We all have something to say, but how we say it (or choose not to say it) can make a tremendous difference in the workplace or our personal lives. If you feel your communication skills are not up to par, consider working through the following to make you more effective at sharing your thoughts both at the office and among friends.
Listen
The first step in good communication is to listen to what others are saying. If you are so focused on saying your piece, you’ll miss important points and could even offend those around you. Listen to the points colleagues or friends are making. When they have finished their thought, go ahead with your own. It also helps to build relationships if you can address another’s comments in your own.
For example by saying, “I agree with Mary that we should expand our target demographic…” will be much more effective and demonstrate that you are a team player better than the more self-centered, “I think we need to…” By acknowledging that you are listening, others will pay more attention to what you say in return and respect your style of communication. Besides, being a good listen is just plain polite.
Also Read: 8 ways to build unbreakable motivation
Think Ahead
If you say everything that crosses your mind exactly when you think it, it’s unlikely anyone wants to speak with you. Everyone suffers from ugly thoughts and sometimes even positive or neutral thoughts come out sounding bad if you don’t put the right amount of thought into your presentation. It’s the proverbial foot in mouth that can be avoided simply by thinking a thought before saying it.
Planning what you are about to say can go a long way in avoiding embarrassment on your part or someone else’s hurt feelings. It is also crucial when you are trying to deliver constructive criticism or negative feedback. Softening a blow with a compliment can make a hard statement much easier to swallow. Just be sure your point is clear. Stopping to think before speaking gives you time to filter your thoughts and ensure that you are sharing exactly what you mean to say.
Speak All Languages
You can’t possibly know every spoken language in the world, but some styles of language are more universal. It is important to speak with not only words, but your body, face and tone as well. If you are telling a joke, you should smile. If you are serious about a situation, your tone and body should express that.
Others will listen to your words, but they are always tuned in how you are saying those words to get a full understanding of your message. If you’re truly engaged in what you are saying, the rest should follow easily. It’s easy to see when someone is faking enthusiasm, so don’t. If you feel it, great. If not, don’t pretend. Everyone will know your real thoughts on the matter regardless.
Get to the Point
In the business place, there is little time for long rambling thoughts or stories. Eliminate most of the idle chatter in a professional context and get to the point. Stories and random thoughts are great among friends at the water cooler or lunch table, but they don’t belong in the conference room or office. Of course, you don’t need to speak only in short bursts, but a few extra sentences to introduce a thought are much more appreciated than a fifteen minute narrative.
Your message should be clear both at home and at work. If you’re simply relaxing with a few friends, think about how much more you enjoy a brief funny story than a long, slightly boring one. Keep it simple. Not only will your friends appreciate your wit, but they’ll also appreciate your not monopolizing the conversation. Plus, you’ll have the details you failed to share as fodder for a future conversation.
communication is a two way process; where message from source is generated to target receiver to achieve certain objectives. Hence the feed back of receiver tells how much our communication remained effective in this process.
Secret of good communication is to target your audience and speak up on commonalities. Most of the people lack comunocation skills becuse of their involved styles i.e. either nothing to say or say it as vaguely as they can. To avoid this, lucidity is the first requisit, think clearly avoiding confusion and speak clearly.
yes totally agree with u .effective communication resolve many problem and of communication created many problemas
actually i want enhance my enlish communication asap for my interview …i m not so week in communication but average so please help me out from this problem
communication is a two way process; where message from source is generated to target receiver to achieve certain objectives. Hence the feed back of receiver tells how much our communication remained effective in this process.
Secret of good communication is to target your audience and speak up on commonalities. Most of the people lack comunocation skills becuse of their involved styles i.e. either nothing to say or say it as vaguely as they can. To avoid this, lucidity is the first requisit, think clearly avoiding confusion and speak clearly.
Communication is the best thing that can ever happen to two people too many people.
Your site is a refreshing change from the majority of sites I have visited. When I first started visiting web sites I was excited by the potential of the internet as a resource and was very disappointed initially. You have restored my enthusiasm and I thank you for your efforts to share your insights and help the world become a better place.
Your site is a refreshing change from the majority of sites I have visited. When I first started visiting web sites I was excited by the potential of the internet as a resource and was very disappointed initially. You have restored my enthusiasm and I thank you for your efforts to share your insights and help the world become a better place.
Everything I have read here ASSUMES there is no passive aggression being demonstrated either by management or by HR.
It presumes all reports are simply true on the face of them.
It presumes Management has the intention to maximize good outcomes for all concerned.
Given what I know about corporate UN-accountability for outcomes, results and effects, I think these materials need a great deal more work, to identify who’s telling the truth about what problem.
After all, obfuscation and avoidance are elements of the workplace that constitute problem and anxiety-driving opportunities.
Emily Cragg, Director
http://www.holyconservancy.org
Everything I have read here ASSUMES there is no passive aggression being demonstrated either by management or by HR.
It presumes all reports are simply true on the face of them.
It presumes Management has the intention to maximize good outcomes for all concerned.
Given what I know about corporate UN-accountability for outcomes, results and effects, I think these materials need a great deal more work, to identify who’s telling the truth about what problem.
After all, obfuscation and avoidance are elements of the workplace that constitute problem and anxiety-driving opportunities.
Emily Cragg, Director
http://www.holyconservancy.org
Communication is a very important in and kind of situation be it in a relationship in or out side the office, one has to be able to talk to others in order to relate if one doesn’t have this or do this boundaries start to brake down and things can start to fall apart and this is not good especially with staff and business. This post was very helpful and informative with regards to this important subject.
Communication is a very important in and kind of situation be it in a relationship in or out side the office, one has to be able to talk to others in order to relate if one doesn’t have this or do this boundaries start to brake down and things can start to fall apart and this is not good especially with staff and business. This post was very helpful and informative with regards to this important subject.
Great blog 😀
Hi there! I come to your site is just because I’m kind of person who are afraid to express my thought. I really envy to people who can just say what’s on their thought directly. Every time I want to tell my thought, I feel hesitate. I’m afraid that the person to whom I talk to will get hurt or they will get mad of what I say. There’s so many “what if…” in my life (just want you to know that). And may be that “what if” becomes the most reason why I choose to not speak my thought. There are two options that usually come at the time I want to express my thought; wait for seconds (not a second) or rather to not say it all.
I really need your help on how to be so brave to express my feeling or thought. I know it is hard to be understood if others don’t know how we feel. But that’s me, I always afraid to express my feeling. Please email me for some advises. Thanks at advance.
i think communication is a simple process, but need to be specific, think what is in mind before say something.
its gud