How to improve communication skills?

Effective communication skills are a must, if you want to success at your work. Nowadays, everyone is running for all other tech and non-tech skills as they think it is sufficient to achieve their goals. But actually, to become successful in any of these sectors you should be good at your communication skills. And no doubt, if you have the ability to express yourself with confidence and clarity then you can definitely make a separate place for yourself in your workplace.

So, if you are struggling with your communication skills and always keep on thinking how to improve your communication skills. Then just give me your few minutes, this article will answer your every answer to the most often asked question - How to improve communication skills?

Also, at the end I’ll be sharing some of my personal tips on improving communication skills.?

I know it may sound unhealthy to you that everyone knows that communication skills are a must to increase their productivity. But, unfortunately, very few of them are actually able to apply it in their business.

There are some proven tips and techniques that you can follow to improve your communication skills.

1) Start Listening: Yes, you heard it right. Firstly, you should start listening to others in order to understand everything. Because sometimes people actually don’t say what they actually want to say possibly due to some kind of fear or hesitation. But you can understand it by listening to them carefully through their actions and body language.

Also, if you listen to someone carefully and possibly by making eye contact, this can have a very positive effect on him. So, next time if you’re listening to someone, you should not use your phone and avoid multitasking, over thinking. And if you did so, I’m sure you’ll be able to conquer the very first but effective stage of your communication skills.

Also, keep in mind if you’re a good listener, then you can easily call yourself a good communicator as it all begins from here.?

2) By Improving Non-verbal Communication?

Sometimes, people underestimate non-verbal communication skills. But believe me, it is the most effective way to retain all the attention of your listener.?

Some reports say that an effective speech usually contains nearly 80% of non-verbal communication. You can easily overcome this by observing yourself closely.?

• Try to make Eye Contact
• Be careful about your actions
• Take care of your position when you’re speaking to people
• Observe every reaction to your actions.
• Use actions which helps to make your listeners comfortable?

You should be in control when you’re using non-verbal communication and don’t squirm. And don’t forget confidence is the key.?

3) By improving Verbal Communication

By organizing your thoughts earlier, you may get rid of the various awkward pauses that occur when speaking. It'll also help you relay your information extra concisely. At the same time, writing down your thoughts is not usually possible in extempore discussions. It's far nevertheless effective to take a minute to prepare your thoughts for your thoughts earlier than you begin to talk.?

Also having a few strong words in between your conversation which can attract your listeners and it would be very helpful.

Also don’t forget that being tactful is also an essential aspect of being a good communicator. Sometimes, people will be open to hearing even unpleasant facts if you can phrase them with tact. You know good communicators can easily sense how someone will react over your actions.?

Besides this, follow few points to improve your verbal communication skills: -?

• Always try to speak from your diaphragm to lower your voice.
• Don’t use lower pitch, it will make the experience worse for your listeners.?
• You don’t want to speak in a monotone, it will bore your audience. Rather, you should use a wide range of rhythm, style and speed.
• You can pause and hook the listener's attention before dropping your pitch. It will create small suspense and work in retaining your listeners.?

4) PIP approach and audience identification

Understanding your audience is some other important thing to having strong communication skill. For exp, the way you interact with your supervisor has to be one of a kind rather than how you interact with your kids. This isn’t to mention you need to be a one-of-a-kind character with absolutely everyone you interact with. Moreover, it’s a long way from it.

An amazing manner to think about it is: -

Try to observe the use of your equal choice of words and body language you use together with your partner at the same time as interacting together with your boss. That place matters in a photo light!

You need to ensure you're using the type of communique most applicable for your audience.

And don’t forget to use the PIP approach. It is a common framework that is usually used by business experts. You can use it whenever you need to deliver a speech. It means preview approach to presentation introduction. By using this approach, speakers first elaborate the purpose of introduction and then why it is important by discussing some possible outcomes. This approach helps the speaker to attract the audience for a long time and don’t forget to give a bonus point at the end. Yeah! I also told you about this one above. And if you’re reading this till now, then congratulations you’re just a few lines away from bonus tips.?

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5) By Improving visual communication

People usually don’t think about it. But I want my reader to understand it very well. You don’t need to use visual communication until and unless you don’t need it.?

I think visual communication will be clear to you through this small example. Let’s consider that you have to serve food to someone and there are 5-6 dishes you have prepared. But if you just put all dishes along with one another without providing any space on the plate, then it’ll look messy. You have to serve it as clean as you want others to serve it to you. I hope it may clear you a bit about visual communication. You just need to be very clear about what you are going to speak, and everything should be well-managed.?

Through this way, you cannot just retain the focus of listeners for a long time but also it can help to share your message directly with your audience.

Now, we’re about to finish this. But I know you’re waiting for the bonus tip that I promised. And it’s here:

Bonus Tip: Usually what we find is the majority of people being afraid of public speaking. They can speak very well alone at home. But they stuck among the people. Honestly, I was also suffering from this at once. But how do I overcome my fear of public speaking and improve my communication skills?

This is simple, I just follow the 21-day rule! I started giving 1 hour a day to it. During this one hour, I just made a short video of myself speaking in front of my phone camera and started observing it. Believe me, it helps a lot. You can also try this at your home. And one day you’ll find that how you become good at communication skills and your fear of public speaking will just vanish like the shadow of the night.

I hope this will surely answer your question - how to improve communication skills. Moreover, I’m sure that if you practice these tactics then definitely your communication will become much better.?

NOTE: I had written this article few years back. Thought of sharing on LinkedIn today. I hope it will help you!