Honing your communication skills can affect both your personal and private relationships. Knowing how to effectively relay your point of view, and then listen to another's, can help you further your career and cultivate meaningful, lasting relationships based on mutual communication for the benefit of all involved. While the principles of effective communication with others are simple, the application of the principles can often be hard to remember when in the heat of the moment. Take your time to get your point across diplomatically for the most effective kind of communication.
Step 1
Clarify your ideas before you attempt to communicate, recommends lifestyle website Solhaam.org. When you're passionate about a subject, you can often talk too fast or muddle your point when you speak. Instead, take a moment to pick out the key points what you'd like to communicate before you open your mouth to make for clearer communication.
Step 2
Specify the reason for the communication. Some people, whether they are coworkers or significant others, honestly don't realize why you feel you need to communicate a certain point. While the reason will be acutely aware to you, you need to clarify your reasoning before you begin. use "I" words to take some of the responsibility. For instance, "I wanted to talk to you about how I feel about your performance on the project."
Step 3
Start with a positive note, urges Rabbi Shmuley of Oprah.com. It takes only a few seconds to start the conversation off with a positive tone, in the spirit of making things better, rather than pointing fingers and accusations. Starting with a positive sentiment takes your subject off of the defensive, so she can better listen to what you have to say and respond.
Step 4
Mind your physical communication as you try and make your point. If you're trying to be positive, but are speaking through clenched teeth and glared eyes, your efforts will go unnoticed. Similarly, if you're trying to assert yourself with an apologetic tone and shrugged shoulders, you may not come across as an authority figure. Instead, maintain an open stance, clear voice and direct eye contact to show seriousness without anger.
Step 5
Listen. Once you've spoken, give the other person a chance to respond without any rebuttals or arguments from you. Listen to what they say, and let them know you'll get back to them so you can step away and consider the communication that they are now offering you. In this way you aren't carried away by the heat of the moment and can better think about how you'll respond or solve the conflict.
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