Communication is more than just exchanging information, it is about understanding the emotion and intentions behind the information. Effective communication is a two-way street: conveying a message so that it is understood by someone exactly the way you intended, as well as listening to get the full meaning and comprehend it.

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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Effective communication helps deepen your connections with others and improves teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving. It allows you to communicate even difficult messages without creating conflict or distrust.

More than the words you use, effective communication combines a set of skills including non-verbal communication, engaged listening, the ability to communicate assertively, and the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions and those of the person with whom you are communicating. 

Be an engaged listener

People often focus on what they say, but effective communication is mostly about listening. Listening well means not only understanding the words or information being communicated, but also understanding the intention and emotions of the speaker who is trying to communicate.

When you manage to improve your communication skills, you realize that there is a big difference between engaged listening and uninvolved listening. When you are an engaged listener, you make the other person feel heard and understood. That helps you build a stronger connection with the other person.

Through this way of communicating, you will also reduce stress and increase physical and emotional well-being. So, if your goal is to understand and connect with the other person, engaged listening will often come naturally to you. 

Follow these steps in order to communicate in a effective way:

• Avoid interrupting or trying to redirect the conversation back to your concerns. Listening is not waiting for your turn to speak. You can’t focus on what someone is saying if you are thinking about what you are going to say next. Often, the person you are interacting with can read your facial expressions and know that your mind is elsewhere.
• Show your interest in what is being said. Nod your head occasionally, smile at the person, and make sure your posture is open and welcoming.
• Try to put judgment aside. In order to communicate effectively with someone, you don’t have to like or agree with their ideas, values, or opinions. However, it is necessary to put your judgment aside in order to fully understand a person.
• Give them feedback. “What I’m hearing is” or “Sounds like you’re telling me,” are great ways to reflect back. Do it with your words and make it sound sincere.

Pay attention to non-verbal communication

When people communicate things that matter to them, they use non-verbal language. Body language includes facial expressions, body movement and gestures, eye contact, posture, the tone of your voice, and even your muscle tension and breathing. We recommend you to practice in front of the mirror.

Developing the ability to understand and use non-verbal communication will improve your communication skills. It can help you connect with others, express what you really mean, navigate challenging situations, and build better relationships both at home and work.

You can enhance effective communication by using open body language. Avoid crossing your arms or sitting on the edge of your seat. Maintain eye contact with the person speaking to you. For instance, you can also use body language to emphasize or enhance your verbal message by giving a friend a hug while congratulating them on their success.

2 tips to improve the way you perceive non-verbal communication:

• Take the cultural and social background into account. People from different countries and cultures tend to use different non-verbal communication gestures, so it is important to consider age, culture, religion, gender, and emotional state when reading body language.
• Look at the non-verbal communication as a whole. Consider all the non-verbal language you receive, from eye contact and tone of voice to body language. Take the signals into account as a whole to get a better “read” of a person.

2 tips to improve your non-verbal communication skills:

• Use non-verbal language that matches your words. Non-verbal communication should reinforce what is being said, not contradict it. If you say one thing, but your body language says something else, the listener will probably feel like you are being dishonest.
• Adjust your non-verbal language according to the context. For instance, the tone of your voice should be different when you are in front of a child than when you are in front of a group of adults.

If you are nervous about an important meeting or first date, you can use positive body language to give you confidence, even though you are not actually feeling it. 

For instance, stretch arms and back making yourself stand tall and big before going to a meeting. Then, walk into a room with your shoulders back, smiling, and maintaining eye contact. This will make you feel more confident about yourself.

Keep your emotions under control

One of the most important factors that you need to take into account to communicate effectively is to be in control of your emotions. That means learning to manage stress. When you are stressed, you are more likely to misread other people, sending off confusing non-verbal signals, and falling into negative patterns of behavior.

You can quickly relieve stress and return to a calm state. It is only when you are in a relaxed and calm state that you will be able to tell if the situation calls for a response, or if the other person’s signals indicate that it would be better to remain silent.

These 4 tips can help you communicate effectively under pressure:

• Take your time to think. Ask a repeated question, or ask for clarification on a statement before responding.
• Pause to “collect” your thoughts. A pause can make you appear more in control before rushing into your response.
• Be clear and specific. In many cases, how you say something can be just as important as what you say. Speak clearly, keep an even tone, and make eye contact. Keep a relaxed body language.
• Wrap up with a summary and then stop. Summarize your answer and then stop talking, even if it leaves the room silent. You don’t have to fill the silence by continuing to talk.

By learning how to quickly reduce stress in the moment, you can safely deal with the emotions you are experiencing, regulate your feelings, and behave appropriately. When you know how to maintain a relaxed state of mind, you can remain emotionally engaged and improve your communication skills.

To deal with stress and improve your communication skills, you can:

• Recognize when you are getting stressed. Your body will tell you when you are stressed if your muscles are tense, your stomach is tight or your breathing is shallow. So, take a few deep breaths, squeeze and relax your muscles, or recall a calming image.
• Find the humor in the situation. When used appropriately, humor is a great way to relieve stress when communicating. When you or those around you start to take things too seriously, you will find a way to lighten the mood by sharing a joke or a funny story.
• Agree to disagree. If necessary, step away from the situation for a while so everyone can calm down. If possible, go for a walk outside or spend a few minutes relaxing. Physical movement or finding a quiet place to regain balanced emotions can quickly reduce stress.

Assert yourself

Being direct and having an assertive expression makes communication clear and can help increase self-esteem and decision-making. Being assertive means expressing your thoughts, feelings, and needs in an open and honest way while respecting others. You should avoid being hostile, aggressive, or demanding.

Effective communication is always about understanding the other person, not about winning an argument or forcing your opinions on others. Follow these 5 tips:

• Value yourself and your opinions. They are just as important as anyone else.
• Know your needs and wants. Learn to express them without infringing on the rights of others.
• Express negative thoughts in a positive way. It is okay to be angry, but you should be respectful too.
• Receive positive feedback. Accept compliments gracefully, learn from your mistakes, and ask for help when needed.
• Learn to say “no.” Know your limits and don’t let others take advantage of you. Look for alternatives to make you feel good about yourself.

So, these are the main factors that will lead you to improve your communication skills.

• Mind your gesture and non-verbal communication
• Get to the point
• Listen before you speak
• Ask more questions
• Don’t interrupt
• Bond with the people you talk to

Book an image consultation at Style Konsult to get expert advice on how to improve your communication skills in a personalized way. Our experienced image consultant will give you tools to communicate and conduct with confidence on all occasions. Also, download the STYiLES app to get a high-quality customized wardrobe from elite image consultants.

If you have any questions, contact us at style@stylekonsult.com.