Your communication skills can help you succeed at work, make lasting friendships and have a healthy romantic relationship. Without good communication skills, you might lose out on a great job after a poor interview and not get a second date with a woman you really like. When improving communication skills, you must consider both verbal and nonverbal communication.
Practice
Before you have a job interview, important meeting or date, practice your communication skills with a friend or family member. Have him act as if he's the other person you'll be communicating with and ask for his feedback.
Record Communication
Record a few interactions with others. Watch the tape and adjust your facial expressions, eye contact, gestures and voice as necessary.
Social Skills Training
If you think your life is significantly affected by your lack of communication skills, you can contact a therapist for social skills training. Many counselors provide this service. They can give you honest feedback during interactions and tips for improvement.
Eye Contact
Most people realize that eye contact is important to displaying confidence, but according to Harvard Business School, too much eye contact makes people uncomfortable. You need to find a balance between too little and too much.
Use I Statements
The Mayo Clinic recommends using "I statements" in order to be more assertive. For example, say "I feel hurt and anxious when you raise your voice," instead of, "You're a jerk when you yell at me."
Time Out
If you feel stressed, take time out before you keep talking about something, because otherwise your communication will be compromised. Don't continue arguing with your spouse over finances if you are both feeling overwhelmed. Take a quick walk or listen to music for 10 minutes and then finish the conversation.
Say No
Passive people get stomped all over, because they don't say no or stand up for themselves. Say what you mean without offending others and say no if you need to.
Voice
When you're communicating with someone, be mindful of your tone, volume and rate of speech and try to match it to the person you're speaking with. If you're talking too fast, slow down. Don't raise your voice to get your point across.
Facial Expressions
Your facial expressions can give you away, so you should work on controlling them and matching them to what you're saying. For instance, if you're listening to your friend talk about her breakup and you hated her ex, don't smile. Show her you care by keeping a neutral expression.
Posture
Think about how the way you sit and stand affects your communication. If you're slouched over at a business meeting, you'll seem uninvolved and insecure. Display confidence by holding your shoulders back.
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