Top 10 Tips to Improve Your Communication Skills


Decade
s back when people weren’t aware of social media and its influence, an independent, not-for-profit applied research organization had designed mandatory employability skills to list the important skills that employees need to succeed in the workplace. Guess what! Communication skills top the list of essential skills needed for professional success
 

Today, with the advent of social media networking and texting, communication is becoming more casual. Even in situations demanding more formal methods of communication are required, people tend to speak informally. According to a leading motivational speaker in Singapore, this means that people from the younger generation may never realize the significance of effective communication skills in the workplace.  


If you take a look at the most successful business leaders, then you’ll observe that one of the traits they possess, is the ability to communicate effectively. It underscores the relevance of communication skills. In this article, we’ve identified ten specific things to do for improving your communication skills.  


1. Listen Effectively 


Everyone wants to be heard. You should better listen to what the other person is saying, rather than prepare for your response. Seek clarification to avoid misunderstandings. During an interaction, give maximum importance to the person speaking to you.  

Also, it’s better to have one conversation at a time. So, if you are speaking with someone over the phone, don’t reply to an email, or send a text simultaneously. The other person will realize that you’re giving him or her the maximum attention. 


2. Maintain Positive Body Language 


This is extremely crucial for face-to-face meetings and video conferencing. You must appear accessible. That’s why you should have open body language. Accordingly, never cross your arms. Maintain keep eye contact so that the other person knows that you're attentive enough. 


3. Who You Are Communicating with Matters 


You may use acronyms and informal language while communicating with a friend. However, if you are emailing or texting your immediate superior, “Hey,” “TTYL” or any informal language, has to be avoided 


Don’t assume that the other person knows the meaning of the acronym. A few acronyms have different meanings to different people. That’s why any employer branding speaker will suggest you that don’t be misunderstood. Efficient communicators target their message based on who they are talking to. So, you should keep the other person in mind, while trying to get your message across. 


4. KISS (Keep It Short and Simple) 


For written and verbal communication, try to be brief yet specific enough. Make sure that you provide sufficient information for the other person to comprehend what you have to say. While replying to an email, go through the entire email properly before formulating your response. Enough practice will ensure that you don’t beat around the bush or divulge excessive information.   


5. Check Your Message Before Hitting Send 


Though spell and grammar checker tools are lifesavers, they aren’t foolproof. Double-check your writing to ensure that your words are communicating the deliberate message. 


6. Treat Everyone with Equal Respect 


Never show disrespect to anyone. Treat everyone with proper respect as if they’re your equal. 


7. Think Before Speaking 


Always pause before speaking. Immediately, don’t say the first thing coming to your mind. Take some time and think twice before you say anything. More important is how you say it.

This habit will help you to avoid embarrassment in the long run. 


8. Note Down Things 


Take notes while communicating with another person or during a meeting, and never rely on your memory. You can send a follow-up email to ensure that you understand everything discussed during the conversation. 


9. Pick Up the Phone 


Whenever you have a lot to say, rather than sending an email, call the person. Though Emailing is okay. However, sometimes it is easier to communicate everything that you need to say verbally. 


10. Maintain a Positive Attitude with a Smile 


Even while speaking over the phone, smile as your positive attitude will shine through and the other person will realize it. If you smile often and carry a positive attitude, people will also respond to you positively. 

 

Conclusion 


Most companies are now focusing a lot on communication skills training as effective communication is a trainable skill. So, by following a few of the tips mentioned in this article, you can improve your communication skills. 

 

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