Communication is a vital skill for any professional, but how can you measure and improve it? In this article, you will learn some practical methods to assess communication in different contexts and settings. You will also discover some common communication challenges and how to overcome them.
The first step to assess communication is to define the purpose and goals of your message. What are you trying to achieve? Who are you talking to? How do you want them to respond? By clarifying these aspects, you can tailor your communication to suit your audience and situation. You can also set specific and measurable objectives to evaluate your communication outcomes.
One of the more fun aspects of my posts this year have been when I get over a thousand impressions. This has happened mainly when I used a piece of art to amplify my message. It has allowed me to appreciate further the power of implication in what I convey; not all have had my experiences as an addiction counselor so I have to stretch my availability of word usage. I have to find the universal in the particulars.
The next step is to examine the content and structure of your communication. Content refers to the information, ideas, and arguments you convey, while structure refers to the order, logic, and coherence of your message. You can assess your content and structure by asking yourself questions such as: Is your message clear and relevant? Does it address the needs and interests of your audience? Does it have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion? Does it follow a logical sequence and use transitions?
The third step is to evaluate your delivery and style of communication. Delivery refers to the way you present your message, such as your voice, body language, and eye contact, while style refers to the tone, mood, and personality of your communication, such as your word choice, humor, and emotion. You can assess your delivery and style by asking yourself questions such as: Is your voice loud, clear, and confident? Do you use gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact to support your message? Do you use appropriate language, tone, and emotion for your audience and purpose?
The final step is to seek feedback and evaluation from others and yourself. Feedback is the response you get from your audience, such as their questions, comments, and reactions, while evaluation is the analysis of your communication performance, such as your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. You can assess your feedback and evaluation by asking yourself questions such as: How did your audience react to your message? Did you achieve your communication goals? What did you do well and what can you improve?
Communication is not always easy or smooth. Sometimes, you may encounter communication challenges, such as misunderstandings, conflicts, distractions, or barriers. These challenges can affect your communication effectiveness and impact. To overcome them, you need to identify the source and nature of the problem, and use appropriate strategies, such as active listening, empathy, clarification, or negotiation.
To improve your communication skills, you need to practice and learn from your experiences. To do so, plan and prepare your communication in advance, taking into consideration the audience you are addressing. Utilize clear, concise, and simple language, as well as examples, stories, and visuals to illustrate your points. Speak in a positive, respectful, and constructive manner while asking open-ended questions and listening attentively. Encourage feedback and respond appropriately. Finally, review and reflect on your communication outcomes. Communication is a key skill for success in any field. Following these steps and tips can help you assess and improve your communication in various contexts and settings.
While this might fit under Content and structure or Delivery and Style, it’s not mentioned in either location: Visual Aids. While verbal comms are important, many can be complimented, clarified, or enhanced with visual aids as simple as a physical prop or as detailed as a PowerPoint/Prezi/Canva/etc. presentation. Things to remember when using visual aids—if handouts, these are best distributed after your speech as they can be distracting if your audience reads them (or skips ahead) during your talk. If using a presentation platform, remember this is not a substitute for talking, so don’t put your script on the slides; bullets, keywords, or even images only are more effective.