Communication skills are necessary for everyday life, whether you want to deepen your relationships with family, easily make new friends, or reduce misunderstandings at work. Conversing well can help you effortlessly connect with people from all backgrounds. Below, we discuss some of these skills, their importance, and tips for developing them.
How to Improve Your Communication Skills
Communication skills refer to the various techniques and behaviour used when you talk to others. From active listening and empathy to clear language and a respectful tone, discover five different strategies to help you enhance your interactions with others.
1. Try active listening.
Active listening involves paying close attention to what someone is saying, verbally and non-verbally. It shows your interest in what others have to say and that you respect their opinions.
This process helps you build trust, resolve conflicts, have a deeper understanding of the issue, identify problems and solutions, and increase productivity by reducing any misunderstandings due to miscommunication. An International Journal of Listening study found that actively listening, even on your first meeting, helps others feel more understood than those who gave advice or simply acknowledged them.
Develop active listening by:
- Paraphrasing and summarizing what was said to demonstrate you’re listening and understanding. Pay close attention without judgment or criticism.
- Asking clarifying questions without interrupting them. Wait until they finish speaking.
- Using nonverbal cues such as eye contact and nodding to show you’re listening and engaged.
2. Show nonverbal communication.
Nonverbal communication refers to your body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. These cues can communicate your feelings and intentions, even without saying a word. They can help you convey confidence, warmth, and trustworthiness – or the opposite.
A 2017 Journal of Advances in Medical Education & Professionalism study on teachers and the impact of their nonverbal cues on students reveals that their body language, facial expressions, and even tone of voice could help motivate students for better academic progress.
Pay attention to your non-verbal cues:
- Use your body language to convey interest and attentiveness. Are you open and welcoming or closed and defensive?
- Be aware of your facial expressions. Do you smile often or appear cold and aloof?
- Consider your tone of voice. Are you loud and angry? Whining and frustrated? Or is your voice calm, warm, and friendly?
3. Exercise empathy.
Empathy is the ability to put yourself in another person’s shoes to understand how they feel or what they might be thinking. It can make others feel comfortable and secure and improves connection. Empathy increases emotional intelligence, strengthens relationships, and enhances problem-solving.
An older study on empathic communication in clinical practice shows that teaching medical students empathy improved patient and personal interactions.
Cultivate empathy with the following tips:
- Practise active listening to help you better understand other perspectives.
- Show compassion by expressing concern and offering support for their feelings and experiences.
- Avoid judging or criticising other feelings or experiences.
4. Adopt clear and concise language.
Use language that is easy to understand. Articulation can help you get your message across effectively. It prevents misunderstandings, saves time at work, and enhances your credibility.
Practise clear and concise language by:
- Using simple and easy-to-understand words and avoiding using complex or technical jargon, especially at work.
- Citing specific examples and details to help clarify your message.
- Considering who you’re talking to and their level of knowledge and understanding.
5. Get used to a respectful and non-judgmental tone.
Effective communication skills involve being courteous in your tone and use of language. It can help build more positive relationships, improve connection, demonstrate professionalism, and avoid misunderstandings in your interactions with others.
Get better at being respectful with these reminders:
- Use polite language, such as “please” and “thank you,” when making requests or asking for help.
- Listen actively to others and show that you value their ideas and perspectives.
- Watch your tone of voice and ensure it is respectful and considerate. Avoid sarcasm or humour that others may perceive as disrespectful or offensive.
Overcoming Conversation Breakdown
Even with powerful communication skills, conversations can still break down or lead to misinterpretation, frustration, and even conflict. Here are four tips to overcome them:
1. Keep the conversation going with open-ended questions.
It encourages the other person to elaborate. Actively listen and respond instead of simply waiting for your turn to speak.
2. Clarify misunderstandings.
Confusion can occur because of distractions, assumptions, or unclear language. Asking questions can help give you clarity.
3. Show interest by asking about others’ interests, hobbies, or opinions.
Interest helps build connections and encourages the other person to feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings.
4. Stay calm if conversations get heated and avoid reacting emotionally.
Take a deep breath and respond respectfully. It can help defuse the situation and prevent it from escalating into a conflict.
Good communication skills can help you navigate various social situations successfully and boost your confidence and self-esteem. You can improve your ability to connect and engage with others positively and meaningfully by practising the tips above. Does a lack of confidence impede your ability to communicate well? Try ways to build up your self-assurance via exercising, enrolling in self-help programmes, or even working on your dental hygiene.
According to the National Institutes of Health, tooth decay and bad breath contribute to poor self-esteem. Brush up on your dental habits, such as brushing and flossing. You can also drop by your dentist to see if there are ways to improve your dental care. They might recommend clear-aligner therapy if you have teeth overlaps or crookedness prompting poor oral hygiene. Learn more about this teeth-straightening solution via ClearCorrect.
What communication skills do you use most often? If you found this article helpful, share it with your loved ones and enjoy more rewarding conversations.
References:
Abdikarimova, M., Tashieva, N., Kyzy, A. T., & Abdullaeva, Z. (2021). Developing Students Verbal Communication Skills and Speech Etiquette in English Language Teaching. Open Journal of Modern Linguistics, 11(01), 83–89.
Archer, E., & Meyer, I. S. (2021). Applying empathic communication skills in clinical practice: Medical students’ experiences. South African Family Practice, 63(1).
Bambaeeroo, F. (2017b, April 1). The impact of the teachers’ non-verbal communication on success in teaching. PubMed Central (PMC).
Kaur, P., Singh, S., Mathur, A., Makkar, D. K., Aggarwal, V. P., Batra, M., Sharma, A., & Goyal, N. (2017). Impact of Dental Disorders and its Influence on Self Esteem Levels among Adolescents. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research.
Vogel, D., Meyer, M., & Harendza, S. (2018). Verbal and non-verbal communication skills including empathy during history taking of undergraduate medical students. BMC Medical Education, 18(1).
Weger, H., Bell, G. C., Minei, E., & Robinson, M. J. (2014). The Relative Effectiveness of Active Listening in Initial Interactions. International Journal of Listening, 28(1), 13–31.
