How can you use communication skills to succeed as a self-employed professional?

Knowing your audience is important because it makes it easier to create information that will resonate with the people or groups you want to serve or help. Besides, if you want to be known for what you are passionate about, being intentional about it is necessary. By the way, there are people who you may not know that can benefit from your knowledge and, by sharing consistently about your subject area or area of focus, will help to attract your ideal audience.

Self- employed? Then you are your own Boss and your own CEO ! Here are top 5 tips to be your best PR agent too: 1. Clarity 2. Authenticity 3. Confidence 4. Follow on 5. Passion

Drawing from my role as MD of the Image Consulting Business Institute and experience as a Serial Entrepreneur, recognizing our audience is a cornerstone of team success. We use straightforward methods such as talks, surveys, and understanding our strengths and areas to improve (SWOT analysis) to know our team better. Connecting our values with this insight ensures we tailor our communication to resonate with everyone. Whether through team meetings or informal check-ins, it's about understanding the unique qualities of our audience—our team members. This approach cultivates stronger bonds and ensures our collective journey is inclusive and successful.

As MD of the Image Consulting Business Institute and a Serial Entrepreneur, I've learned that team success thrives on assertiveness. We use simple methods like talks, surveys, and understanding our strengths and areas to improve (SWOT analysis) to assertively define our goals. Connecting our values with this assertive approach ensures everyone is aligned. Regular check-ins and open communication create a culture of assertiveness within our team. It's about confidently steering towards success, making decisions that align with our values, and ensuring everyone's voice is heard.

Being more emotionally aware can improve how you engage with others. This in turn can positively impact your communication by adapting your style and language to suit your audience.

In my role as MD of the Image Consulting Business Institute and a Serial Entrepreneur, I've learned that the journey to success involves a continuous exchange of feedback. Using simple methods like talks, surveys, and understanding our strengths and areas to improve (SWOT analysis), we create a culture of open communication. Connecting our values with this feedback loop ensures constructive exchanges that align with our mission. Regular check-ins and a receptive environment empower our team to grow collectively. It's about fostering a culture where feedback is a catalyst for improvement, driving us toward shared success.

Your social emotional intelligence can only grow through practical experience with others. That's the same for both extroverts and introverts, so remember to practice self-compassion and acceptance when receiving feedback. Notice your self-talk, and adjust or reframe to change your behaviour.

Building relationships is critical. It helps to build your network and connect with like-minded individuals. Building relationships doesn't always have to be about those who can provide you with opportunities. When working for yourself, you want to connect and build relationships with people who share your interests and want to make some of the same changes you want to make in the world. You have to understand that you will not know everyone who may potentially need what you have to offer and when you build genuine relationships with people you meet along the way those people can later connect you to opportunities. However, that's not the only reason to build those relationships. You want to do the same for others as well.

One thing I found helpful in building relationships is being transparent and understanding what all parties are looking to accomplish.

Build relationships by showing real interest. So have that coffee while you don’t need that gig at that particular moment. This is offering your time when it’s not needed. People will recognize this (in the long run).

If you're self-employed, relationship management is your cornerstone. As your emotional intelligence evolves and grows, your relationships and how you connect and maintain them, will also grow. Ultimately, fostering strong connections becomes not just a professional strategy, but the very heartbeat of your success.

If you can deeply reflect on understanding your triggers for tension, stress, and resistance, you will foster emotional awareness to identify these as they occur. That's the first step in creating a pause so you can respond intentionally instead of on autopilot.

Self-awareness helps us to identify our emotional response to situations and has a predictive element to stress. When interacting with others, we can often be triggered into reacting a certain way. Self-awareness necessitates that we already understand how we might react and are able to proactively assess our emotional state, responding appropriately in a given situation.

- Articulate services clearly and negotiate confidently - Develop a strong online presence through a professional website and social media - Efficiently manage time and communicate project progress - Handle feedback graciously and document agreements thoroughly - Hone presentation skills for effective client interaction - Network proactively, attend events, and follow up on connections - Embrace continuous learning and stay informed about industry trends - Share knowledge with clients and peers - Maintain professionalism in all written and verbal communications - Foster positive relationships for long-term success as a self-employed professional.

Learn to say NO and establish your boundaries. You'll have to hold yourself accountable and keep yourself in check because it's easy to fall into a slippery slope which will lead straight to burn out!