Ethical Communication Skills

Ethical sales hacks I know now I wish I knew starting out: (Here's how to keep the ball in the air long enough to score) ➠ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁: Building trust isn't just good ethics, it's good business. Early in my career, I learned hard sales might bring quick wins, but trust wins the marathon. Here’s how: • Reputation • Consistency • Authenticity • Transparency ➠ 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: Listening more than talking is a game-changer. Stop thinking about what you’re going to say next. There is nothing more important than giving your full attention to the person in front of you. It's not about convincing; it's about understanding needs and providing solutions: • Active listening • Tailored solutions • Clarifying questions ➠ 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲: I used to think closing was everything. Now I know providing value upfront builds stronger, lasting relationships: • Build credibility • Share knowledge • Solve a small problem for free Prove you can help by actually helping. ➠ 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: In negotiations, honesty creates more than deals—it builds bridges. Overselling or hiding facts can backfire: • Be upfront about limits • Seek win-win outcomes • Don't promise what you can't deliver How you do one thing is how you do everything. ➠ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 ‘𝗡𝗼': Respecting a ‘no’ can be more powerful than pushing a yes. It shows respect and leaves the door open for future opportunities: • Long-term mindset • Respect boundaries • No means not now, not never Don’t ignore them though, there’s nothing wrong with reaching out in the future. There’s nothing better than circling back to share some new info and picking up a new client in the same stride. ➠ 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲: Education is the heart of ethical selling. Help clients make informed decisions, rather than pushing for a sale with: • Clear explanations • Informative content • Honesty about pros and cons And moreover, shine a light on new problems they’ll have to deal with after experiencing your product or service. That’s growth—solve one problem and unlock a new better one. Rinse and repeat. ➠ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Patience in sales was a tough lesson. Rushing clients can lead to resentment. Time can be a powerful tool in building desire and trust: • Don’t rush decisions • Follow-up, don’t push • Build relationships over time ➠ 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: Ethical sales is about constant learning and adapting. Reflect on your interactions, seek feedback, and always aim to improve with: • Self-reflection • Constructive feedback • Continuous improvement 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰; 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗽𝗵𝘆. It’s about doing right by your clients and yourself, building a business that stands the test of time. What’s your take on ethical selling? 💬 (Tell me below) ↓

Ever thought your communication skills could make you a better hacker or cybersecurity pro? They absolutely can, and it's a game-changer! 🔑 In the high-stakes world of digital defense, how you articulate threats, share insights, and collaborate is as crucial as your technical prowess. Inspired by timeless principles of "Right Speech" – a concept rooted in mindfulness and ethical conduct – we can elevate our communication to new heights. To be a truly effective #Cybersecurity professional, first, let's consider what to avoid: 🚫 Lying: Whether it's about a vulnerability's severity or project status, dishonesty erodes trust faster than any exploit. Transparency builds credibility. 🚫 Divisive Talk: Security is a team sport. Gossiping or creating factions undermines cohesion, which is vital during an incident. 🚫 Harsh Speech: Delivering critical feedback or incident details with aggression shuts down communication. A calm, professional tone encourages receptivity. 🚫 Idle Chatter/Gossip: Stick to facts, solutions, and relevant information. Speculation and rumor-mongering distract from the mission. Now, let's focus on cultivating powerful, impactful communication. Before you speak or type, ask yourself: Is my message... ✅ Timely? Delivering a critical alert too late can have devastating consequences. Knowing when to speak is key. ✅ True? Every report, analysis, or warning must be grounded in verifiable facts and accurate data. Our credibility depends on it. ✅ Gentle? Even when sharing uncomfortable truths, maintaining a respectful and empathetic tone helps others hear and absorb the message. Think firm but fair. ✅ Beneficial? Is your communication constructive? Does it aim to solve a problem, educate, or improve a situation, rather than just complain or criticize? ✅ Kind? Approaching discussions with an underlying intent of goodwill fosters stronger relationships, better collaboration, and a more resilient security posture. Mastering these communication principles isn't just about being "nice"; it's a strategic advantage. It leads to clearer incident response, more effective security policies, better cross-departmental collaboration, and ultimately, a more secure organization. Your words have power – use them wisely. This is what many of the people who talk to me get, I often try and teach people about "undo harm" Is this nessacary. Will this help the team? Will this benefit a client? What's one communication habit you're working on improving in your #InfoSec journey? Share below! 

When I first started leading teams, I thought being a good communicator meant being a good talker. But I quickly learned that listening is more important than speaking. 👂 Active Listening Active listening is about giving the speaker your undivided attention, maintaining eye contact, and asking clarifying questions. It's about understanding your team members' concerns, ideas, and perspectives. By doing so, you build trust, avoid misunderstandings, and create a safe space for open communication. ✍️ Clear and Concise Language As a leader, you'll be communicating with team members who have different backgrounds, experiences, and communication styles. That's why clear and concise language is essential. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that might confuse others. Instead, use simple language and provide specific examples to illustrate your point. This helps ensure your message is understood and acted upon. 💬 Regular Feedback Providing regular feedback is an important part of effective communication. It's about sharing your thoughts and observations with team members in a way that's helpful and constructive. This helps your team members grow and improve, and it also shows you're invested in their success. 👀 Transparency As a leader, you set the tone for your team's culture. Transparency is about sharing information openly, explaining decisions and rationales, and being approachable. By being transparent, you build trust and credibility with your team, and you create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. ❤️ Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence is also important for effective communication. It's about recognizing and managing your own emotions to effectively manage others. Practice self-awareness, empathy, and social skills to build strong relationships with your team. 🤓 Asking Open-Ended Questions I've also found that asking open-ended questions can be a powerful way to encourage critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. Use questions that begin with what, how, or why to stimulate discussion and exploration. 🚶 Being Approachable and Available Finally, being approachable and available is important. Make time for your team members, be responsive to messages and emails, and be willing to help. By doing so, you create a safe and supportive environment where people feel comfortable coming to you with questions, concerns, or ideas. Effective communication is a skill that takes practice, patience, and persistence. It's okay to make mistakes because you'll always be learning and growing. By following these strategies, you'll be well on your way to becoming a effective communicator and a successful leader. What's a question that's challenged your thinking and made you think differently? --- 🔔 Ready to think differently about your technology career? Follow me for hard-won insights and expert advice. I've spent years learning the hard way so you don't have to.

I did an exercise with students this morning. I asked them: What does it take to communicate well? What is the nature of communication excellence? How would you answer it? Most of my students' answers reflect a view of communication as a technical art designed to control the appearance of connection. They said that what matters is: "eye contact, vocal variety, appearing confident, nonverbal, being assertive," and more. None of the answers, however, recognized that communicating well is more than transmitting messages. It is also an ethical stance toward more courageous forms of living (and relating). Great communicators do not just master techniques to present themselves with confidence or control their audience. Excellent communicators should embody our greatest virtues: the capacity for compassion, generosity, courage, humility, and love. More than 25 years ago, my favorite professor taught me that "Communication is relationship, not technique." It took me a while to really understand this fundamental principle, but our obsession with communication is becoming too much about whether we can control every aspect of ourselves and perform for others -- and less about what really matters -- which is learning to become kinder, more gentle, and more loving. Or, as he put it, to "move from being of a kind to being kind." #artofpositivecommunication #positivecommunication #communicationskills