5 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills
Successful people are those who have mastered the skill for effective communication with others. We convey more than just emotions through communication. We convey ideas, intent, and even project our own thought-processes onto others, thus influencing their decisions. All effective leaders possess outstanding communication skills. The ability to connect with people goes a long way in determining your success in life.
Here we’ll take a look at five ways in which you can acquire an effective communication skill.
- Importance of nonverbal communication
Never underestimate the power of nonverbal communication. Studies have shown that nonverbal communication accounts for almost 50 percent of how people perceive you. Every nuance of your body language is as important as every word you speak. This means that what you say is not just communicated through words, but also through nonverbal cues. Avoid slouching, keep your arms folded or straight, make adequate eye contact and use the space allotted to you when you speak to someone.
- Be a listener, not just a talker
There is a saying that goes “Listen more than you talk.” To be an effective communicator, you must first be ready to listen to what the other person has to say. Only then will you be able to provide thoughtful and meaningful answers that show that you have understood the other person.
- Be compassionate
This is often an underrated aspect of having an effective communication skill. You should be able to treat every person, every conversation as an opportunity to connect with them. They also have their own need and pain. By connecting with them on a more humane level, you will find it easier to bring kindness and compassion into the conversation.
- Authenticity is everything
Nobody likes a person who fakes emotions or personality. Every tip here to become an effective communicator is meant to aid you to improve yourself and not become someone else. A critical aspect of every conversation is that you should remain authentic and true to yourself. If people perceive you as trying to act like someone else other than yourself your efforts will backfire.
- Master the art of timing
Stand-up comedians are often effective communicators. This is because they have mastered the art of perfect timing. Knowing when to say what goes a long way in determining your success as a communicator. There is a place and time to crack a joke, a time to engage in serious conversation and so on. You should know precisely when to move on from an idea to the next or when to reiterate a topic you have just spoken about.
Following these simple rules can go a long way in helping you become a good communicator.
