Lesson 5 Improving Communication: Developing Effective Communication Skills

Effective communication skills are fundamental to success in many aspects of life. People with good communication skills also usually enjoy better interpersonal relationships with friends and family. Effective communication is therefore a key interpersonal skill and learning how to improve your communication has many benefits. However, many people find it difficult to know where to start. Following you will find some suggestions on how to develop or improve your communication skills:

1. Active listening
   Effective communication requires active listening, so practice active listening until it becomes second nature to you. Active listening involves hearing and understanding what a person is saying to you.  Unless you understand clearly what a person is telling you, you can’t respond appropriately.
2. Non-Verbal Communication
   The words we choose make up just 7% of the message being conveyed, which makes non-verbal communication even more important. Body language is an important communication tool. Your body language should help convey your words.  Other factors you should consider are things like the tone of your voice, your hand gestures, and ensuring eye contact.
3. Asking questions
   When you are in conversation with someone, asking questions shows you are interested in them. There are many types of questions you can ask including open (what and how), closed (Did, do, should, would), specific (When, where, who, which) or visionary (what are your dreams).
4. Be Clear and Be Concise
   Convey your message using as few words as possible.  Whether in person, via telephone, or email, convey your message clearly, concise, and direct. If you are excessive with your words, the listener will either lose focus or just be unsure as to what it is that you want.  Before speaking, give some thought as to the message you want to convey. This will prevent you rambling and causing confusion.
5. Be Personable
   Confidence underpins all effective communication. Other people will believe you will do as you say if you sound confident. Making eye contact, using a firm but friendly tone (never aggressive), are all ways you can exude confidence. Remember to always be listening to the other person and looking out for those nonverbal clues.
6. Empathy
   Empathy is the skill of being able to understand and share the feelings of another person. Even if you don’t agree with the person you’re communicating with, it’s very important that you understand and respect their view. Simply saying to that person “I understand what you’re saying”, will let them know that you have been listening to them, and that you respect their point of view.
7. Always Have An Open Mind
   Being an effective communicator requires that every conversation is approached with a flexible, open mind. This isn’t always easy to achieve but is very important to communicating effectively. Always engage in active listening and be sure to demonstrate empathy by acknowledging you understand what the other person’s point of view is. Adopting this approach will always ensure honest, productive communication.
8. Convey Respect
   Other people will be more likely to engage in communication with you if you respect them and their ideas. Simply addressing another person using their name, will make them feel appreciated. If communicating via telephone, always keep focused on the conversation and avoid being distracted in any way. When communicating through email, take time to construct and edit your message, taking care to address the recipient by name.
9. Give and Receive Feedback
   Giving and receiving appropriate feedback is an essential communication skill, particularly for those of us whose roles include managing other people. Providing constructive feedback, as well as giving someone praise, can greatly increase motivation and build morale. It is just as important that you accept and encourage feedback from others. Always listen to feedback and act positively on it.