are all surrounded by opportunities to practice.