How to Communicate with Influence to Improve Your Business

When you get dressed in the morning, how do you decide between a T-shirt and a suit? 

When you drive to work, how do you know whether to stop or go when you reach a junction? When approaching a new client, how do you convince them to trust you with their business?

Everything sends a message, but some of these messages cut through the constant stimuli of our world better than others. These messages, the ones that stick with us, have been communicated with influence. Not only do we clearly understand these messages, but they also drive us to take action. 

Take the crossroads on your drive to work. The red light isn’t a suggestion, and the green light isn’t something to act on later in the day when you get around to it. They are clear signals that we respond to accordingly.

When it comes to communication between people, the messages we send aren’t always so black and white (or red and green), but if we are intentional about how we share our ideas, we can communicate with influence, too.

Why Communicate with Influence?

Your Message Matters

Understanding the message that you want to share is half the battle. If you’re already this far, congratulations! You’ve come up with something that will improve the lives of yourself and others. 

However, no matter how good your idea is, ineffective communication can stop your message long before it lands. Don’t let poor communication stand between you and a prosperous business. 

In 2008, Airbnb’s founders were struggling to get their message across to potential investors. The concept of renting out air mattresses in someone’s living room didn’t sound like a scalable business model.

Their initial pitch focused heavily on the technical aspects of their platform, but it didn’t resonate. Investors couldn’t see the value or the market potential.

Then, the founders reframed their pitch by telling the story of how travelers could find unique, affordable stays while helping hosts earn extra income. They focused on the emotional connection, belonging anywhere, and how it solved real problems for both guests and hosts.

This change in messaging made all the difference. Investors began to understand the potential, and Airbnb secured the funding they needed to grow.

The lesson? Even the best ideas can fail if the message isn’t clear, relatable, and emotionally compelling. Your message truly matters, it’s the bridge between your vision and your audience’s buy-in.

Your Time Matters

Have you ever found yourself repeating an idea over and over, but the message never seems to land?

This repetition is not only an enormous drain on your energy, but it is also a monumental waste of time. Attention spans are shorter, and work days are more jam-packed. The problem may not lie in how your message is received, but in how it is communicated.

The more specific you are about communicating with influence, the more time you can free up for the rest of the things that matter in your life: your business, your family, and your well-being.

Your Business Matters

25 years ago, Bill Gates and Collins Hemingway wrote about how technology, namely a fairly new phenomenon called the internet, had brought business to the speed of thought. Today, information is shared at an almost incomprehensible rate. 

We have less and less time to communicate exactly what we want on the first try, and the consequences of ineffective communication could be your livelihood. We now operate in a world where decisions are made in seconds, emails flood inboxes within moments, and first impressions are formed in the blink of an eye.

This relentless flow of information presents both an incredible opportunity and a significant challenge. On one hand, we can share ideas, connect with customers, and expand our businesses faster than ever before. On the other, this speed leaves little room for error. Your ability to communicate your message clearly and persuasively, right from the start, is often the deciding factor between gaining or losing an opportunity.

A poorly written pitch, an unclear presentation, or an awkward conversation with a potential client doesn’t just risk misunderstanding, it risks your credibility. In a crowded market, where your competitors are also vying for attention, ineffective communication can cause your message to be ignored, forgotten, or dismissed entirely.

In this high-speed, high-stakes environment, you don’t get endless chances to clarify your point. Whether you’re pitching to a client, rallying your team, or sharing your vision with stakeholders, your ability to articulate your message with precision and influence can make or break your business outcomes.

How to Communicate with Influence

There are many tools for adapting your message to influence effective communication. These methods are guaranteed to elevate your messaging, leading you on the path to improving your work, team, and life.

Communicate through Storytelling

The first step of communicating with influence is defining the story you’re telling. You may be thinking, “I have a business to run, not a story to tell.” However, storytelling is one of the most effective ways to build a thriving business. 

The key to good storytelling is that it is not about you. It is about the people who are listening to you. To be hooked at the start, compelled to listen throughout, and motivated to take action at the end, your audience should understand why your story applies to them. 

If your business was a story, who would you be speaking to? What do they need to hear? How can you help them achieve a better future?

A storytelling structure engages the logical and emotional parts of our listeners’ brains, creating a powerful pitch that’s easy to remember and influences action.

Communicate through Body Language

Most of our communication is nonverbal, so it makes sense to pay attention to our body language when learning to communicate with influence.

This can be pared down to something as simple as hand placement. 

Imagine that you are shaking hands with a stranger. If that person were to approach you with their palm facing down, that is a gesture that emphasises dominant statements. It communicates self-assuredness and groundedness.

If that person were to approach you with their palm facing up, the message is entirely different. It communicates a more open, friendly message. 

The same concept can be applied to gestures. As an exercise, face your palms up and say, “I’m sure these facts are correct.” Now, face your palms down and repeat the same phrase. 

Which one feels more strong and certain?

Your palms are only one tool in your nonverbal communication toolbox. These can be paired with your posture, your stance, your movement, or even the framing of your zoom screen on a video call, which I covered in an earlier blog, “Why Digital Body Language Matters.”

Communicate with Your Voice

For some people, the voice can be difficult to unlock, but rest assured, there are many tools at your disposal.

If you struggle to access your voice, first pay attention to your body and breath. Is there tension in your body? Unclenching your jaw, relaxing your shoulders, and straightening your posture should be at the top of your vocal checklist. 

Then, you can remind yourself to breathe. For a full, deep breath, try this method:

• Stand or sit upright, keeping your body relaxed with one hand placed on your stomach.
• Push all of the air out of your lungs, making a “shhhh” sound.
• Keep your body upright as you push out all the air, until you have nothing left.
• Pause for two seconds, keeping your hand on your stomach.
• Relax and allow the air to come back in naturally. 

Once our body and breath are aligned, we can focus on the ways in which we use our voices. At Body Talk, we like to focus on the 5 P’s: Pitch, Pace, Pause, Projection, and Passion. 

Pitch

We associate different pitches with different messages. If you need to land a serious message, your highest pitch might have a comedic effect. If you are sharing good news, a low pitch may leave your listener confused. Choose the pitch that is congruous with your message. 

Pace

Pitch and pace are like twins. A high pace creates a sense of excitement, while a low pace communicates a greater sense of gravitas. Together, they amplify each other. 

Be sure that you are aware of both your pitch and pace when you are preparing presentations. When left on their own, these tools can take on a life of their own, but when practiced with intention, they will bring renewed depth and meaning to your communication.

Pause

This tool indicates that whatever you are about to say is worth waiting for. It should be used sparingly because one or two important points are far more memorable than fifteen.

The pause works visually as well. Think of a shop window. If one dress is on display on its own, it seems exclusive and buyers are prepared to pay more for it. What part of your message is the high value item? How are you going to use the pause to put it on display?

Projection

Most people think projection just means speaking loudly, but it’s more than that.

If volume is something that you struggle with, then you know that reminding yourself to speak up usually isn’t a very useful technique.

To get your power right, go to the room that you will be speaking in (or a similar-sized space). Imagine that there are candles all the way on the other end of the room. Through the breathing exercise described above, use the “shhhh” sound to feel how much energy you need to reach those candles. Then, speak using the same support muscles, imagining people listening at the back. 

If you catch yourself straining, pause and take a deep yawn to open your throat and release the tension in your body. Then, try again, supporting your voice from deep within your body.

Passion

If you apply all of the techniques that we’ve mentioned above, but you do so without true passion, then none of them will work. 

If you are struggling to connect with what makes you passionate about your message, try talking out loud about one of your other passions, then switch to the content of your message. You can also practice your presentation while listening to your favorite music or an inspirational movie soundtrack. 

Speaking from a place of passion will drive your message and influence others to take action. 

Looking for more tips when it comes to your voice? Check out Richard’s blog, “How To Develop Your Unique Presentation Voice.

Communicating with Influence is the Key to Success

In a world where time is short, attention spans are shorter, and competition is fierce, your ability to communicate with influence is the game-changer that sets you apart. It’s not just about being heard; it’s about being understood, remembered, and trusted. Whether you’re pitching an idea, rallying a team, or building a business, effective communication bridges the gap between vision and action, creating the momentum needed for growth and success.

Ready to elevate your communication skills? At Body Talk, we empower individuals and teams to transform their message into meaningful impact. Explore our tailored training solutions here. Let’s make your communication unforgettable.