5 hacks to improve your communication skills
Expressing ourselves through words and language is what makes us human. Communication is a way of connecting effectively in your relationships, at your workplace , in a marketplace and various areas of your life. Nowadays, if you have noticed ..the old way of interviewing has taken a back seat and Podcast is the new talk of the town, you know why this format is so popular…. because its not mechanical or emotionless. Wherein before the interviewer was supposed to ask a set of framed questions and the interviewee had to give the most polished and diplomatic answers possible ,but today podcasts are designed to look like as if we are having a chill conversation with the celebrity involved, its more raw, emotional and vulnerable.
Now here are 5 hacks that will help you communicate to connect and leave a lasting impression on the listener
ACTIVE LISTENING
Please Don’t Hear to reply but listen to understand in a conversation, In communication, active listening is important because it keeps you engaged with your conversation partner in a positive way. It also makes the other person feel heard and valued. This skill is the foundation of a successful conversation in any setting — whether at work, at home, or in social situations.
PACE
PACE gives a clear picture about your emotions , intensions and confidence that you want to convey, and most importantly how you influence , connect and persuade others. For example if you are speaking too fast it will make you look nervous, impatient and incomprehensible , while if your too slow in your speech it will make you seem bored, uninterested and may be fearful . So, you can easily connect with how much difference PACE makes in your communication .It can affect how well you convey your message, how engaged your audience is, and how confident you feel.
TONE
How you decide as to when a person likes or dislikes you , just watch out for the tone they are using with you . That is the affect of tone in conversation. While talking to others , your tone clarifies and conveys the meaning. The 7–38–55 Rule indicates that only 7% of all communication is done through verbal communication, the words we speak, whereas the nonverbal component of our daily communication, such as the tonality of our voice, make up 38% and 55% from the speaker’s body language and facial expressions.
A simple phrase as “I don’t Know” can be taken in a number of different contexts depending on how you decide to express it. Your tone not only decides how listeners will perceive you but also there willingness to listen to you .
DONT BE A VICTIM
A lot of times unknowingly in a conversation we present ourselves as victims in order to gain validity from the listeners for the emotions we are feeling ,now sometimes its good to express your emotions but making it a habit is what ruins the complete agenda. Using words of victimhood very often will not only drive people away from you but also make you a weak and vulnerable individual. Instead use the language of leadership , and replace negative words to more optimistic ones, instead of cribbing about the situation start focussing on solutions that are in your hands.
BODY LANGUAGE
Your body gestures tells a lot about how much interested you are in a conversation, here are few points that you can focus in order to communicate better
Maintain eye contact : Maintaining an eye contact 30 to 60 percent of the time. More than that is welcome, as it signifies that you’re interested in what the other person has to say.
Smile : Warm genuine smiles are welcoming and infectious
Gestures: Use open hand gestures , spread your hands apart in front of you facing towards whom your communicating to also make sure to keep your arms close to your body .This body posture indicates willingness to communicate and share ides.
Establishing good communication is not dependent on language and vocabulary but how you are presenting your ideas , whether or not your audience is able to communicate and connect with you. So inculcate some of these hacks in your conversations from now onwards and notice the difference.
