Effective communication is essential in and out of the office as it allows you to transform your intentions and sentiments into understandable messages properly. Clear communication helps make you a more productive employee and reduces unintended consequences caused by miscommunication.
Effective team leadersand team membersdevelop an effective communication approach to grasp what others say.To be an effective communicator, you must actively listen and express yourself clearly to others. Sadly, no single skill or practice will refine your communication skills. Effective communication demands a wide range of skills, including both verbal & nonverbal communication cues and active listening. Below are some of the ways that can help you enhance your communication skills:
- Active Listening
Listening is an integral part of communication because the individual who is talking to you is the most valuable person to you at that particular moment. Well, there is one important thing that you should not forget. You should only indulge in one discussion so that your attention doesn’t get diverted. If you indulge in multiple discussions at a time, that person may feel that you are not listening to him attentively.
- Be Concise and Clear
Practice being concise yet clear enough in your non-verbal and verbal communication so that the other man understands what you’re trying to say.
For example, a key role is played by effective communication skills in accounting because poor communication by an accountant might negatively impact the firm or organization. Worse is when unclear messages damage the relationship between the accounting company and its client.
- Body Language
Whether it is a face-to-face conversation or an online video conference, your body language plays an important role while you communicate with your audience. Likewise, there are some don’ts that you should be aware of. For example, while you address your audience, you must maintain eye contact so that they don’t feel alienated. Similarly, keeping your arms crossed while communicating is also a bad habit.
- Avoid Using Visual Aids
Using visual aids for communication is a bad idea. The reason is that it hinders communication. If you know, two of the greats of the business world, Steve Jobs and Sheryl Sandberg, implemented a complete ban on PowerPoint in their offices just because of its ability to disturb the communication process.
“I hate the way people use slide presentations instead of thinking. People confront problems by creating presentations. I want them to engage, to hash things out at the table, rather than show a bunch of slides. People who know what they’re talking about don’t need PowerPoint.” – Steve Jobs
Consequently, you can use other means to engage your audiences, such as telling moral stories or humorous jokes.
- Ask for a Feedback
Like most leadership skills, receiving authentic feedback from peers, managers, and team members is important for becoming a better communicator. Asking for feedback regularly will help you determine areas that need improvement that you could have instead neglected.
- Focus onNonverbal Communications
Understanding nonverbal signals/cues are important because if you are unaware of the non-verbal cues, it will eventually result in misunderstandings. Similarly, if you interact with your boss at the office, remember to watch your body language and facial expressions. It is a common saying that the first impression is the last, and this first impression is created by how you manage your nonverbal cues.
- Keep the Audience Engaged
It is part of human nature that a person starts losing interest in a particular after some time. So for a speaker, it is very difficult to keep his audience engaged by not letting them get bored. Therefore, making your presentations or discussions interactive will help you become a better communicator. To engage with your audience during the session, you can ask them some riddles or give them some tasks to do in groups.
- Manage Your Emotions
It’s essential to handle the emotions and convey them effectively so that you can communicate with someone properly, avoiding any misunderstandings. Letting strong emotions seep into a professional situation inappropriately might lead to misunderstandings and conflict.
- Think Before You Speak
Before you utter a word in your mouth, take a deep breath and think about what you will say. Make a map in your mind of what you will be saying, which words you will be choosing, and how you will be saying them.If you practice this one little thing, you will be saved from embarrassment in front of your audience.
- Be specific and Brief
Practice making your written and spoken communication clear and concise so that the other person understands what you are trying to say. As an added precaution, read the entire email carefully before replying. With practice, you’ll learn when to cut back on the amount of information you provide.
- Tailor Your Message for the Right Audience
It’s okay to use acronyms and slang when talking to a friend but refrain from using them when sending an email or making a phone call to your boss. You can’t assume that the person you’re speaking to is familiar with your acronym. You don’t want to be misunderstood because different people interpret the same acronym in different ways? An important part of effective communication is tailoring one’s message toeach individual to whom one is speaking.
- Be an Active Listener
A good listener is an excellent communicator. Active listening involves responding to what someone else sayswith positive responses and asking questions to show that you are listening attentively.
Conclusion
The most effective skill you can master is the ability to communicate effectively. Remember to use both nonverbal and vocal cues when communicating. Listen intently to what someone has to say and overcommunicate in different ways to guarantee the conversation’s content is remembered by the audience. Because communicating successfully is a teachable ability, adopting the strategies described above will allow you to boost your communication skills.