How To Communicate More Clearly
Written By Finnegan Pierson / Reviewed By Ray Spotts
Communication is a very important part of life, and no matter how well you believe you communicate with others, there is always room for improvement. Think about all the different ways and people you talk to daily. You most likely have to speak to others for your career, especially if you have your own business.
Also, you may speak to teachers and administrators about your child's education. Then, there is always banking, creditors, retailers, and entertainment companies you interact with. Read on for six ways to improve how you interact with others.
Brush Up On Your Online Etiquette
When speaking to people or businesses online, it is important to consider how you come across to them. Are you professional? Do you collaborate with others effectively? If you are video conferencing often, pay attention to what is in the background of your video. If you are meeting with people online often and relying heavily on the internet, you could consider investing in an annunciator for a clearer understanding.
Learn to Listen Better
Listening can be one of the hardest parts of communicating with others. You want to be sure to get your point across, but you have to do more than just hear what the other person is saying. Ways to improve your listening could be:
- Give the speaker your undivided attention
- Make eye contact and take notes on important topics
- Repeat back to them what you heard them say
- Offer feedback and ask questions
Connect With Your Audience
A great way to get to know someone else better is to find common ground with them. If you are a parent and you find out that the other person has children also, you have already found a similarity that you have. You may have the same favorite food or TV show. They may have the same sense of humor as you which helps when having to discuss difficult topics.
You can discover these commonalities with each other by asking questions. Once you realize you can be playful with the other person, it makes meeting with them more fun and easy.
Do Not Hesitate to Express Yourself
An important part of clear communication is making sure that your thoughts and concerns are heard. You may be someone who doesn't like to complain or does not like conflict, but to achieve the results you want and need, you have to speak your mind.
Remember that you can be assertive without being rude or demanding. You can calmly say what you need to say, and be sure to ask for clarification from your listener. Make sure that your thoughts are understood because communicating is a two-way street.
Pay Attention
Make sure that you are attentive when speaking to others. You want to notice if your audience becomes upset. You also want to see if they become bored or annoyed. Pick up on the non-verbal cues. This offers you the chance to ask questions and maybe clarify if you are coming off in a way that you do not intend to, and it is a way to ensure that you are staying on task.
If you have 10 minutes to talk or promise to keep a meeting short, keep a clock nearby and pay attention to the time you have been speaking.
Avoid Insults and Name Calling
Regardless of the type of conversation you are having, you want to make sure that things do not get heated. If you find yourself becoming emotional, do your best to compose yourself. If this cannot be done, find a way to end the conversation. You can continue at another time when you have calmed down.
You never want the dialogue to escalate to slander, raised voices, or verbal abuse. This could cause you to lose your credibility and respect. On the same token, if you believe that the person you are talking to has crossed the line, you should ask them to speak to you courteously, or you will need to end the conversation.
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Written By:
Finnegan Pierson loves business and has a passion for Health and technology. Even more interesting is the combination of the two. As a freelance writer, Finn hopes to influence others so they can have positive life experiences.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.