How can I Develop Effective Communication Skills?
Effective communication skills are the key to improving your productivity and helping you advance your career. Not matter what your area of expertise is, being able to communicate with others will greatly perk up your chances for success. Even if you are naturally shy and prone to nervousness, there are some things you can do to help you achieve good communication skills.
Start by evaluating your personality and try to find areas where you excel and areas where you could use some improvement. Maybe you have effective communication skills when it comes to gestures and body language, but lack a strong voice. Or maybe your voice is fine but you tend to get nervous and fidget too much when you are in front of a group of people. Knowing what areas you need to work on will give you a chance to become better at effective communication with others around you.
If you need to develop your body language, start by practicing in front of a mirror. As silly as it sounds, you will soon find out that looking at yourself gives you a chance to closely examine how you truly act. Eye contact is top priority when it comes to establishing an effective communication rapport with your listeners, not matter if you're talking to your boss or making a presentation to a room full of people. Eye contact gives the impression of competence and self-assurance, and will make others see you as confident. Body language is also essential for effective communication. Rather than keeping your arms crossed or your hands on your lap, make your body talk, moving as much or as little as needed to match the topic and the personality of the room.
Another way you can achieve effective communication skills is to develop your voice. Slow down, which gives the listener the feeling of serenity and confidence, and avoid sounding monotonous. Put emotion in your words. You don't have to scream or be loud, but you should vary your pitch and make sure the volume you use is appropriate for the size of the room and the topic you are covering. Don't mumble, and don't use vocabulary inappropriate for the environment you are moving in.
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![Strong communication skills can help advance an employee's career.]()
By: paylessimagesStrong communication skills can help advance an employee's career. -
![Crossing one's arms can make a person seem intimidating and defensive.]()
By: sharpshutter22Crossing one's arms can make a person seem intimidating and defensive. -
![Body language and inflection are important to developing effective communication skills.]()
By: savage ultralightBody language and inflection are important to developing effective communication skills. -
![Communication skills include being able to talk effectively on the phone.]()
By: Nuno AlvesCommunication skills include being able to talk effectively on the phone. -
![Body language is an important part of communicating with others.]()
By: gpointstudioBody language is an important part of communicating with others. -
![Positive body language can make a speaker's message more effective.]()
By: Africa StudioPositive body language can make a speaker's message more effective. -
![A person can start with one-on-one conversations when working on their communication skills.]()
By: dmitrimarutaA person can start with one-on-one conversations when working on their communication skills.
Discussion Comments
I think the most effective communication occurs when you are all informed about the topic you're talking about. When you are totally aware of the stuff you want to talk about, then confidence builds up itself. So, in order to be a more effective communicator, you must have the complete and accurate information.
Having good inter-personal skills creates the spark and you can influence others. By having the right attitude towards people is the only way to influence others. There are no quick fixes to develop it.
People can see through fake personalities. Unless we develop the underlying purpose/benefit from the other person, effective communication is not possible.Hence a continuous training towards a right attitude is necessary.
Meditation and writing journals are a few ways that can ascertain the cause of the communication. Though you can also use 'Espoir Smart English' to develop this attitude and effective communication.
By changing the attitude towards people can help you in inter-personal success and can have a fulfilling life.
Cafe41- I think the best effective communication tip is to write down notes when the person is talking to you.
Taking notes demonstrates that what the person is telling you is important enough for you jot down. This not only helps you do your job more effectively but it demonstrates respect to your supervisor.
SurfNturf- I totally agree. I can't stand when somebody asks me questions about something that I just talked about.
I want to say that effective workplace communication involves making eye contact and demonstrating positive facial expressions.
Communication has a lot to do with body language. Effective communication training always stipulates that you should stand up straight and offer a firm handshake when meeting someone.
Leaning inward toward someone also indicates interest and it's an effective communication method.
Communication is so important that many companies offer effective communication classes to its workforce.
Effective communication also improves productivity because the employees understand how the job has to be done to first-time. Breakdown in communication is when all the problems occur.
The best way of improving communication skills is by listening. Too often people continue talking and do not listen which really hampers effective verbal communication.
This is evident when a person continually asks the same question over and over again.
When someone has offered you information and you ask again about the same information it sends a signal that you're not listening.
In order to improve communication, you should paraphrase what the person is saying. You could also ask a good question regarding the information that you were given. This question should enhance the conversation and move it forward, not delay it by asking a redundant question.
This will demonstrate good communication.
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