Having good communication skills is important for your personal and professional life. While some people are naturally skilled at communicating, for most, communication is a skill that must be learned and practiced. Improving your communication skills can benefit you by deepening your relationships, helping you make new friends and acquaintances, enabling you to express yourself honestly and assisting you to make wiser decisions. Good communication skills can also build trust and respect in your relationships. With time and effort, you can improve your communication ability.
Step 1
Think prior to speaking. Plan out your presentations and other group addresses whenever you can, particularly in business situations. Even if you do not know everything you wish to communicate, make sure you have a general idea. For private discussions, take your time to become clear regarding the points you wish to express before you start talking. Always be honest when you communicate.
Step 2
Listen actively. Understand that listening is often a more important skill in communication than speaking. To improve your communication, pay attention to what other people say without becoming distracted or trying to plan out what you will say next. You can also paraphrase what someone has just said to you; this will help him feel that you are trying to understand him and can help prevent any misunderstandings from arising.
Step 3
Make steady eye contact to establish trust in your relationships. Understand that looking everywhere but into the eyes of people you are speaking to can create suspicion. Do not try to engage in a staring contest with any one person, but do try to hold the gaze of someone you are communicating with at times.
Step 4
Speak slowly and enunciate your words clearly. Understand that if you speak too quickly, you make it difficult for your audience to keep up with and comprehend what you are saying. Use words to express what you want to say only if you are confident of what they mean. Make it easy for others to understand you by using simple words whenever possible.
Step 5
Use a vocal tone and volume that is appropriate to the situation you are in. Speak louder when you address a group than when you interact with a person one on one. Use emotion in your voice, as a monotonous vocal tone easily loses people's attention.
References
- MindTools.com: Active Listening
- 101 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills Instantly; Jo Condrill and Bennie Bough; 1999
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