Sep 18, 2024

9 ways to magically improve your communication skills (without any books)

Aakanksha Sharma

Communication tips and tricks

Communication has become such an important part of our life. A good communicator has the world at his fingertips, and someone who cannot communicate, cannot excel. And so, if you are looking for a way to improve your communication skills, here are some tips.

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​Active listening

One of the best ways to improve your communication is by listening actively. And active listening is basically just paying your full, uninterrupted attention to the speaker. Listen to understand, not just to reply.

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​Look at non-verbal clues

Instead of only looking at words, also pay attention to non-verbal clues. For example, stand upright, make regular eye contact, see if their hands are doing any gestures or just crossed, etc.

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​Don’t overcomplicate

Use simple and clear language without any jargon or ‘heavy’ words. You don’t have to say ‘ I was absolutely appalled at his speech’, when you can just say ‘His speech made me uncomfortable’.

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​Ask questions

If you dont understand a certain point, don’t just sit back and feel sad about it. Instead, be proactive and ask them to repeat or re-explain the point. It will make the speaker elaborate, and will help in understanding and conversation.

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​Take pauses

When communicating, maintain a certain demeanour. Don’t hop on to reply back immediately or cut through their sentences. Once they are finished, take a pause, and then reply.

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​Empathy is communication

Sometimes, to have an important and understanding conversation, you need to be empathetic and put yourself in their shoes. Try to think how it would feel to be in their place and talk or reply accordingly.

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​Don’t let yourself get distracted

During a conversation, never let yourself get distracted! Dont glance at your phone, dont look at the watch continuously, dont start replying to a message or notification. Be 100% into the conversation and save the rest for later.

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Use examples and anecdotes

At times, to break the ice, it is great to use examples and stories to start or maintain the conversation. Share a personal story, tell them about an experience, and the likes.

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Think back

After a conversation, take some time to think about how it went. Was there a line you thought you crossed, was there an expression you missed, or any subtle points that seemed different? When you identify your gaps, you improve automatically.

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Thanks For Reading!

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