Think Before You Speak

Not only do landmen need to communicate effectively through writing, but they also need strong verbal communication skills. This is obviously especially important for those of you who negotiate with landowners, but it applies to everyone else as well. Some of the other things we have talked about also come into play here: being clear and concise, and keeping your audience’s perspective in mind are good tips when speaking to others. Here are a few other things to focus on when trying to improve your verbal communication skills:

1. Be friendly and polite.
2. Truly listen to the other person (don’t just think about the next thing you are going to say while he/she is talking).
3. Be well-prepared and confident, but if you don’t know the answer to something, say so (and then go figure it out and follow up, if needed).
4. Don’t forget about eye contact and body language.