Ottawa, January 13 - “Man is by nature a political animal.” This is probably one of Aristotle's most famous quotes, and you may have come across it in a high school philosophy class. By employing the term “political animal,” Aristotle teaches us that every human being is destined by nature to live in a society, form associations, and get together.

This natural inclination towards societal life was termed later as sociation by Wolff, a German aviator in 1950, referring to “the seemingly innate need for a relationship with others” (Hargie, 2022). Furthermore, psychologically speaking, Maslow's hierarchy of needs shows that after basic needs comes the need for love and belonging, which contribute to mental health and well-being.

Thus, if creating bonds is an inherent need, we must satisfy it. What other way is there of doing so, if not by learning to communicate efficiently? Beyond being the answer to a natural need, communication is an art whose practical mastery gives us the confidence to build our relationships, construct our identity from what we learn, and, as entrepreneurs, establish trust with customers, pitch our ideas with ease, and achieve our professional goals. 

Why does communication matter for entrepreneurs?

While communication is essential and even vital for everyone, entrepreneurs operate in a field that requires adaptation. It’s about reaching out to people who are different from us and have different objectives and inviting them to join our cause. Therefore, an entrepreneur needs to adapt to his target audience, not just speaking the same language but understanding their environment and articulating what he's saying according to that environment.

This ability to adapt one's discourse to the environment goes hand in hand with the ability to convince. Once the target audience agrees to listen to what the entrepreneur has to offer, it's the entrepreneur's turn to be as convincing as possible in articulating his vision and objectives. From the very first words, he has the onerous task of keeping his audience hanging on his every word.

Moreover, when he succeeds in convincing his audience, the entrepreneur builds relationships with partners, investors, and customers. These relationships need to be nurtured over the long term, so he needs to be in constant contact with his stakeholders.

In addition, communication also matters for an entrepreneur in his team management. He must be a leader who cares for his employees by facilitating clear instructions, motivating them, resolving conflicts, and ensuring that diverse thinking is a must and that feedbacks are well received.

An entrepreneur is not only looking for customers or partners; in reality, it is more profound: it is about connecting and inspiring them.

What are four key skills an entrepreneur should develop?

Communication skills are an asset every human has to have to grow personally and professionally. Regarding entrepreneurs, there are four key skills, among many others, that an entrepreneur must absolutely develop and why he must be armed explicitly with each of them.

Effective communication is one in which the message does require deciphering and leaves no room for interference. An entrepreneur must be able to clearly articulate his message to ensure that it is easily understood by his audience because, once again, the aim is to convince while adapting to the language of our audience.

Earlier, I mentioned that an entrepreneur needs to learn how to communicate effectively to manage his team and show that he cares for them. Active listening fits into this framework because showing others that their opinions count is proof of our open-mindedness and emotional intelligence. It's essential for the company to make decisions together and to ensure that different perspectives are considered. Active listening is also part of customer and partner relations. It is necessary to develop this skill because it implies relationships based on empathy.

It can be considered the ultimate weapon for touching hearts. Whether personal or not, telling a story is always a good idea for engaging your audience, captivated by your narrative and touched by its sincerity. Mastering storytelling makes your company “human” in the eyes of your audience, and your story remains engraved in their memory. 

Non-verbal communication

It's impossible not to communicate. Every little thing, every detail, body language, gestures, facial expressions, and even not saying a word are forms of communication. While it can be a way of conveying emotions or feelings to our interlocutors, it's also a way for entrepreneurs to understand the needs of their audience and adapt their presentations to their actual expressions. Adopting non-verbal communication cues, knowing what we are silently transmitting to others, and learning how to read and interpret non-verbal reactions help to establish a better connection and bring clarity and confidence to stakeholders.

The negotiation scenario Van Lierde (2024) mentioned in his article is a good example of grasping this fourth skill. During a meeting, the founder of a technology startup notices that one of the potential investors is frequently consulting his watch and doesn't seem to be concentrating on the presentation. The founder pauses and asks the investor directly if he needs clarification.

The founder could read his interlocutor's non-verbal cues and respond effectively to his concerns, ensuring clear communication.

Connecting with people is a deep human need that must be satisfied by effective communication with others. Communication is of great importance for entrepreneurs because their job is to connect with people and convince them of the benefits of their brand. Therefore, developing skills such as storytelling, non-verbal communication, active listening, and clarity through education, training, practice, and acceptance of feedback is a good way for them to communicate effectively and, ultimately, lead their business to success.

Works Cited

Dooley, J. (2024, January 25). Why is Communication Important for Entrepreneurs? LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-communication-important-entrepreneurs-james-dooley-tos4c/

Van Lierde, F. (2024, January 19). 6 Essential Communication Skills for Startup Founders and Entrepreneurs + Examples. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/6-essential-communication-skills-startup-founders-frederik-van-lierde-lzxoe/

Hillion, M. (2020, March 24). Le guide pour maîtriser le storytelling : définition, étapes et conseils. Hubspot. Le guide pour maîtriser le storytelling : définition, étapes et conseils

Chanty team (2024, November 6). 10 Examples of Nonverbal Communication. 10 Examples of Nonverbal Communication | Chanty

Hargie (2022). The Features of Interpersonal Communication. The Features of Interpersonal Communication.pdf