6 Ways To Reinvent Your Communication Skills
Did you know that we think faster than we speak?
Research shows that we talk 120 to 150 words per minute and we think at the rate of 600 – 800 words per minute! This means that we can get distracted by inner thoughts when people speak to us because our minds work faster than our mouths!
We, therefore, need to be aware of when this is happening so we can re-focus and reinvent our communication skills to avoid getting lost in our thoughts instead of listening because there is power in active listening.
With that backdrop, here are 6 ways to reinvent your communication skills
1. Learn How Other People Might Hear, See, Or Interpret Your Messages
Communication is two-way traffic, you send a message, the receiver receives it and gives the feedback. The way the message is received may not be in all cases the way the communicator intended because the message is understood differently. What you say might mean something else and what the other person says might mean, to them, something other than what you hear. To make ideas common, it is important to understand both sides of the communication. You need to understand both how your idea sounds to the other person and what the other person means with the words they use. Consider your communication style for example culture, gender, or age as this will help you get a clear picture of how the differences between you and the other person.
2. Observe Your Perspective
Learn to step back from your first interpretation of a statement and look for how your perspective might be affecting your response. Ensure that you build your skill by developing skills and strategies that will help you overcome distraction, regain focus, and deliver a clear message. If you want to show that you have understood someone, then paraphrase by repeating back to someone what they have just said, before commenting.
3. Get and Give Feedback
Do not assume that the other person heard what you meant. It is easy to hear something and to assume that you understood what the other person meant. Until you confirm mutual understanding, you will be operating on assumptions and interpretations rather than on facts. Having effective communication means that you ask questions and this prevents miscommunication.
4. Add Novelty to Improve Audience Retention
Studies reveal that people retain more information when presented in a new way, as opposed to routine situations. Insert novel things to the presentation to help audience members retain information for example using funny things that will get them by surprise.
5. Don’t Finish Other People’s Sentences
Many people think that helpfully finishing people’s sentences is good. This is wrong. Research has shown that when you do this, you are dis-empowering the other person because you are taking control of the conversation, so silence your tongue!
6. Listen Actively
Focus on active listening instead of passive listening. Active listening is engaging and responding to the other person based on what they have said, passive listening is listening with no response. Active listening involves much more than just hearing the words. It involves a total focus on what the other person is attempting to communicate.
Conclusion
Communicating is one of the most effective skills you can cultivate to ensure that the message is understood. Communicate with nonverbal and verbal cues, listen carefully and do not and over-communicate in novel ways to ensure the content of the conversation sticks with the audience.
Do you want to take your communication skills to the next level and make them clear and concise?