Know exactly what you would like to communicate before saying it. Have a purpose for communicating. Keep your communication focused on one topic at a time to prevent the other person from getting confused while you are speaking.
Listen Deeply
When another person is speaking, make sure to listen carefully to her. Do not interrupt someone who is speaking to you. Try to be fully present when you are listening to someone by not trying to plan out what you will say next. Make eye contact with the person who is speaking and nod your head when appropriate to communicate that you understand what she is saying.
Body Language
Tune into the other person's body language to understand unspoken visual cues he might be providing you. If the other person does not, for example, look at you while speaking, it is safe to assume he is not completely engaged in his conversation. If the other person is slouching, this is a sign that he is not feeling confident. If his arms are crossed, this can mean the other person is trying to keep his distance or feeling physically cold.
Paraphrase
Try to paraphrase what the other person has communicated to you to make sure you have understood it properly. You can paraphrase by simply repeating what the other person has said to you in other words. This can also help the other person clarify what she is trying to communicate to you. Paraphrasing also makes the other person feel as though you have really listened well to her.
Ask Meaningful Questions
Asking meaningful, appropriate questions is another way to help the speaker clarify what he is saying. It also helps ensure that you have understood him properly and that no miscommunication has taken place.
Be Mindful of Your Vocal Tone
The tone of voice with which you communicate something can say a lot nonverbally to the person you are communicating with. Asking something like "Are you done?" for example, can take on different meanings depending on the tone of voice you use to ask it.
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