Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Improve Your Communication Skills

Improve Your Communication Skills

Becoming a better communicator is the key ingredient for anyone wanting to achieve great success in business and in life. We live in the age of communication, technology and information, available now at the touch of a button.

Communicating with someone halfway around the globe no longer takes months or even days; but just a matter of seconds through computer and phone. What fabulous technology we have today, to sharpen our ability to get the message across quickly and effectively.

There is power in the spoken word, and yet so many people fail to improve their method of speaking with clients, friends, and even family members.

When you speak, do people listen? When others speak, do you listen? We are naturally attracted to people who are interesting to be around and who are interested in us.

A great communicator is someone who is not only interesting person, but has a knack for being interested in what others have to say.

Active communication includes nodding your head in acknowledgment or adding a quiet “go on” or other phrase designed to keep your talker talking. For example, make eye contact when communicating face to face, take notes and repeat back what has been said from time to time; this lets your listener know you are paying attention and focusing on their words and are genuinely interested in the conversation.

Most human beings love to have someone pay attention to them. When you can be that someone, you will find yourself with an abundance of clients and friends! When you are truly listening, you are demonstrating respect for the speaker.

Becoming a better communicator takes patience and practice. When you pay attention to the body language of your listener, you will pick up clues. For example, are they shuffling back and forth or stepping away from you? Both are signs of discomfort or a lack of interest in what is being said.

When you follow your intuition, and are in touch with others, you can pick up their energy and feelings. Practice improving your communication skills and you will have a happier, more fulfilling life.

When you are a good communicator, your social calendar is always full. People love to have you around in business and social events because you make them feel special and significant. They will love your energy and find you are one of the most interesting people they know.

Your business flourishes because your customers and partners sense your sincerity and they know you listen with an open heart.

Here are some guidelines for developing good communication skills you can practice anywhere, at any time.

▪ Steps

1) Know what communication really is.

Communication is the process of transferring signals/messages between a sender and a receiver through various methods (written words, nonverbal cues, spoken words). It is also the mechanism to establish and modify relationship.

2) Manifest constructive attitudes and beliefs.

The attitudes you bring to communication will have a huge impact on the way you compose yourself and interact with others. Choose to be honest, patient, optimistic, sincere, respectful, and accepting of others. Be sensitive to other people’s feelings, and believe in their competence.

3) Making eye contact.

Whether you are speaking or listening, looking into the person’s eyes whom you are conversing with can make the interaction more successful. Eye contact conveys interest and encourages your partner to be interested in you in return. In less intimate settings, when giving a speech in front of several people, holding the eyes of different members of your audience can personalize what you are saying and maintain attention.

4) Be aware what your body is saying.

Body language can say so much more than a mouthful of words. An open stance with arms relaxed at your sides, tells anyone around you are approachable and open to hearing what they have to say. On the other hand, arms crossed and shoulders hunched, suggests disinterest in conversation or unwillingness to communicate. Appropriate posture and an approachable stance can make difficult conversations flow more smoothly.

5) Have courage to say what you think!

Be confident in knowing you can make worthwhile contributions to the conversation. Take time each day to be aware of your opinions and feelings so you can adequately convey them to others. It is OK to be different as what is important or worthwhile to one person may not be the same for another.

6) Speak clearly enough to be heard.

When you say what you think, have the confidence to say it so as to be heard. An appropriate tone and volume tells listeners you mean what you say, that you have thought about what you are saying, and what you are saying is worth hearing. Using proper inflection, ensure your listeners hear exactly what you are saying, to reduce the possibility for misunderstanding.

7) Practice.

Developing advanced communication skills begins with simple interaction. Communication skills can be practiced every day, which ranges from more social to more professional. New skills take time to refine, but each time you use your communication skills, you open yourself to opportunities and future partnerships.

8) Develop effective listening skills.

Not only should one be able to speak effectively, one must listen to other person’s words and engage in communication of what the other person is talking about. Avoid the impulse of listening only for the end of the sentence, so you can blurt out ideas or memories that come to your mind while the other person is speaking.

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