7 Simple Tips to Improve Communication

Do you want better relationships & greater overall success in life? Of course!

But did you know that One skill alone can bring more of both.

The happiest and most successful people in relationships and in business seem to have one thing in common. They are better communicators than the rest of us.

Being able to communicate great is the best way to get more out of life, advance your career and increase your income. So where are you on the communicate great scale?

Here's the Problem.

Nearly all of us feel we are doing a good job at communication. Most people see themselves as better than the rest. And less than 1% of us are actively working to improve our communication.

I’ve spent the past 8 years researching for a book on the subject of Communication. In that study I discovered that communication is much like the Richter Scale for earthquakes. In it, each level is 10X more powerful than the previous one.

So if you currently communicate at a 7 out of 10, and you simply improve to become an 8, you are 10 times more powerful. Think about that!

Communication is the lifeblood of a business. It's the key to good relationships. And the best way to advance ideas you consider important. Your communication Matters!

Did you know your income will be in direct proportion to the quality and quantity of your communication?

Success in life often has to do with our skill level and ability to communicate. From relationships to career, from Happiness to Income, communication plays a vital roll.

Odd are regardless of where you went to school, you did not graduate as a master communicator. And the result of our mediocre communication skills is summed up in one word. Struggle.

We struggle in relationships, career advancement, income and so many areas.

The good news is we don't need to.

When we communicate in an average way, we often don’t get what we want in life. Improving this one area of life, can and will improve everything it touches.

It's actually easier than you might think.

Here are 7 of the best Tips for improving your communication.

1)  LISTENING. Did you know that listening to people makes them feel validated and valuable? Asking questions and simply letting them talk triggers the pleasure centers of our brains the same as getting food or money. So getting better at simply listening with intention is a massive secret to improved relationships and boosting people’s self esteem. Here’s a tip for listening better. We’ve all experienced times where we inadvertently cut someone off before they were finished speaking. In your next conversation, wait 3 seconds after they’ve finished before saying anything. You’ll be surprised how often they are not quite finished speaking.

2)  Be BRIEF. Yes. Saying less actually communicates more. Mark Twain once said, “I’d have written you a shorter letter if I had the time.” It takes more thought and great care to be brief, and succinct in our speech. Take the time to think through how you can say more using fewer words. Even simply pausing and not speaking can cause people to listen to you with greater interest.

3)  TONE it down. Did you know that 90% of ALL arguments are caused by your tone of voice? Wow! That means that most arguments could (and should) be avoided if we simply paid attention to our tone of voice. Tone is more important than the words we choose. It speaks volumes about how we feel and what we really want. In you next conversation, make it a point to note both your tone of voice as well as that of the other person. See how much it influences the conversation. Begin to work on your tone as you react to others in conversation.

4)  BODY language. Whew! This is one area everyone can improve upon. The way we move, sit and stand cause people to feel certain ways. It can make them trust us, believe us, or move away from us and our ideas. Knowing the secrets of body language can make a massive difference in how we are perceived by others. Here’s a simple tip. Do a quick search on YouTube on Body Language by Paul Hogan. He’s written 21 books on the subject of persuasion and communication. Write down 3 things you will do right away to be better at body language.

5)  WORDS Matter. Choosing better words will enhance your ability to be heard, affirmed and followed. Certain words trigger response in all of us. Make it an adventure to discover the best words to use when crafting your conversation. Here’s a simple tip. Using alliteration causes people to pay attention and remember what you say. When words are alliterated like in Dixie Chicks or Marylyn Monroe it spins around in the inner ear and resounds over and over again, causing us to recall what was said. In your next conversation try using alliteration. Watch how your speech becomes memorable.

6)  First names First. Use their name FIRST. Did you know that if you use someone's name at the start of a sentence, they pay more attention? Here's an example. If you say, “I’d like to get your opinion this Tom.” Verses saying, “Tom, I’d like to get your opinion on this.” This will cause Tom to pay more attention to everything you say after it? Try it. You’ll see a difference. Make a habit of doing this in all your conversations.

7)  Speaking with AUTHORITY. There is a magic that happens when people speak with authority. People are programmed to pay attention to the Alpha in the pack. It’s not arrogance. It’s actually more closely linked to a calm, confidence that exudes trust and safety. Have fun doing a simple study of how you can speak with authority. It works!

Here’s the big Key to understand here. Confident people give power to others. They never belittle or diminish. They publicly share praise with others because their confidence doesn’t need to be constantly reinforced.

Everyone wants to be around a strong, confident leader. If that’s not you today, think about working on your self-esteem factor. Life seems to go well for those with strong self worth.

These are 7 Simple Tips you can use today to begin to improve your life.

Life gets better when your communication skills gets improve.

If you’d like to see more articles on How You can Improve Your Communication Comment below, and Share with friends & colleagues, or email me at [email protected]

Kirk Heiner is an author, speaker and sales trainer with more than 25 years in sales. He has conducted sales & training seminars for numerous companies including Lowe’s, DuPont, Danze, AWFS, the NKBA, KBIS, Stock Building Supply, the SBA and more. He can be contacted at [email protected]