Communication is important everywhere – not only at your place of work but at home too. Miscommunication or failing to communicate something can lead to problems ranging anywhere from getting a probation warning at your job to a divorce with your spouse. Knowing how to communicate your thoughts and feelings in a way that would engage your audience is an important skill, perhaps even more important than all your achievements and academic prowess. After all, what use are your achievements if you can’t communicate them to a recruiter? Improving communication skills is not the easiest thing to do, but with the following tips, it will become a little bit easier.
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Pay Attention to Body Language
This is very important if you’re talking to a person face-to-face, especially in negotiation meetings or interviews. Non-verbal cues often speak louder than verbal ones. So make sure to appear open and confident. Avoid crossing your arms or slouching. Instead, stand tall and maintain eye contact with your audience. You also need to pay attention to your audience’s cues. For instance, if they are yawning or sighing, take it as a sign to engage them more.
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Respect Your Audience
The first step to earning someone’s respect is to respect them first. Whenever you’re communicating anything to anyone, remember that it’s not just about you. Try to genuinely care about your audience’s needs and understand their perspective too. The best way to do this is to listen to what they have to say.
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Be a Good Listener
Everyone likes to be listened to. Make sure to listen attentively to what the person in you’re talking to is saying, and make sure they know you’re listening. Avoid texting or interrupting the conversation to pick up the phone. Instead, ask for clarification to show you’re listening. The best communicators are good listeners because only if you listen can you give the best insights.
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Be Clear and Concise
Effective communicators convey their points in a clear and concise manner. Avoid beating around the bush and get to the point quickly. Consider the fact that your audience is human, too, and human beings get bored. It’s important to understand the difference between being interesting and talking too much, and most people fail to realise it. So to improve your communication skills, learn to get to the point quickly.
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Avoid Using Slangs
This is especially a problem with many youngsters, who tend to bring the infamous SMS language and its abbreviations to formal conversations, and even formal emails. Be extra careful when you’re talking in a formal setting, and check and recheck your emails for any slang before sending them. Job applications are often rejected outright for informal language, so avoid it at all costs.