How to Improve Poor Communication
Communication takes many forms and relies on all the senses. First impressions regarding your body language and your verbal and written skills are an important tool for how others view you. Good communicators tend to find life easier, landing that top job or dealing well with relationships, whereas those who lack communication skills can struggle. The good news is that good communication skills can be learned, just like any other educational subject. With patience and practice, anyone can improve communication skills.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
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Listen carefully when others are speaking. Be objective in how you interpret the words, rather than jump to conclusions. Listening as if you were a bystander and not actively involved in the conversation enables you to process the conversation from different angles. Becoming too involved often creates a state where you do not properly listen, but rather hear the words you believe are being spoken, particularly those in your imagination that you are expecting. Be attentive when listening to others - they will appreciate your respect and return the courtesy.
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Think clearly about what information you want to impart with speech, as it is very common to regret words spoken on impulse. Calculate how you are going to put this information across in a way that is straightforward, easy to understand and unambiguous. Think about the effect the words you are using will have on your audience. Being concise will prevent others from switching off when you are talking. Ensure you speak clearly without rushing and articulate your words.
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Watch others carefully for body language and learn to adapt your conversation accordingly. If someone is showing signs of stress, tone down the discussion or change the subject. Be aware of your own body language and the signals you are sending out to others. You may unintentionally be telling them to leave you alone, or it may be that you are acting too passive when the opposite should be true.
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Always read and re-read everything you write, be it a short e-mail or a detailed assignment. E-mails cannot be recalled once you have pressed the send button, and e-mails and texts do not always express the correct mood of the author. The reader can often misunderstand the written conversation due to certain words or a misplaced exclamation mark. Ask yourself if your written work conveys your message accurately. Read it out aloud and hear how it may sound to someone else. Use different tones as you read it to understand how it may sound to someone else.
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Never act under heavy emotion. An impulsive communication can often result in regret or arguments. In the heat of the moment it may help to write down what you wish to say but never send the message. Save it and read it again an hour later, at which point you will either laugh and delete it, or modify it to tone down its effect.
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Communicate face-to face as much as possible, giving the opportunity for both parties to understand the tone of the conversation. People are individuals with many facets, whereas technology tends to be two-dimensional.
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Tips & Warnings
Spend time learning the art of communication and treat it like another college subject.
References
- Photo Credit communication image by Louise McGilviray from Fotolia.com
