How To Become a Better Communicator?
The secret to any relationship is effective communication.
Knowing how to express your ideas and listen to others is essential, whether you’re giving a presentation at work, resolving a conflict with your significant other, or simply chatting with a friend. Although we communicate with one another frequently throughout the day, not all of us are excellent communicators.
Here are a few ways you can become a better communicator:
1) Listen before you speak!
“If you make listening and observation your occupation, you will gain much more than you can by talk.” –Robert Baden-Powell
We only listen to others to put together an intelligent response. Instead of actively listening to what others are saying, we frequently spend more time considering our responses. This causes us to only listen partially, which causes us to miss out on a lot of potentially useful information. Before thinking about what to say yourself, pay close attention to what they are saying.
2) Watch how others communicate in different contexts.
Understanding your audience is crucial. Learn from others’ presentations if you’re giving one at work (or watch videos of famous lectures by academics, businesspeople, or professionals in your field). If you’re unsure of how to behave at a party or networking event, observe those around you for guidance.
3) Use your voice in your favor
Your voice will sound clearer and more memorable if it has more musical and rhythmic elements. For instance:
Deep, low voices project strength and authority.
Voices that are warm, smooth, and rich are preferred
It is difficult to listen to monotone voices, so intonation, rhythm, and stress are crucial.
When we are excited, we speak quickly and loudly.
4) Make the conversation about the other person
Empathy is a fantastic skill. When we see that someone else has similar thoughts to us, we can connect with them on a deeper level. But, while having a conversation, we should make sure that we give the other person importance.
For example, when you hear about how irritated your friend feels at work, they don’t need to hear that you also feel irritated a work, let alone that you feel even worse. Instead of comparing yourself to them, just listen and focus on their situation.
5) Prepare for the topic in advance
I might be saying this for the 100th time!
You’ll feel more at ease and be able to explain your ideas to others more easily if you are knowledgeable about your subject. Make sure you are knowledgeable about the position and the company if you’re getting ready for a job interview. If you’re giving a presentation, be prepared!
Many times we completely overlook the importance of preparing ourselves for work.
6) Skip to the good part!
Remove any information that is not necessary. People usually find extremely detailed explanations with a variety of data to be uninteresting. In group settings, especially, make the most of the time you have to speak before the others lose interest and get right to the point.
Communication can make you or break you! I have often seen that people who are good communicators often do well in life compared to people who are just good at their skills but don’t know how to communicate well!
That is why it is crucial to invest time, energy, and resources to become a better communicator.
Right?
Till then..
Stay Awesome. Stay Productive
– Divas Gupta