This article was originally published in the Spring 2024 issue of ICON/REFINED.

You know how important building professional relationships is to your business, and now, research is providing insight on tips to be viewed as an essential team member. 

In this Frontiers in Psychology study, researchers examined how individuals become part of communication networks. The study found that people who communicated more during trainings or events were more likely to be chosen as central members of team networks. The study participants who stood out as central members seemed to have two things in common: They communicated frequently and they showcased their task-related expertise, eluding that they were experts in a selected field. 

The combination of knowledge, and being able to communicate that knowledge, urged other participants to look to them for leadership. 

Speak Up–and Better

Find yourself often getting tongue-tied? Here are some ways to own your authority. 

1. Prepare and Practice. Develop a list of your accomplishments and skills, then practice saying them out loud in front of a mirror, to a friend, or as a recording. 
2. Use the STAR Method. When talking about accomplishments or experiences, explain them in this order: Situation, Task, Action, Result. 
3. Join Professional Groups. Get confident by osmosis: Being surrounded by other entrepreneurs will give you hints and tricks you can steal on how to communicate about your business. 
4. Build Your Personal Brand. Having to determine exactly what makes you stand out as a business owner will help you speak on it later on.