7 Tips to Strengthen Your Communication Skills

While it’s great to be an expert at math, science, or social studies, there’s another subject that will do more for your success in life: Communication. Those with great communication skills have an easier time in life!

Communication can make or break your business! Study’s show that organizations that are effective in their communication abilities are 50 percent more likely to have low turn over rates! Do you want to get that job? Do you want to get that promotion at work? Do you want to be able to close that sale? Then communication is key!

Communication skills aren’t covered as heavily as other subjects in school, and this is unfortunate. It’s worth the time to enhance this important set of skills, even if you’re already a good communicator.

Keep these techniques in mind when communicating with others:

1. Use the right amount of eye contact. There’s a fine line between too much and too little eye contact. If you don’t have enough eye contact, people will either think you’re submissive or disinterested. If you have too much eye contact, you’re viewed as aggressive. Finding the middle point allows you to be seen as likeable.
   
   

●      A good general rule to follow is to maintain eye contact when either of you is speaking. Break eye contact when there is silence. This simple rule will improve your eye contact immensely. Experiment and see for yourself.

●      If maintaining eye contact is uncomfortable for you, study the other person’s eyes. What color are they? How big are their pupils? Imagine you’re an artist and you have to draw the other person’s eyes. You’d look very closely. Surprisingly, this can greatly reduce any anxiety you might be feeling.

●      Look just above their eyes at their forehead. If you are doing this it will give the illusion of you looking at them in the eye.

2. Listen better. If you want to be known as a great conversationalist, become a great listener. There are so few people interested in truly listening to another person that you’ll really stand out! Eye contact is part of being a good listener.
   
   

●      Wait until the other person is finished before speaking. Avoid interrupting anyone.

●      Give your full attention. This is more than just maintaining eye contact. It’s possible to look someone in the eye and think about something else. Keep your attention on the other person.

●      Listen for what they are saying and not for how you want to respond.

●      Use reflective listening to ensure to you and them that you are truly listening.

●      According to Wikipedia, Reflective listening - "Reflective listening is a communication strategy involving two key steps: seeking to understand a speaker's idea, then offering the idea back to the speaker, to confirm the idea has been understood correctly. It attempts to "reconstruct what the client is thinking and feeling and to relay this understanding back to the client". Reflective listening is a more specific strategy than the more general methods of active listening. It arose from Carl Rogers' school of client-centered therapy in counseling theory."

3. Ask open-ended questions. It’s hard to keep a conversation going if you ask questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. Ask questions that require a more substantial answer. It’s also a good idea to avoid answering questions with a one-word answer. Explain yourself.
   
   
4. Be aware of your body language. Your body language can make others view you as open and inviting or closed off. Avoid crossing your arms and legs. Turn and face people while you’re communicating. Smile. If you are sitting lean into the conversation instead of leaning back in your seat.
   
   
5. Know the purpose of the communication. What is the goal? Have a goal for every interaction, even if that goal is just to enjoy yourself. If you’re negotiating a business deal, the goal is to negotiate the best possible deal for your side. Let your goal guide you throughout the conversation.
   
   
6. Be certain that you understand. It’s easy to misinterpret what someone is attempting to communicate to you. Take the time to ensure that you’ve understood the other person correctly. Ask questions. Ask for clarification if you’re unsure of the other person’s message. Restate what you believe the other person communicated to you. This goes back to reflective listening. In this case it is okay to be wrong as it allows the other person to restate their idea and it allows you to truly understand what they are trying to say.
   
   
7. Be certain that you’re understood. It’s just as important to ensure that the other person is clear on what you’re communicating. Ask questions and ensure that you’ve been understood. Ensure that you’re being clear in your message.

How well do you communicate with others? Even if you’re a master at communication, you could be even better. Most people don’t communicate nearly as well as they could. Enhancing your communication skills is an easy way to give a significant boost to multiple areas of your life.

How well do you communicate? Do you have other techniques that I did not mention in this article? Post a comment and let me know.

Do you need help in learning how to communicate better? A Coach can be a tremendous help in learning new skills. Click the send message link on my Facebook page and send me a message if you want to learn more.