30 Communication Hacks for Business and Everyday Life

Unless you're a hermit, you can benefit from mastering communication. Most likely, you talk to numerous individuals every day. Excellent interpersonal skills will help you understand people and be understood at work and in your home. These tips will increase your know-how and transform you into a proficient communicator. This article will also be helpful in many ways if you are a speaker or presenter.

1: Listen

People are often eager to speak. But unfortunately, their mission to impart data fast makes them bad listeners. They talk over each other or silently prepare sentences while the other person talks.

Remember, you know what you want to say. However, you have yet to learn what the other party wants to impart. What you hear might alter what you anticipate divulging; this is especially important during business dialog.

Letting other people talk first makes you more likable too. People enjoy talking about themselves and being center stage and will warm to you if you let them speak.

Listening is also vital when connecting with people because you can glean information that helps you understand them. So listen well, and you'll become an effective communicator.

2: Pause and reflect

Have you ever blurted out information without giving enough thought to the contents of your dialog? So often, people gossip or express ill-considered opinions they later regret.

Embrace the habit of reflecting before speaking. When you stop to think, you can craft meaningful sentences and avoid confusing or upsetting people.

3: Learn about non-verbal communication

Most people know communication is verbal and non-verbal, but they don't always learn about body language. When you understand non-verbal signals, you can note what makes people tick. Individuals reveal much about themselves, including their intentions, with their body language.

For example, when someone points their feet toward the door as you converse, they reveal their desire to leave. Recognizing this non-verbal sign means you can improve the quality of your conversation to engage them or suggest reconvening later. On the other hand, pointing their feet and body towards you indicates that they are interested and engaged in your conversation.

Body language mastery will also help you deliver messages effectively. You can learn to use gestures and stances to show what you want to say and add power to your words.

4: Use cadence

Cadence refers to the pattern or rhythm of a dialog. Like music, speech has a beat and includes pauses and flow. Listen to famous speeches, and you'll note the speakers use effective cadence to grab and keep their audience's attention.

Superb public speakers often pause after making essential points to allow time for their words to make an impression. They use cadence to create a melodic rhythm too.

Poor communicators might speak too fast or slow or are monotonous. But people with excellent communication skills make the tone and flow of their words exciting and engaging.

5: Be succinct

Do you ramble when speaking? Poor communicators cram dialog with useless chatter, and listening to them is hard. Their audience loses the thread of what they say and gets bored.

Be clear when making points rather than drifting into unrelated topics. Impart data in a few words, and people won't fall asleep as you speak.

6: Use words to paint a picture

Captivate listeners by painting pictures with words. Use descriptions to help them visualize what you say. For instance:

"The dirt road stretched to the horizon as I limped under the baking sun."

Your audience will imagine you hobbling on the hot, dusty road and understand you were tired. Saying, "it was a long way, and I was tired," wouldn't be as engaging.

7: Avoid upward inflection at the end of sentences

People sometimes use an upward inflection at the end of sentences. Their voices rise as though they are asking a question. Listeners might gain the impression that they lack self-confidence and doubt their words.

Increase your communication prowess and ensure your tone of voice remains consistent when you finish sentences. Unless, of course, you want to query something.

8: Paraphrase for clarity

Paraphrasing involves repeating what somebody says using different words. The effect is twofold. Repeating what you hear is supportive because it shows you are listening and want to recognize someone's needs.

Paraphrasing also helps you gain clarity. People can interject if you misunderstand them and help you grasp concepts.

9: Use the language style of your listeners

Doubtless, your language style stems from your culture, education, and understanding. Other people have their styles too, and when you speak to them, it helps to match them. You want to communicate a story or your needs or impart other information, and speaking in a way others understand best helps.

If you usually adopt jargon and address an audience unfamiliar with your vernacular, listen to their speech. Glean insights and copy their vocabulary, so they connect with your words.

10: Expand your vocabulary

Communicating with limited language at your disposal means you have fewer words to describe events and express yourself. The better your vocabulary, the easier it is for people to understand you. When you widen your vocabulary, you increase the odds of becoming a terrific communicator.

11: If you're not sure, ask

Sometimes, you must talk with people who could better express themselves, or you won't grasp what others say because a topic is unfamiliar. Many people dislike asking for clarification when confused. They imagine their lack of comprehension signals limited intelligence.

However, everybody needs clarification sometimes, and you won't lose face by asking people to expand on what they tell you or describe it differently.

12: Recap to help listeners remember

Recap when you want listeners to remember facts. You'll give them a second opportunity to understand descriptions and let data sink into their memory banks.

Recapping is helpful when you teach, lecture, or instruct people. Unfortunately, many people need to understand information or realize they need to listen better. So, behave as if repetition is necessary. Recapping sounds professional and is widely accepted.

13: Have good manners

Most people respond well to good manners: politeness signals social education, experience, and wisdom. It also shows affability and makes people feel respected. When you are courteous around them, they know you have goodwill toward them and will treat you courteously in return.

14: Keep your cool

Anger can make people fly off the handle. You will need to manage challenging debates that arouse strong emotions sometimes. But keep your cool, and your communication skills will stay strong.

When people lose their calm demeanor, they also lose respect, and their logical ability drops. When stress strikes, let calmness be your best ally, and maintain your composure.

15: If you make a mistake, say so

Admit your mistakes. Otherwise, you might pay for them later. Communicating about your gaffes matters if they affect other people. You need not shout about them from the rooftops if they are a personal issue. When they involve work performance, business deals, or may cause distress in your personal life, mention them, and you can make amends.

16: Keep an intention in mind

It's common for poor communicators to fail to get their messages across to listeners. Sometimes, they still need to understand what they want to impart clearly, and it shows.

What do you want to say? Consider why you are having the conversation and keep your realization at the forefront of your mind when you speak.

17: Know when to take a break

While some conversations are a delight, others are non-starters. For example, you might be willing to spend time with somebody to find the middle ground when you disagree about a topic, but they may feel differently. Or the other person could be too angry or upset to speak clearly, and their strong emotions make the conversation unworkable.

Stop a discussion if you're not getting anywhere. You can pick up where you left off later when people gain their composure, or you have more information to help you proceed.

18: Ease tension with humor

Humor often lifts difficult conversations and makes them more manageable. Keeping a sense of humor softens the atmosphere and can shift people out of fight or flight.

When irritable, people sometimes get lost in their powerful feelings, and lightheartedness changes their perception for a moment and may help you communicate with them.

19: Know your subject

Has anyone ever offered you advice or acted like a know-it-all when they know little about a subject? Perhaps they infuriated, misled, or confused you.

If you give someone instructions or speak in public, gain some wisdom first. Know your subject matter by heart, and you'll come across as intelligent and confident. As a bonus, you'll avoid the fear of making mistakes.

20: Reduce filler words

Filler words like "erm," "ah," "uh," "you know," "random," "yeah," "I was like," and "I mean" destroy conversations because they dilute meaning. They are acceptable in some social circles where they're widely used but unhelpful in others.

For example, when you need to communicate during a business deal, filler words can make you appear less competent, confident, and knowledgeable. If your friends use filler words, adopting a few can help you fit in and feel at home.

21: Lift people with positivity

Not all topics of conversation are light and cheerful. For example, you might need to report a disaster if you're a journalist. However, you need not elicit fear or arouse anger in listeners with evocative speech.

If you must deliver bad news, state the facts and don't embellish the scenario with emotionally loaded opinions.

22: Follow up if you say you will

Entrepreneurs sometimes need to follow up when they should. Maybe they attend a business event, meet a potential ally, say they will call them, and forget. The result is that they appear unprofessional and rude and miss out on a profitable relationship.

The same can happen in personal relationships too. So, for example, you could tell a friend you'll see them next week and not do so. When you don't call, they are liable to feel upset, and your lack of action could damage your friendship. Endeavor to stay true to your word and follow up when you say you will. People will respect you, and you won't create mistrust.

23: Repeat people's names when you meet them

Do you easily forget names? Or perhaps you don't catch people's names when you're introduced and are too embarrassed to admit it? The main problem with not remembering who people are is that you miss an ideal opportunity to bond with them.

When you say someone's name, their ears prick up as they listen to the sweet sound that indicates you like them. To recall someone's name:

???Repeat it straight away when you meet

???Use it another time in the conversation.

???Think of a mental picture to associate with the individual.

For example, you might remember a sweet man named Steve by picturing him holding a jar of the natural sweetener "stevia."

24: Speak the truth

You need not reveal your secrets to people, but do tell the truth about information that affects them. Also, stick to the same story when describing events to various individuals.

Many people alter fine points to suit the person they talk to during conversations, and the habit might seem harmless. But you'll appear untrustworthy if they compare stories and note variations.

25: Be assertive

If you're timid, practice speaking assertively and asking for what you want. Otherwise, some people will overwhelm you with their needs and ideas.

It's vital to assert yourself when people cross your boundaries in social and business relationships. Assertiveness shows confidence and reduces vulnerability.

26: Note details

You might imagine you must count on your memory to retain information. But there's nothing wrong with noting details with a pen and paper. For example, log it if a friend has a hospital appointment soon and you want to be supportive on the day. Likewise, jot down when a relative mentions that they love silk scarves covered in bird patterns. Then, when it's time to buy a birthday gift, you'll know what to get them.

27: Be inclusive

Rather than exclude people who don't fit stereotypes, use inclusive language. For example, many people prefer to avoid being called the name on their birth certificate. So making sure you call them by their preferred name will increase their comfort. Another example would be to change gendered language like "ladies and gentlemen" to "folks" or "everyone."

28: Speak up

Communicate clearly by speaking up when you talk. Some people mumble or speak too softly for others to hear them well. Listeners strain to comprehend them and grow weary of asking them to repeat what they say.

If you usually speak softly, practice projecting your voice. You need not shout. Just inhale before you talk and stand or sit up straight; your voice will have natural oomph. Practicing can also lower the pitch of your voice and provide a sense of authority.

29: Ask questions

People will warm up to you, and you'll learn more about them if you ask questions. Further, make queries open rather than closed.

For instance:

Open question: "What do you like about your hometown?"

Closed question: "Do you like your hometown?"

People answer closed questions with "yes" or "no," and conversations grind to a halt. However, open questions keep discussions flowing.

30: Use stories to illustrate points

Some people are natural storytellers, and people gather around them to hear them speak. You might not want to tell lengthy tales to entice a crowd, but you can use short personal anecdotes.

Keep a box for storing notes of funny or exciting events. Dip into it to refresh your memory about them occasionally, and you'll be ready to use them when the time feels right.

Communication holds your personal and professional relationships together. It helps you express your needs, recognize what others desire, and bond with people. Use these communication hacks, and you'll master social discourse.