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Sometimes wires get crossed in conversation and there are miscommunications that can result in confusion, hurt feelings and misunderstandings. By improving communication skills your personal and professional relationships will greatly benefit. The following 4 tips should help you communicate with others better.
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Actively listen. A good communicator is someone who actively listens to what others are saying to them. Engage with a speaker and concentrate on what they are saying to you. Don’t let your mind think about anything else while someone else is talking besides the words being said and the context behind them.
Ask questions. Clarify what other people are saying to you. Ask questions like, “What did you mean when you said—?” Restate what was said to you in a question by asking “Do you mean –?“. This not only helps you listen and process the information better, it also shows the speaker that you are listening and helps to clear up any possible misunderstandings through misinterpretation.
Write out what you want to say. Take a moment to sit down and write out what it is you want to communicate. Read over what you wrote and cross out information that isn’t important while adding in clarifying sentences. Organize your thoughts in a final draft that it more concise and direct. Have the letter in front of you when speaking so that you can glance down for reference, or even read it to your listener in order to make sure your point is being made.
Explain where you are coming from. In addition to stating a fact, explain how you came to that conclusion and what makes you feel that way. This takes thought and careful self analysis. Remove yourself to think, and don’t be afraid to take a moment to pause for self reflection. A moment or two of silence to gather your thoughts is worth thorough communication.
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