ARTICLE
Entrepreneur’s Important Tool : Ability to Communicate
Topics: business growth, communication skills, entrepreneurship, franchise business, media relations
Ever attended a forum of Entrepreneurs? Have you noted there are entrepreneurs who are so loved by media they often get invited or used as a resource person? Meanwhile there are Entrepreneurs who are hardly known as they delegate the task of being a spokesperson to their employee.
Who of the two types would you like to listen to? Are there chances you would even patronize their products upon hearing from how they began? Unless an entrepreneur has the resources to hire a professional publicist or Public Relations firm, he may escape facing this task.
For some people, the ability to communicate may be a taxing part or too challenging. I remember sometime a decade ago this lady friend began a very good coffee business concept. She was exposed to the media and requested to do guesting. To my surprise she had to plead and for me to face the camera and all those media people. She would rather prepare her dishes than face reporters and all those studio lights. I did give in but on temporary condition. First and fore most, I am not the owner of the business to speak of.
Now to fast track the timeline, this person is almost a jet setter giving talks before 30 to 500 people without any slight fear. She accepts invitations now in prestigious school in the Fort like Enderun College and even in one of the Ivy League the highly acclaimed Harvard! Rubs elbows even with US State Secretary Hillary Clinton. Every time I meet or even connect with her on Face Book, I would always remind her those frightful moments.
While it is true development of business concept and fine-tuning are important, an entrepreneur needs to develop the skill of communicating with the general public. Placing an advertisement or even billboards are not sufficient. Nowadays people want to see a face behind the product or service. I am not referring to merely hiring a celebrity endorser.
The young man who turned his 7-year-old business into Php. 3 Billion cash was before literally a man of few words. There were instances when he was awarded recognition for his company’s growth; his speech took no longer than 5 minutes.
What amazed me was see him deliver before a huge audience an eloquent speech. It was a rather lengthy speech. He wrote it himself.
Both entrepreneurs agree on the importance of the founder’s ability to share and express how the business began. People are eager to listen and even learn straight as they say from the horses’ mouth. This is true in offering a franchise to interested parties. I can always vouch on the hundreds of seminars I have given franchisers who can speak easily get franchisees.
It is never too late to break out of one’s shell. Rehearse before a mirror and deliver your talk. Later on it becomes a habit and be comfortable to share and talk in different venues.
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You may contact Armando “Butz” Bartolome for questions and more information.
By email: [email protected]
FB Page: Armando Bartolome
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