Why Communication is the Most Important Skills for Business Leaders

What did Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill and Gandhi have in common? They were all excellent communicators. Their speech could galvanize the entire nation and spur everyone to follow their footsteps. Think about what they have accomplished by defining a clear vision and communicating that effectively and in simple terms so that even tan illiterate person could understand what he was being asked to do, and would do it without asking any question.

Such is the power of effective communication. While good communication is no doubt important in politics, its importance is no less in the business world. When you think about it a business leader is tasked with the same mission as a political leader – to galvanize the entire organization to rally behind him and give everything to the business he works for so that the business would prosper.



That is why business schools as well as great companies pay so much attention to verbal and written communication. When hiring a new employee he is asked about his communication skills. When promoting someone to a leadership position his communication skills are being looked at very carefully.

So what constitutes good communication skill? According to this article “Good communication means the intended message you send is received by your audience without any distortions in meaning.” A good communicator is able to deliver the message in a concise and clear fashion so that the audience understands exactly what he is asking them to do. In this age the medium of communication has proliferated significantly. You can not only deliver verbal message in person or via Podcast, you can also deliver the same message in written form via email, Twitter, blog, video or even in pictorial form.

Does Open Office Environment Really Work in Business?

Open office environment has been talk of the town these days. If you visit offices of start-ups n Silicon Valley or even in well established companies the leaders are tearing down the walls of cubicles and putting up open desks. According to International Facility Management Association, nearly 70 percent of companies have open office environment.

The open offices take various shapes in different companies. Some have just long table and chairs along it so employees are sitting side by side. In other places they still keep the cubicle walls, but the height is reduced so that employees can see each other without having to get up. In some other offices you will also find open spaces where employees can gather to discuss.



Collaboration is the primary benefit being touted for creating open office environment. The argument is that when employees are sitting in close proximity without any walls they are able to have impromptu meetings and brainstorming sessions. This in turn leads to quick resolution or even new ideas. But the question is – does open office environment really work? There have been several studies done recently that make the case that it does not help. On the contrary it hurts employee productivity and even collaboration. According to the study conducted by Science Direct majority of 42,000 participants in their study were dissatisfied with the open offices.

How to Stretch your Money to Succeed as Entrepreneur

As a small business owner or an entrepreneur your resources are very limited, which means you have to watch your cash flow very carefully. Every penny saved is a penny earned. Making your money go further will help you stay in the business longer and compete effectively in the market. There are number of ways in which you can save money on your everyday operations. Here are few of the important suggestions you can follow to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Source used office equipment

Don’t spend hundreds on funky office furniture – head to garage sales, Gumtree, even the spring sale at Ikea – to kit out your workspace. If you’re creative, upscale the bargains you find in charity shops or even from a skip! When it comes to office supplies you can save a bundle by buying inkjet cartridges from vendors that are selling them up to 80% cheaper online.

Bring back bartering

Bartering is a great strategy to get products or services without having to pay cash. Talk to friends, associates, old colleagues and neighbours and see if you can’t do each other a few favours. Your hairdresser could accept some of your flyers in return for you posting a good review on Facebook, or you could offer some tax advice in return for some carpentry.

Use free resources for managing daily tasks

Don’t buy pricey management software or sign up to a subscription service before looking at the free software alternatives. You might download the free version of a more expensive programme – ok it doesn’t have all the whistles and bells, but it helps – to tide you over until you’re a bit more flush.