I’ve researched piles of research, and surveyed dozens of surveys to determine what the most in-demand professional skills are. What you will find is that professional communication skills are what career movers, job seekers, and potential leaders want most. In fact, the ability to communicate effectively in the workplace is the skill that recruiters and business people say is most desirable in potential employees, but it is also what is most often lacking.
There’s a plethora of information online and in print about how you can improve your communication skills. However, there are a few simple things you can do very quickly to communicate more confidently and effectively…
6 Ways to Communicate Better
1) Repeat back what the other person has said, but in your own words.
Doing this will make you a better listener, and becoming a better listener is the first, most important step to becoming a better speaker or conversationalist. You do this by asking statements which start with:
- “Let me see if I understand you correctly…“
- “Is this what you meant…“
- “So what you are saying is…”
2) Reflect the emotional aspects of the information they share.
Demonstrating that you understand someone else needs to include the emotional aspect of the information they share. If someone describes an emotionally-charged idea or experience, you need to convey that you understand their feelings.
3) Read out loud 10 to 15 minutes each day.
This helps with developing your voice and enunciation, but be careful not to over-enunciate.
4) Always have your purpose defined before speaking.
Not that all conversations have to be stiff and professional, but it saves your time, their time, and leaves a better impression on the other person or audience.
5) Use a simple story or personal experience to make or reinforce your main point.
We don’t remember abstract ideas as well as detailed narratives. If you want someone to understand, believe, and remember what you say, frame it in a personal experience or a fictional story.
6) You sound better when you smile.
If you don’t believe me, try smiling throughout your next phone conversation. They will make some remark about it. People can “hear” your smile and it makes them feel more at ease and happier themselves. Try it.
If you want to learn more about improving your communication skills for career and social success, This is just one of a series of online lessons and videos I have produced about improving your communication skills.