How to Be a Communicator

Everyone wants success, and some of us are looking for the magic bullet. If you want to achieve success in one easy step, improve your communication skills. Successful people are good communicators. Anyone can be a communicator with some knowledge and a little practice.

Instructions

1. Always say hello. It seems almost too simple to be important, but the first step in being a communicator is acknowledging others. When you enter a room, greet the people who are already there. This is an opportunity to introduce yourself to anyone you don't already know. When you walk past someone in the hallway, say hello. Greetings let people know you recognize them as fellow human beings and that you're open to further communication.

2. Repeat for understanding. After the boss has explained a project to the team, a communicator will take a moment to repeat the information in his own words to be sure he has it right. This will let the boss know that what she said was important to you, and it may help someone on the team who didn't understand but is too shy to ask the boss to repeat herself.

3. Ask for clarification. Instead of assuming you know what your co-worker is thinking, ask. Successful people don't guess and make assumptions, they get the facts. When someone has an odd expression or makes a cryptic comment, ask him to clarify his position.

4. Reinforce your message by following up. When you make a new business contact at a social function, send her an email the next day reminding her of your acquaintance and how you may work together in the future. After you chair a meeting, send an email to the people who were at the meeting thanking them for their participation and reiterating the decisions that were made. A follow-up message ensures that everyone is clear about what was communicated in the first place.