Communicating is easy, but
communicating well takes skill. Thinking beyond basic language rules and
facilitating effective, positive exchanges of information is something not
everyone can do. Fortunately, good communication habits come with regular practice,
so if you know what it takes to sharpen your skills, you can proudly
communicate like all the great and writers before you. Remember these seven
things that good communicators always do, and make sure you’re doing them!
1. Get personal
Most of the time, people don’t
care about what you’re saying unless you’re saying something they find valuable
on a personal level. That personal level doesn’t have to be deep, it just has
to exist.
Good communicators establish a
personal connection by focusing on how their message may impact the other
person. For example, good communicators in the marketing industry always
explain how the company’s products or services will benefit the customer. This
gives the audience a reason to listen and remember what the marketer has said.
2. Represent facts
Inaccurate information is worthless,
so if you’re not sure about something you’re saying, either don’t say it or at
least admit that you’re not sure about it. Sometimes, we can get carried away
with a conversation and begin spewing out random things we’ve heard but don’t
know to be true. Although this may seem harmless, regularly offering inaccurate
information not only leads people to believe things that aren’t true, it
discredits you as a valuable source of information, and sharing information is
what communicating is all about.
3. Be specific
Good communicators cut to the
chase and understand the value of brevity. You may love to talk, but that
doesn’t mean others want to hear it. If you have something to say, say it.
Ambiguity and superfluous words are likely to bore people and discredit you,
causing your message to get lost in a cloud of noise. Good communicators always
respect people’s time and choose simple, straightforward words.
4. Ask questions
Whether the conversation is with
one person or many, good communicators always ask questions. Most importantly,
they question their audience to confirm that their point has been understood.
. Ask for clarification
While it’s necessary to make
sure others understand your own points, good communication also requires you to
understand their points. The same way you think the information you share is
important, your conversation partner likely believes the same and would love
for you to truly comprehend what they’re saying. Furthermore, understanding
their message is vital to responding appropriately.
Many people are afraid to ask
for clarification for fear of offending the other person, but that fear is
unneeded. Everyone comes from a different background, so everyone associates
different words, phrases, and even body language with different meanings. If
you aren’t sure what someone means, ask for clarification! Simply asking “What
do you mean?” is not only a good way to understand better, it’s also a great
vehicle for moving conversations forward.
6. Listen
A big part of communicating well
is responding appropriately to what someone else communicates. This requires knowing how to actively listen and
making every effort to understand what they’re telling you. If you don’t listen
and then respond inappropriately, that can make people feel unimportant and
literally unheard. In addition to responding appropriately, attentive listening
makes the exchange enjoyable for your conversation partner.
BY MUSA LILIAN BAPRM 42631
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