We learn to communicate from the moment we are born whether it be effective or poor. Our communication skills can make or break our relationships.
Do you have a desire to build on skills and become a better communicator? Learn what makes a good communicator and how you can sharpen your skills.
Sharpen Your Communication Skills
With the ever-increasing use of typed, text, and other electronic communication, we have a real need to sharpen our human-to-human communication skills.
Whether you are having a professional, casual, serious, or friendly conversation great communication skills will be noticed and appreciated by others. Communication skills tips give us insight into how we can improve our listening skills, and speaking skills and be all-around better communicators.
1. Be Present
To be fully present means not only being there physically but also your attention and being mentally present. Our minds naturally wander, but when we sharpen our communication skills we can train our minds to stay focused and be present.
Being present during a conversation or when someone is speaking is a sign of respect that you can show to them. People can feel and tell when their audience is not fully present.
2. Really Learn to Listen
A person who really listens is a gem. When you are interested in what the other person is saying it is easier to listen intently because you are trying to absorb and understand everything that they are saying.
However, it is when you are not particularly interested in the topic of conversation that it becomes a challenge to listen to the speaker. This is where integrity and strong listening skills come into play.
Listen to others how you would want them to listen to you when you speak.
3. Make Eye Contact With Them
Whether you are listening or speaking, making eye contact with the other person (s) is so important. Eye contact lets them know without a doubt that you are present and you are paying attention.
4. Read the Room
Have you ever heard the phrase “read the room?” Reading the room during a conversation means taking into account who you are speaking to, the feeling in the room, and how your conversations should reflect that.
To be empathetic means that you have the ability to understand how others are feeling and where they are coming from. Having empathy during a conversation will take your communication to the next level.
5. Interpret Body Language
Communication is about the words that are verbally spoken as much as it is about the things that the body says. Paying attention to body language and interpreting it is important, but should not distract from listening to them.
The easiest body language to read and see is facial expressions. Reading facial expressions is something that comes naturally to most of us.
Whether it be positive facial expressions such as happiness, excitement, joy, or love that are displayed on someone’s face. Or, negative facial expressions such as fear, disgust, disappointment, or anger you can see all of these in the way their eyes look, their forehead moves, or what shape their mouth is in.
Body posture is most evident when someone is listening but does show when they are speaking, as well. For instance, if someone is leaned towards you they are intent on listening, whereas if they have their head on their hand they may be bored of the conversation.
Hand gestures can tell you a lot about the emphasis someone wants to put on their conversation. Not everyone speaks with such passion that it comes through their hands.
Once you begin to understand how to read other people’s body language and unspoken communication you will be more aware of your own body language and use it more effectively.
6. Speak Clearly
Wouldn’t you say that a major part of communication is that your audience can hear you and understand the words that you are saying without having to struggle or wonder what you just said?
If your audience can not hear you then how effective can your communication possibly be? Use an appropriate volume so that your audience can hear you but do not feel like you are yelling at them.
Do not mumble if you are concerned about communicating effectively. Take the time and effort to enunciate your words as much as possible.
7. Use Voice Tone and Connotation Correctly
The tone of your voice says just as much as the words do. It is all in how you say something that really brings your point across to others exactly how it sounds to you.
Emphasize keywords to draw attention to them. With tips like this, you are in control of how your audience receives your message.
8. Be Direct
Do not beat around the bush during a conversation. To get your point across to the other person (s) cut out some of the “fluff”.
Fluff is all of the content that does not really pertain to the topic of discussion and can distract the listener’s attention from the point you are trying to make.
9. Honest is the Best Policy
If you want people to listen to you, and have a desire to communicate with you then be genuine. People can tell when you are not being honest or making things up and they will lose interest in continuing the conversation.
10. Practice Makes Perfect
If your communication skills are not the best right now, fear not. Practicing each of these elements every chance you get will make you a better communicator.
Get professional assistance from a communication coach to invest in yourself and have a professional guide you through this growth and learning experience. Find out more about how a communication coach can help you.
Tune Into Communication Station
Are you feeling that with these communication skills you can be a more effective communicator in your relationships and life? From being present to listening intently and speaking clearly, effective communication is a learnable skill when you practice.
