Open, Direct and Clear Communication

There are many intelligent and accomplished people of color doing great work and sharing their advice and expertise. We reached out to a woman who is influencing and changing lives through sales and building relationships. She has shared with us that being open, direct and clear with your communication can be an asset in accomplishing great things. Read her approach for getting it right:

One of the mainstays of success is open, direct, and clear communication. So often in this

journey called success, we want notoriety and prestige. Yet, we are unclear how to communicate our way to achieve the desired outcome.

Open communication signifies being willing to speak your truth. It’s not a matter of whether or not someone likes what’s being stated, but whether you are willing to share your

thoughts with truth and honesty. So often, many choose not to communicate as opposed to

simply speaking their truth.

How is direct communication exemplified? An example of direct communication is harnessing the power of the phone call. So often today, business owners choose to text and email important information. In text and email, concepts and meanings can be misconstrued. The most successful and meaningful dialogue comes from active voice communication. A phone call allows for a clear understanding of tones and concepts. I say, “stop hiding behind text and email!”

Clear communication is saying exactly what you mean. I have experienced times when individuals loved skating around words. Either for fear of rejection and owning their truth or intentionally leaving room for statements to be misconstrued to attain some short lived advantage. I believe that you should say precisely what you mean, precisely the way you mean it. It is a winning formula for success. In my experience, the clearer a person communicates, the more successful they are. It has worked for me and I challenge you to rise above your inhibitions and create open, direct, and clear communication.

Jo Ann M. Allen,

Future Executive Senior Sales Director, Mary Kay Cosmetics

CEO and Founder, Clarity and Confidence, LLC.

JoAnn is a speaker, motivator, coach, master networker and trainer that specializes in helping women achieve clarity with their purpose and gain the confidence to run towards their vision. As a Mary Kay National Sales Consultant, she has helped guide and advise women for more than a decade. Her successful work with Mary Kay has provided an opportunity to continue to share and inspire other women to success in whatever arena they are maneuvering.