As discussed last week, effective communication is vital. This week I have compiled a list of some of the best tips for improving your communication skills. Just like anything else, practice makes perfect, so be willing to apply these tips personally and professionally.
8 Tips for Effective Communication
- Know your audience: One of the top rules in public speaking is to know your audience. The same rule applies to basic communication. Use appropriate language for your audience. The way you speak to your boss will probably be very different from the way you speak to your child.
- Don’t be afraid of silence: Sometimes silence is necessary. Don’t be afraid to gather your thoughts before formulating a response. Francis Bacon said, “Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.”
- Learn to read non-verbal communication: Learn to read faces and demeanors. I am not saying you have to be the best poker face spotter ever, but be willing to adapt your communication to the cues you take in. If someone is obviously stressed and on edge, you might want to re-think how you tell them about another office issue. Be flexible and responsive to others.
- Be confident: Marcus Garvey stated, “If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life.” Assert yourself and be willing to respectfully share your opinion.
- Be mindful of time: Whenever you communicate be mindful of the time it takes you to do so. If you co-worker is about to go to a meeting, be courteous of his or her time and either speak quickly or wait until later.
- Manage the conversation: This goes hand and hand with being mindful of the time. Know what you are hoping to convey and try not to deviate. Many of us have conversations only to find what we needed to say got lost amidst 10 other things.
- Be aware of potential conflict: When speaking, be aware of potential points of conflict and address the problem and not the person. If you are aware ahead of time you may even want to practice a few responses.
- Keep it positive: Always keep the communication positive. Negative comments tend to spark negative feeling. Negativity is quick to infect all it comes into contact with. Be aware of what you are saying and how it is being taken.
Communication is such an integral part of our day-to-day activities that we often overlook how to do it well. With any activity, it must be continually practiced to achieve improvement. Since communication skills are the top assets look for by most employers, implementing these practices is a big step towards greater success.
