6 Tips You Need to Improve Your Communication Skills
In the book Future Skills Bernard Marr, a world business leader, predicted everyone will need communication skills in the next 5 to 10 years to level up their expertise.
Peter Gordon, a business professor, insisted on the importance of communication skills in companies after surveying nearly 700 business leaders. In Gordon’s research, 72% of Artificial Intelligence users agreed on the increased value of oral communication.
Technologies and AI’s inability to serve intimacy, sincerity, and genuine connection is a major factor causing humans to desire physical interaction.
On Gordon’s and Marr’s predictions, we need to know how to communicate with one another if we want to survive in the coming years or scale our businesses.
In this article, I share communication tips that improve one-on-one conversation, public speaking, and or casual talks.
Prepare ahead of time
Preparing to communicate shows a deep desire to communicate effectively with others. Make a daily commitment to improve how you talk to the people you regularly meet. Preparation helps you to gather knowledge, not only in the area you are passionate about but also in others.
People enjoy a conversation with a person having some knowledge beyond their expertise. In preparation, you learn to structure your thoughts and opinions and bend them to your will as you communicate.
Your confidence radiates in your tone, body language, and facial expression when you know what to say and how. People will trust you, particularly when you confidently answer questions or give the desired feedback.
Preparing to be a communicator is a habit that can be cultivated through subscribing to valuable content.
Be Clear and Concise
Being clear and direct adds value to the conversation. No one wants to engage in unnecessary chatter. Before talking to anyone you should know the intention of the conversation. If you find yourself in an unplanned conversation, deliberately determine where the conversation will go.
When there is purpose in talking, clarity will be automatic. You will know the right words and topics to speak and those to avoid. Maintaining the purpose of talking can get lost when you lose focus. Avoid unnecessary rambles, by sticking to the purpose of the communication.
As the communication flows, remain on course. Switch to another topic when both of you are ready. The conversation will remain efficient when the parties involved are in the same boat.
When you notice you have moved ahead of your listener bring them to where you are and if you are the one behind, ask questions to stay afloat in the conversation.
When both parties have established clarity, they will achieve a fulfilling conversation.
Take into account nonverbal cues
Experts in communication skills have mastered nonverbal cues. According to communication theory, 93% of nonverbal cues contribute to a conversation.
You will take charge of a conversation when you know how to control your facial expression, tone, body movement, eye contact, gestures, and space. Understanding nonverbal cues helps the listener and the speaker.
As the speaker, your listeners’ nonverbal cues tell you when to stop talking, switch to another topic, or adjust your communication. As a listener, nonverbal cues will help you identify the depth of the communication and the sincerity of the communicator.
The speaker who knows the power of nonverbal cues uses them effectively to communicate what he wants and get the listeners’ attention.
Listen to Understand
Taking charge of a conversation is a two-way road involving speaking clearly and actively listening. Whether a short or long talk, every speaking opportunity should improve on silence. A productive talk happens when both parties are in the same boat.
Active listening is a deliberate effort to understand the position of the person you are speaking to. You will respond accordingly once you know where they are. If they are emotional, you empathize with them. If they are lost, you bring them back into the conversation.
If their intentions are bad, you stop the conversation. When you are lost in the conversation, active listening will make you ask the right questions to get back.
The main purpose of actively listening is showing respect and empathy to the person you are speaking to keeping the conversation clear.
Practice emotional intelligence
The speaker and listener release emotions in talks. When you are the speaker, control the emotions you reveal to your listener. Emotions are the spices of every conversation. Just like spices, emotions mess up the conversation when served in excess.
When you come too strong to your listeners, you will appear arrogant or someone who lacks self-control. If you appear emotionless, your listeners will not relate with you. Combine your talks with controlled enthusiasm.
As a listener, note the emotions dissipated by the speaker and empathize with them. You encourage them to continue speaking. Practice restraints when the conversation becomes too emotional. Appearing emotionless as a listener, discourages the speaker from speaking. You can choose to be emotionless as a kind way to tell the speaker you are not in the mood of talking.
Practice Communication Skills
Practicing communication skills will make you an expert. Every interaction is an opportunity to improve your skills. Talking to people is the only way you will learn your strong and weak communication skills.
Be intentional in strengthening your strong points and doing away with your weaknesses. Study from great communicators and practice them with a friend.
You can also record your conversation to know your hits and miss. Know how to pronounce certain words by listening to how experts pronounce them.
Desiring to become a powerful communicator is the first step towards becoming one. Practicing guarantees you become one.
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