Sometimes little things make a big difference. Here are some easy ways to get a competitive edge.
In a world where people and products alike are increasingly seen as replaceable commodities, you can't afford not to seem just a little bit more professional than your competition.
Here are five easy tweaks:
1. Hire a Copy Editor
There's no denying that business communications have become increasingly casual as people more frequently use email, messaging, blogs and so forth. This creates an opportunity, because you can now create an aura of superior professionalism simply by communicating with error-free text ... especially if your competition is winging it.
If you're not capable of writing perfect copy yourself, though, hire a copy editor to go over your most important documents–even emails. It's surprisingly inexpensive. I've had good experiences with PureText, but if they're too busy, it shouldn't be too difficult to locate an alternative.
2. Speak More Clearly
I've interviewed hundreds of top executives, and the most successful (like Larry Ellison and Michael Dell) have well-modulated voices and tend to speak slowly and clearly. The wannabes, on the other hand, talk fast, say "uh ..." or "like ..." in the middle of their sentences or, worst of all, have that annoying little uptick at the end of a sentence that turns it from a statement into a question.
To sound more professional, record your voice when you're talking in person and on the telephone, listen carefully to the playback, become aware of what you're doing, then try again. Repeat until you've learned to slow down and speak more clearly. If necessary, hire a vocal coach.
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