Tips for Improving Your Communication Skills
Even though some people say that we’re completely hopeless because we don’t communicate with each other anymore, that’s not true. As a matter of fact, the art of communication has never been this appreciated, especially when you take into consideration social media, Zoom meetings, Skype calls and all the voice messages and tests we’ve been sending. Communication is present at work, at home, in your relationships, with your friends and with all other people that come your way. So how can you work on your communication skills to get your messages across more clearly?
Be a good listener
The communication contains two parts—speaking and listening. So before you even open your mouth, try to listen as carefully as possible. The worst thing you can do for communication is constantly interrupt your communication partner. This is bad for communication and very rude on your side. Be an active listener by nodding and asking additional questions. Even if you’re scared you’ll forget what you have to add, be patient until the other side finishes their thoughts. Forgetful people might want to write down their main points.
Be concise
They say that the best communicators can convey their message in only a few brisk and carefully picked words. The longer it takes for you to get the message across, the weaker your communication is. So when talking, pick a relevant story and get to the point quickly. This makes you interesting to listen to and everyone will pay attention when you start telling your storing or sharing jokes or important announcements.
Talk loud and clear
Even though you might not have any problems voicing your concerns, the way you say things can be misinterpreted if you don’t talk clearly and loudly. People who have any sort of speech impediment might want to see a professional and work on their issues. There are excellent experts in speech therapy who can work with individuals suffering from communication difficulties, speech difficulties, issues with listening and understanding language, reading and writing, etc. Stuttering can be a very big issue for sufferers and some even decide to give up speaking altogether. A speech therapist can greatly help here and offer good tips on speech and confidence.
Manage you tone
You probably know those people who always sound like robots. It’s not so good to have a perpetually serious tone to your voice, even in casual settings. The same goes for an overly-animated tone in serious settings—they both sound out of place. If you can come off as pleasant and friendly but not easily manipulated, you’ll strike the right tone for most situations. Best speakers and communicators are understanding and heart-warming, which is one of the main reasons why people love to communicate with them so much.
Don’t neglect body language
Body language can often talk just as loud as words, and can convey information words can’t. The way you place your arms and legs during the conversation, the way your face looks while you listen, where your eyes land during the conversation—these are all important body language cues that are very loud if you know how to hear them. The best and safest thing to do while talking to someone is to look them in the eye, keep your back straight and keep hang gestures somewhere at medium.
Practice alone
How can you practice communication when you’re alone? You might not be able to have a two-way conversation with just yourself, but you can practice projecting your voice and making your stories interesting. For instance, grab a recorder and record yourself reading from a book, telling a fun story from your past or holding a presentation at work. Listen to the quality of your voice—is it muffled, too quiet, too loud or too raspy? Also pay attention to the length of the story and the interjections you use.
Slow down
One of the best ways to improve your speech is to slow down and allow your breathing to catch up with your words. By slowing down, your brain can process information and create accurate sentences without your tongue fumbling your words.
Ask for feedback
It’s usually impossible to self-evaluate your own speaking and communication skills, so you might want to ask trusted people around you for feedback. In order to know what kind of impression your talking leaves, ask people whether they like talking to you. Ask whether they know someone who complained about the way you handle your conversations. You can also ask for tips on how you can improve your communication in their opinion. This can help you tremendously in the future and give you information about elements you need to work on.
Good communication skills can push you very far in life. Sometimes, all you need to do to reach success, both professional and personal, is say the right things at the right time. Your new-found knowledge and exercises can improve your communication and ensure you’re a true pleasure to talk to.