Absolutely everyone wants or should have the desire to communicate better, more precisely than they are right now, to be economic in their words and actions. To be an effective communicator with clarity, and not to ramble or waste time.
Throughout our lives, what we do is pick up and develop poor speaking habits and pronunciations in our tongue on how we talk. There are just a few who can be considered perfect communicators, who are always able to get their message across fluently.
Some of these habits however can still be useful as we’re able to get our directives and intent across, while others develop certain challenges to the point where it becomes difficult working with others.
What we also don’t intend to do is cloud our objectives or make others feel that what they’re saying isn’t being heard. In the majority of cases, it’s these habits which gets in the way when it comes to the accountability of ourselves.
Ways For Better Communication
Making Eye Contact
There are some who feel awkward when looking at someone directly. They would just rather focus more on the lips or just look elsewhere during conversations, this especially when in noisy environments.
But it should be made a point that you should be consciously making more eye contact. There are studies which support that doing so conveys truth and honor.
To some, it may feel uncomfortable looking, gazing, into another person’s eyes, as they’ll quickly divert elsewhere. But the majority feel better connected, more empowered, and it’s the quickest way of finding out what their true emotions are.
Having A Genuine Conversation With Them
Since we live in a world of multitasking, what most want is just your undivided attention when they’re speaking. If there’s too many distractions, then you’re more than likely to miss an important detail which might just prove to be the difference.
Whether you’re having a conversation directly in person or over the phone, make sure that you give them your dedicated focus and time. This way, you’ll make them feel a lot more important and worthy.
It’s also known that your conversations will actually be shorter and more precise when talking exclusively to them, this allowing you to go back and doing whatever you were originally doing.
Make Sure That You Ask Questions
When having important conversations, the purpose is to exchange a series off pointed words, so the transmission, the transferring of the vital data or gaining clarity on a topic needs to be understood.
If someone just blurts out facts or orders in quick succession, the intended message then can be lost or misunderstood. So always make it a point in every important conversation to think of a few relevant questions and make sure you ask them.
Following this process will make you pay more attention and think more of what’s being said, while also ensuring that your both completely engaged.
Always Write Things Down
There are those who pride themselves in having an excellent memory that can recall everything that they hear. But it’s thought that you should be saving your brain for more creative and progressive thinking, and not as a to-do list.
That’s the purpose of writing things down. So it’s advised you send yourself an email, or text yourself on what you need to do. The best way remains writing it down using pen and paper.
However you decide to do so, always record the most important takeaways from the conversation that you’ve just had, so you don’t need to ask again. The best format being a journal.
Always Assume The Best Intentions
Since verbal communication is now quickly turning into short emails and texting, it then becomes difficult to know what the exact intended tone of any message or communication is.
It’s not uncommon to hear someone complain about how poor someone’s attitude is from an innocuous email. The reason being that the reader will end up reading the text in the emotion which supports their point of view. If any animosity exists between the two parties, then that perceived tone is taken.
So with any short form of communication which are nonverbal, it should always be read with the assumption that the intentions are always good on the senders side.
If there’s any doubt, then just pick up the phone or speak to them in person, and then give them the opportunity to insult you directly to your face if that’s the intent, just to make sure.
Respond Back Sooner Than Later
Always set a routine for communication, which will help with your productivity along with managing the expectations of those with whom you’re interacting with.
It becomes extremely frustrating and time consuming to spend time chasing one other, playing phone or email tag. Not knowing when or whether you’ll get a response back anytime soon.
So to solve this, all parties should make it a rule that if they’re available and have read a text message, that they”ll respond back within 20 minutes, phone messages within 60 minutes, and any pressing e-mails within 12 hours.
You can set an appropriate time frame, and once it’s set, extend the courtesy to keep that schedule, which manages your time better.
Make sure that you let others know what they should be expecting by giving them these time frames and make it mutual. Then those who you work with will begin recognizing and respecting these guidelines.
Confirm when a conversation is over, finished. When sending an email or text requesting information, you’ve already told them what your time frame is, and if it’s acceptable with them or not.
Have the courtesy to reply with a simple “Thanks” or “Got It.” Not doing so is the electronic equivalent of walking away from a conversation while someone is still talking to you, or you hanging up the phone on them.