Communication is
something I struggle with. I'm always striving to develop myself personally. I
believe communication is the key to living a positive life. I'm always looking
for new and improved ways to do things. Here are ways to communicate more
effectively:
1.
Don't rush
communication, and pause before responding: I'm often in a rush
whenever I'm trying to talk. I've actually found that verbally pausing works
wonders when it comes to communicating more effectively with others.
That
tiny break gives you time to really understand what someone else has said so
you can formulate the thoughts you really want to convey.
The next time you find yourself communicating
with someone else, slow down
and really pay attention. Taking just a little extra time could end up making a
huge difference.
“You can make more friends in two months by
becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get
other people interested in you.” (Dale Carnegie)
2.
Be trustworthy
and honest: When you're doing
this point, communication becomes easier. You don't have to think about what
you're going to say wrong. You don't have to worry about uncovering a secret or
a dishonest statement.
“My basic rule is to speak slowly and
simply so that my audience has an opportunity to follow and think about what I
am saying. “
(Margaret Chase
Smith)
3.
Adapt your
ideas to others, and stay in the moment: If you want your ideas to be heard, you have to communicate
the idea in a way that’s understandable. Get to know your audience if you hope
to be effective.
If you wish to communicate your thoughts
successfully, stay in the current moment mentally, and be there when you're
both speaking and listening.
“If you can put Boomers and Millennials in the same place and
with the right setting and conditions, it’s amazing how they spark each other.”
(Paul Critchlow)
4.
Pay attention
to non-verbal cues: If you want to understand what others are thinking or saying,
just listening is not enough. You have to look and experience too. Look both at
your own non-verbal cues and those others are sending you. There's a lot to be
said for what's not really being said.
“Everything that
irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” (Carl Jung)
5.
Intend to
understand: Too often we're not trying to understand what
others are saying, but instead are trying to find a way to move from their talking
points to our own. Do what you can to understand what others are saying.
“The first duty of love is to listen.” (Paul Tillich)
6.
Be patient and
open-minded: Recognize that you might not be communicating
as effectively as you'd like, and remember to be patient with yourself. Keep
your mind open to new ways to share and understand others.
“The two words information and
communication are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different
things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through.” (Sydney J. Harris)
7.
Follow up
after communicating: If
you're communicating with someone, make sure that you follow up after you've spoken.
No matter how obvious your message might seem, it never hurts to follow up with
those who heard to see if the intended message was received.
“The royal road to a man's heart is to talk
to him about the things he treasures most.” (Dale Carnegie)
8.
Ask for
feedback from others: Take some suggestions from those you speak to with frequently to
find out how you can improve on your verbal skills. It's not always easy to ask
for critiquing, but it can be valuable.[i]
“No one can make you feel inferior without
your consent.” (Eleanor Roosevelt)
“There are four ways (and only four ways) in which we
have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four
contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it.” (Dale
Carnegie) 
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