Improving Your Communication Skills

Communication is so important in all areas of our lives. Clear and honest communication keeps our relationships strong, helps to create a harmonious home life and keeps misunderstandings to a minimum. At work, fantastic communication can help us to be understood, to get our points across, and to build a positive reputation. It’s a crucial skill that is transferable to different careers and other areas of life. But, it’s not always as easy as you might think. 

Some people are naturally great communicators. They are able to communicate well with different people, across different mediums, and often use this skill to their advantage. But, it doesn’t come easily to all of us. 

If you worry that your communication skills are holding you back, feeling as though you have difficulty getting people to understand what you are trying to say, or positively communicate with you, here are some tips to help you to improve this crucial skill.

Learn to Be Concise and Clear

If there’s an enemy to effective communication, it is waffle. We talk around the point, we get thrown off onto a tangent, and the point that we’re trying to make is lost completely. 

Be clear and concise, and remember the point to your communication above anything else. Practice simply saying what you need to, and sticking to the point where possible. 

Remember, Communication Isn’t All About Speaking

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that communication is all about speaking, or choosing the correct words and tone for the situation. Listening is just as important, sometimes more so. Your listening skills help you to know when to speak and when not to. When we listen well, it becomes much easier to know what to say next, to know which questions to answer, and what your partner in the conversation needs from you. Listening gives you all of the clues that you need to become a better speaker. 

Maintain Eye Contact

Eye contact is a crucial ingredient to effective communication. When people look us in the eye, we trust them, and we trust what they are saying. We’re also more likely to listen, and take in what we hear. Our minds wander without eye contact. At the moment, a lot of your communications might be over video chat, but remember, eye contact is still vital. 

Engage Your Audience with Open Questions

One of the best ways to engage your audience and keep them interested is by asking questions. Either open questions, if you are speaking to a group or making a speech, or direct questions if you are speaking to someone one on one. 

Be Aware of Your Body Language

Often, our body language is poor because we aren’t aware of it. We’re so focused on what we’re saying, and we don’t think enough about how we appear. Stand tall, hold your head high, and keep your shoulders back and chest open. Appear confident and strong, but also approachable. 

Check Understanding

You could make the best speech in the world, or present information exceptionally well, but it’s no good if your audience hasn’t understood. Check understanding and repeat the information or answer questions if you need to. It is better to repeat yourself than to leave yourself unsure.