5 Ways to Improve Communication Skills

It is known that having effective communication skills is the basic foundation of a successful relationship between people. On personal or professional levels, communication involves more than exchanging information. Having communication skills refers to someone’s ability to convey ideas, thoughts and messages in a clear way to other people receiving them. It also involves viewing and understanding perspectives, and engaging others.

Nowadays, having communication skills is very important as it is needed for building trust between people to foster strong relationships, to achieve professional as well as personal success, and to understand individual perspectives.

Not everyone is born naturally with effective communication skills. For some it takes time, practice, dedication and patience to be able to achieve this skill. However, to be able to achieve this, there are important strategies that you need to learn to be a more effective communicator. In this article, we will explore 5 major things to do that will help you improve your communication skill.

1. Pay rapt attention to the speaker

Paying full attention to the speaker while communicating is very important. This also means you have to listen actively and this involves engaging fully with the speaker, listening and understanding their perspective, asking questions to clarify and understand their message and even maintaining eye contact to stay focused.

2. Communicate in an easy-to-understand manner

Communication between two parties flows well when the message delivered is very clear and concise. Avoid the use of ambiguous and unimportant words when communicating. Make use of simple terms that will make the information or message well understood by the listening party. This is important to prevent miscommunication.

3. Be aware of nonverbal communication

There is a need to understand that there are some unspoken messages that are conveyed in various ways such as facial expressions, body languages, silence, and even voice tones. They differ from each person and this needs to be recognized and understood. Also, ensure that these nonverbal communication styles convey the intended message you want to share to avoid miscommunication or misinterpretation.

4. Encourage open ended questions

Engaging in meaningful discussions that will prompt responses, encourage thinking and provide reasonable insights will help improve communication. This will help communication go both ways (both parties- the speaker and listener) and not make it one sided. It helps to keep the flow of communication going between people. Also, questions that requires just a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer should mostly be avoided if an effective communication is to be achieved.

5. Ensure and confirm understanding of the information/message

It is important to ensure that the information or message shared is well understood by the listening party. Most importantly, a confirmation that it’s been well understood is needed to avoid miscommunication and to ensure effective communication.

In conclusion, effective communication is very necessary for two or more people to be able to relate and understand each other. It is therefore important for individuals to have this skill. By developing great communication skills, it helps people to build strong relationships, trust, achieve success personally and professionally to help live in a more harmonious and connected world.

ALSO READ: Mastering the Art of Effective Communication

About Author

Deborah Taiwo

A Veterinary medical Doctor with a strong foundation in animal health care and profound passion for writing, she writes on various niche such as healthcare, finance, business, pet care. She enjoys reading, writing and staying up-to-date with current trends.

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