Becoming a Better Communicator

Have you ever imagined a life without communication? Total chaos if you asked me. Communication is the way in which people interact with each other whether orally, written or non-verbally. We communicate thoughts, feelings and experiences on a daily basis and life would be meaningless if we could not communicate with each other. Some of us struggle to communicate effectively which causes disruptions in the communication process resulting in misinterpretation or misinformation. Let’s talk about five things we can do to become a better communicator.

Listen- listening is vital in the process of communication. When you listen it is the only way you will be able to give reasonable feedback. Listening helps you to understand what someone is saying and you are able to interpret to respond appropriately. Some of us often hear but we are not listening. Listening involves recognizing non-verbal ques that can give insight on the conversation.

Express yourself clearly- When communicating with others you must express yourself clearly. Obviously there are environment variables that may cause us not to do this all the time. We may fear how the person may respond if we express ourselves or we may assume it is not worth our time but we can express ourselves in an acceptable manner whether it hurts their feelings are not. Expressing yourself clearly leaves no room for questioning what you could possibly mean by what you said.

Respond timely and respectfully-this is an important factor when communicating with others. Responding in a timely manner illustrates interest in the conversation and shows as a form of respect. This can make the conversation more meaningful as well.

Pay attention- this tip is essential especially when you are communicating face to face. Pay attention to the non-verbal ques and parts of the body the person uses when they are communicating with you. This can give you more information based on what the person is saying and aids in giving the person an appropriate response.

Ask questions-questions were made to be asked so never be afraid to ask questions. I encourage you all not to assume what someone is trying to say if the hints aren’t clear enough. Be sure to ask questions when you are communicating as it tells the communicator that you are interested in what they are saying and that you are following the conversation. Questioning allows the communicator to see how you have interpreted things as you structure your questions based on your understanding.

Being a good communicator takes constant practice and there is always room for improvement as it relates to communicating with people. Let’s be practical, we are good at communicating with who we want to communicate with, in fact, we even over communicate with these same persons. Pause, recognize that everyone is worthy of being communicated with effectively. We have all the things we need to communicate so let’s practice being a better communicator today! If there are other ways that you use to communicate effectively share them in the comments below, I’d love to know. Until next week, adios!

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