Communication is a very critical skill, but unfortunately, some people suck at it. And when I say suck, I mean, really suck.
Imagine you’re a manager in a firm, and you are afraid of public speaking. So much that you don’t even dare unmute your mic even during virtual meetings. Chances are, you’ll perform poorly in activities or projects that involve teamwork, which is kind of the reason you’re part of that company.
Imagine you’re in a relationship. You find it difficult to express your thoughts and feelings. Your partner always has to do guesswork around you. Chances are, that relationship won’t last the year.
Let’s go a little further. Let’s say you’re the crewman of some ship. Your duty is watchkeeping, to signal the captain at the sight of any oncoming obstacle or flotsam. There’s a mass of white heading toward you, but you assume it’s mist when it’s not. You send the wrong signal. The captain relaxes. What happens?
Well, you have watched The Titanic, haven’t you?
What am I getting at?
Poor communication is deadly. It has ruined many lives, both figuratively and literally. And that is why mastering effective communication is important because when you learn how to express your feelings and articulate your words in a very efficient manner, combining the right mix of grammar and body language, you will become… dare I say dangerous?
You can read more about that from the link below.
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However, the good news is that, just like almost anything, communication can be learned. I have a few tips to help you improve your communication skills. But first of all…
What Is Communication?
For the purpose of enlightening those who are only reading this word for the first time (oh, yes, they exist), I will give a short definition of the word.
Communication simply involves the transfer of information from a sender to a receiver. You can do it vocally (through verbal exchanges), through written media (books, websites, and magazines), and visually (using graphs, and social media like Twitter, Instagram, etc).
But do you realize there is a difference between communication and effective communication? While communication is simply the act of passing information, effective communication entails the transferring of information to produce greater understanding.
Now that we have that out of the way, let us discuss some steps that improve your communication.
8 Steps To Improve Your Communication
Have you ever chatted with someone who seemed to know all the right things to say, whose inflection and listening was so rapt that all you wanted was to talk all day? Has a product ever been advertised so neatly you couldn’t stop yourself from pressing that call button to order en masse?
Communication is powerful when applied correctly. And I have prepared these surefire tips to help you build your communication skills to improve yourself. Shall we begin?
Emotional Intelligence Is The Start
If you’re aware of your own emotions and the behaviors they trigger, you can begin to manage these emotions and behaviors. Communication is built upon a foundation of emotional intelligence. Simply put, you cannot communicate effectively with others until you can assess and understand your own feelings.
Understanding and managing your own emotions is only part of emotional intelligence. The other part — equally important for effective communication — is empathy for others.
Related: How To Build Social Skills
Be A Good Listener
Even if you’re a great listener, I guarantee there are still some areas where you can improve. A great way to find your weak spots is to look at the active listening model.
The concept of active listening means that you’re involved and engaged in what the other person is saying, as opposed to being passive and letting the conversation pass you by. How do you do this?
- Giving the speaker your full and undivided attention
- Clearing your mind of distractions, judgments, and counter-arguments
- Avoiding the temptation to interrupt with your own thoughts
- Showing open, positive body language to keep your mind focused and to show the speaker that you are really listening
- Rephrase or paraphrase what you’ve heard when making your reply
- Ask open-ended questions designed to elicit additional information
Make Eye Contact And Be Still
This is the number one tip for showing someone that you’re paying attention to what they have to say. Hold firm eye contact, but don’t get creepy. There’s a fine line here.
Don’t readjust in your chair seven times. Don’t click your pen open and closed over and over. Certainly don’t shuffle through your papers during a board meeting, or click through your browser tabs during a Zoom call.
DO. NOT. FIDGET.
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Posture Pays
Another one of those tips that seem obvious, but is surprisingly easy to overlook. Stand tall. Don’t slouch. Make sure your feet face the person speaking. This will show you are paying attention and make them more interested in whatever you have to say.
Watch Your Tone
People with advanced communication skills have a solid grasp of their own emotions. They know how to control them when they’re upset or over-excited, and they don’t let them take over the conversation or cause unnecessary drama.
It’s important to stay level-headed when you’re reacting to something you don’t like. If you feel your heart start to thump, or your face starts to get hot, take a break. Try to find some alone time where you can calm yourself down.
Another key part of self-awareness is being able to admit when you’re wrong. It might feel like a huge blow to your ego, but trust me – you’ll likely find that by admitting your mistakes and trying your best to prevent them from moving forward, you’ll build respect and integrity in the eyes of your loved ones and colleagues.
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Straight To The Point
Communication is primarily about word choice. And when it comes to word choice, less is more. The key to powerful and persuasive communication—whether written or spoken—is clarity and, when possible, brevity.
Before engaging in any form of communication, define your goals and your audience.
Outlining carefully and explicitly what you want to convey and why will help ensure that you include all necessary information. It will also help you eliminate irrelevant details.
Avoid unnecessary words and overly flowery language, which can distract from your message. Being clear and concise is one very important step to improving your communication skills.
Watch Body Language
Our facial expressions, gestures, and body language can, and often do, say more than our words.
Nonverbal cues can have between 65 and 93 percent more impact than the spoken word. And we are more likely to believe nonverbal signals over spoken words if the two are in disagreement. Improving your body language and knowing how to read nonverbal signals is an important step in improving your communication skills.
Related: How To Handle Coming Out as Gay In Nigeria
Silence Is Not Fatal
It can seem like silence is unbearable, but it’s not always a bad thing. Don’t start blabbering just for the sake of eliminating silence. It’s hard but fight the urge.
Your partner and colleagues will thank you when you have a grasp of when it’s okay to be quiet.
A Word From Battabox On Communication
Congratulations, readers, for staying till the end of this article. Mastering these tips will go a long way to improving your communication skills. Don’t say I never did anything for you.
If you have any questions, let us know below.
