For effective communication, one needs to practise speaking. Besides, one should also concentrate on skills like listening, writing and reading. Proper communication helps us to express ourselves positively and clearly. However, one should know communication could be made appropriately by mainly two methods: orally and written. While making a communication one should use simple and easy words and expressions that are clearly understandable by the people listening or reading. Most importantly, one should get a clear idea of the facts you are trying to express.
Communication is not just about speaking your heart out. One should have the capability to listen. This way, it becomes easier to acquire new skills and also gather information.
There are a few types of communication skills.
Speaking skills: Verbal and Non-verbal
Listening skills: Active listening
Writing skills: Emails etc
Reading skills
Presentation skills
- Speaking-
Speaking is one of the most popular ways of making communication. This is mainly done by including meetings, presentations, workshops, interviews, telephonic and video-conferences etc. However, to speak correctly, one should practise a few tricks.
· Listen to yourself speak.
· Maintain an excellent vocal range- pace, volume, pitch.
Non- verbal communication:
Communication skill that is conducted without speaking or saying is known as non-verbal communication. You might be surprised to know that at least 93% of what we speak covers non-verbal communication. This type of conversation generally takes place before any proper verbal communication. So in another way, we can say that once people use this non-verbal communication process, it shows an approachable and friendlier method to adequate communication. It is seen that non-verbal communication includes eye contact, hand gestures, body language, and the tone of voice.
Verbal communication:
Verbal communication comprises 7% of our communication, but it is still essential. However, to make effective communication, we need to analyse the situation before starting with it. This could be broadly explained if we consider it according to the conditions. For example, while talking to a child, one needs to speak slowly and softly and use words that are easy to understand. The same applies to people while having a conversation with a colleague and explaining complicated work processes.
Telephonic communication:
This kind of communication requires a positive tone and a natural, enthusiastic tone throughout the conversation. If you are in a job requiring passing on messages or answering over the phone, you must deal with it properly by regulating your voice and speaking technique. You should be attentive while listening. You should be enthusiastic in your approach.
Technological/ written communication:
Nowadays, people like to communicate through text, emails, social media etc. It would be wrong to assume that communicating through technology is damaging. Instead, it is a great way to keep up with the conversation ongoing. However, this is incomparable with face-to-face meetings.
- Listening-
One of the most challenging communication skills is listening. This requires you to not only hear what someone is saying but also understand the content. You have to decode the non-verbal signals and also filter the message without having any biases or prejudices.
Listening also includes having an empathetic ear, which means putting yourself into someone else’s shoe and understanding something from that person’s viewpoint.
Things you need to follow to become a good listener:
Stay quiet-
- Keeping the mouth shut is something people should do while someone is speaking. This way, the speaker will not be distracted, and others can listen properly.
Avoid distraction-
- Looking towards the phone, television, or any scenery should not be encouraged. Rather it is regarded as a lousy manner when someone looks towards a phone or television while conversing.
Listening with concentration-
- Paying attention to someone speaking is necessary. You need to be quiet, listen and understand the words, the phrases coming out from the person’s mouth.
Identify the non-verbal cue and maintain eye contact.
- Reading-
Reading is a bit difficult to master because timeless people are taking an interest in it.
A lot of people limit themselves with reading only from social media sites and also instant messaging. They are only taking an interest in reading while it is necessary.
However, even though mastering over the art of reading is necessary to carry on business communication, one should understand that it is a combination of writing and reading skills to get the best out of it.
Skimming: It is a reading technique where you do not read every word on the page. You let your eyes fall on relevant information so that you get a gist of the content.
Scanning: It is different from skimming because you know what you are looking for except you need to find it.
- Presentation-
To obtain maximum impact:
· Research your audience-
You need to have a clear idea about the type of audience you are going to deal with.
· Structure your presentation-
There should be a proper opening, a body and closing.
· Practice properly-
Practising a lot would help. However, memorizing would worsen it. You need to know your content well so that you can improvise even at the last moment.
· Curtain content-
Bring only the most important content and avoid any repetition.
· Use body language-
Body language helps a lot in expressing something.
Developing these skills helps to learn communication skills properly.
Tutor Bio- Neena Khaire is a communication skill trainer and has been teaching English for the past fifteen years. She has been training students of all ages. Now she is also available online with UrbanPro. The classes are specially designed to improve the communication skill of people belonging to different age groups.
