How to Talk: 10 Tips to Improve Communication Skills
Most of us could stand to improve our communication skills. Whether you find yourself interrupting others, needing extra clarification, or simply wanting to razor-sharpening your skills, use these 10 tips to improve communication in your personal and professional life. 1. Get rid of the filler words. We all have filler words that we use to bridge the gap between thoughts, or when we’re nervous. For some of us, it’s “like,” “umm,” or “you know.” According to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, people who use more filler words are perceived as less competent, less trustworthy, and less likable. 2. Slow down. When we’re nervous, we tend to speak quickly as a way to get our words out before we chicken out. Unfortunately, this makes us difficult to understand and can come across as abrasive. If you find yourself speaking quickly, take a deep breath and try to Slow. Down. 3. Make eye contact. We’ve all been on the receiving end of a conversation where the other person won’t make eye contact. It’s
1. Talk with Purpose: Understand why you are communicating and what you hope to achieve. 2. Be an Active Listener: Listen with the intention of understanding, not just responding. 3. Use “I” Statements: Be clear, direct, and avoid making assumptions about others’ understanding. 4. Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by your audience. 5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood: Ask questions and paraphrase what you’ve heard to ensure understanding. 6. Be Concise: Say what you need to say as clearly and concisely as possible. 7. Practice, Practice, Practice: Like any skill, communication takes practice.
1. Talk with Purpose: Understand why you are communicating and what you hope to achieve.
When it comes to talking, the first and most important step is to know why you are communicating and what you hope to achieve. This is what we call having a purpose. Having a purpose means being clear about your goals and objectives. It means knowing what you want to say and why you want to say it. If you don't have a purpose, your communication will likely be ineffective. This is because you won't be able to focus your message or connect with your audience. So, before you start talking, take a moment to think about your purpose. Once you know your purpose, you can start to craft your message. When you are crafting your message, it is important to keep your audience in mind. What are they interested in? What do they need to know? You should also think about what you want your audience to do after hearing your message. Do you want them to take action? If you keep your purpose and audience in mind, you will be well on your way to delivering an effective communication.
2. Be an Active Listener: Listen with the intention of understanding, not just responding.
Listening is an essential communication skill, but it's one that many people struggle with. The key to being a good listener is to be an active listener. This means listening with the intention of understanding, not just responding. When you're really trying to understand what someone is saying, you'll be more engaged in the conversation and more likely to remember what was said. Here are 10 tips to help you improve your active listening skills: 1. Pay attention. This may seem obvious, but it's important to actually give the person your full attention when they're speaking. This means putting away any distractions, such as your phone, and making eye contact. 2. Listen for content and feelings. When you're trying to understand what someone is saying, it's important to listen to both the content of their words and the emotions they're conveying. Pay attention to both what they're saying and how they're saying it. 3. Ask questions. If you're not sure you understand what someone is saying, or if you want to clarify something, don't be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions shows that you're engaged in the conversation and that you're trying to understand the other person. 4. Repeat back what you've heard. After someone has finished speaking, take a moment to repeat back what you've heard. This helps to ensure that you've understood the other person and can also help to clarify any misunderstandings. 5. Avoid interrupting. It can be tempting to jump in and offer your own opinion or ideas when someone else is speaking, but it's important to resist the urge to interrupt. Let the other person finish speaking before you respond. 6. Avoid adding your own assumptions. It's easy to mistakenly assume that you know what someone is going to say, but this can lead to misunderstandings. Instead, try to let the other person speak without making any assumptions. 7. Don't finish the other person's sentences. Another common mistake is to finish the other person's sentences for them. This can be aggravating for the other person and it can prevent you from actually hearing what they have to say. 8. Try to empathize. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. When you're trying to understand someone, it can be helpful to try to empathize with them. This doesn't mean that you have to agree with the other person, but it does mean trying to see things from their perspective. 9. Give the other person your full attention. It's important to be present when you're having a conversation with someone. This means putting away any distractions and giving the other person your full attention. 10. Be patient. Sometimes it takes time to really understand what someone is saying. If you're patient and give the other person the time they need to speak, you're more likely to understand them.
3. Use “I” Statements: Be clear, direct, and avoid making assumptions about others’ understanding.
When communicating with others, it is important to be clear and direct. This can be accomplished by using “I” statements. By using “I” statements, you are making it clear that the message is coming from you and that you are taking responsibility for what you are saying. Additionally, “I” statements can help to avoid making assumptions about others’ understanding. For example, if you want to communicate to your boss that you are feeling overwhelmed with your workload, you could say something like, “I feel like I am taking on too much work right now.” This is a clear and direct statement that communicates how you are feeling without making assumptions about your boss’s understanding or intentions. In contrast, if you were to say something like, “You are giving me too much work,” you are making an assumption about your boss’s intentions and you are not taking responsibility for your own feelings. This could come across as confrontational or accusatory, and is not as likely to result in productive communication. So, when communicating with others, remember to use “I” statements. This will help you to be clear, direct, and avoid making assumptions about others’ understanding.
4. Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by your audience.
One of the best ways to ensure that your audience understands you is to avoid using jargon. Jargon is the specialized language that is used by experts in a particular field. It can be difficult for laypeople to understand and can often alienate your audience. When you are communicating with someone, be sure to use language that is easily understandable. This will help to ensure that your message is clear and that you are able to connect with your audience.
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood: Ask questions and paraphrase what you’ve heard to ensure understanding.
It’s human nature to jump to conclusions. We do it all the time, especially when we think we know what someone is going to say. It’s an easy way to avoid really hearing what someone has to say. In order to ensure understanding, it’s important to ask questions and paraphrase what you’ve heard. When you’re in a conversation, do your best to pay attention and not to let your mind wander. If you find your mind wandering, take a deep breath and refocus. One way to keep yourself engaged is to restate what the other person has said in your own words. This not only shows that you were listening, but it also allows you to check for understanding. If you’re not sure you understood what the other person meant, it’s okay to ask for clarification. It’s better to ask a question than to assume you know what the other person meant and risk miscommunication. Both active listening and questioning are important skills to develop if you want to improve communication. By taking the time to understand what the other person is saying, you can avoid misunderstandings and build better relationships.
6. Be Concise: Say what you need to say as clearly and concisely as possible.
When you are communicating with someone, it is important to be clear and concise. This means that you should say what you need to say in as few words as possible. This can be difficult, especially if you are nervous or not used to communicating with others. Here are some tips to help you be more concise when you are talking to someone: 1. Know what you want to say before you start talking. This will help you to be more focused and to stay on track. 2. Make sure that your body language is open and inviting. This will make it easier for the other person to understand you and to feel comfortable talking to you. 3. Speak slowly and clearly. This will help to ensure that the other person understands what you are saying. 4. Avoid using filler words, such as "um" or "like". These words can make it harder for the other person to understand you. 5. Try to avoid talking in generalities. Be specific about what you want to say. 6. Be Concise: Say what you need to say as clearly and concisely as possible.
7. Practice, Practice, Practice: Like any skill, communication takes practice.
If you want to improve your communication skills, you need to be willing to put in the work. That means practicing, again and again. The more you do it, the better you'll become. Here are a few tips to help you get started: 1. Talk to yourself. Yes, really. This is a great way to get started if you're feeling shy or self-conscious. Stand in front of a mirror and say something out loud. It doesn't matter what it is, just get used to the sound of your own voice. 2. Talk to animals. Pets are a great way to practice your communication skills. They can't talk back, so you don't have to worry about being judged. Plus, they're usually pretty good listeners. 3. Talk to strangers. This one can be a bit more challenging, but it's worth it. Talk to the person next to you in line at the grocery store, or strike up a conversation with someone you sit next to on the bus. 4. Join a Toastmasters club. Toastmasters is an organization that helps people improve their public speaking skills. They have clubs all over the world, so there's sure to be one near you. 5. Take a public speaking class. If you want to get really serious about improving your communication skills, taking a class is the way to go. You'll get expert instruction and feedback, and you'll be able to practice in a safe, supportive environment. 6. Volunteer. There are lots of organizations that could use your help, and volunteering is a great way to practice your communication skills. You could volunteer for a local charity, or at a hospital or nursing home. 7. Practice, practice, practice. Like any skill, communication takes practice. The more you do it, the better you'll become. So find opportunities to practice every day, and pretty soon you'll be a communication pro.
In conclusion, learning how to talk and communicate better doesn't have to be rocket science. Just like any skill, practice makes perfect. Keep these tips in mind the next time you find yourself in a conversation and before you know it, you'll be a communication pro.