10 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills
Listen, Really Listen!
The best thing you can do to improve your communication skills is to learn to really listen-to pay attention and let the other person talk without interrupting. It’s hard work, we know, but “A good conversation is
a bunch of words elegantly connected with listening.” And hopefully, the other person will be attentively listening to you too.
a bunch of words elegantly connected with listening.” And hopefully, the other person will be attentively listening to you too.
Up Your Empathy Communication is a two-way street.
If you practice taking the opposing viewpoint, you can reduce the difficulty and anxiety that sometimes arises when trying to truly communicate with others. Developing
empathy helps you better understand even the unspoken parts of your communication with others, and helps you respond more effectively.
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Be Brief Yet Specific
There’s actually a BRIEF acronym-Background, Reason, Information, End, Follow-up-to help you keep your emails short without leaving anything out. It’s a good policy for both written and verbal communication skills. Clear and concise are two of the 7 Cs of communication skills, along with concrete, correct, coherent, complete, and courteous.
Convience Your Message to Your Audience
The best communicators adjust how they talk based on whom they’re speaking to; you’d probably use a different style of communication skills with co-workers or your boss compared to when you’re speaking with your significant other, kids, or elders. Always try to keep the other person’s perspective in mind when you try to get your message across.
Put Away the Distractions
It’s pretty rude to use your phone while someone’s talking to you or you’re supposed to be hanging out with them. Maybe we can’t get rid of all our distractions or put away technology completely, but just taking the time to look up could vastly improve our communication skills with each other.
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Ask Questions and Repeat the Other Person
Let’s face it, we’ve all drifted off when someone else was talking or misheard the other person. Asking questions and repeating the other person’s last few words shows you’re interested in what they say, keeps you on your toes, and helps clarify points that could be misunderstood.
It also helps for small talk and to fill in awkward silences. Instead of trying to stir up a conversation on mundane topics like the weather, ask the other person questions and engage in their answers. It’s more important to be interested than to be interesting.
Tell a Story
Stories are powerful. They activate our brains, make presentations suck less, make us more persuasive, and can even help us ace interviews. Learn the secrets of becoming a phenomenal storyteller with these rules from Pixar or by simply using the word “but” more to structure your narrative. Everyone’s got at least one great story in them.
Have a Script for Small Talk and Other Occasions
Small talk is an art that not many people have mastered. For the inevitable, awkward silences with people you hardly know, it helps to have a plan. The FORD (family, occupation, recreation dreams) method might help you come up with topics to discuss, and you can also turn small talk into a conversation by sharing information that could help you and the other person find common ground. Hey, all that small talk could make you happier in the long run.
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Get Rid of Unnecessary Conversation Fillers
One way is to start keeping track of when you say words like “um” or “like.” You could also try taking your hands out of your pockets or simply relaxing and pausing before you speak. Those silences seem more awkward to you than
they do to others, trust us.
they do to others, trust us.
Watch Your Body Language
You tell your partner you’re open to discussion but your arms are crossed; say you’re listening but haven’t looked up from your phone yet. Our non-verbal and non-written cues often reveal more than we think they do. Whether it’s how you make eye contact or how you hold yourself during a video interview, don’t forget that you’re constantly communicating even when you’re not saying a word. One strange way to tap into your body for better communication? Think about your toes. Or adopt a power pose if you need to boost your confidence before a big talk.
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