Effective Communication — Techniques

Effective communication is the key between confusion & clarity.

The process of exchanging ideas, thoughts, opinions, knowledge, and data so that the message is received and understood with clarity and purpose can be summed as effective communication. When we communicate effectively, both the sender and receiver feel satisfied.

Clear communication is important in every area of our lives. From our workplace to our personal relationships. You’ll be able to work more effectively with your coworkers, your bosses, and clients as communication impacts your relationships with everyone.

Types of communication -

• Verbal Communication
• Non-Verbal Communication
• Written Communication
• Listening (active listening)
• Visual Communication

Communication Techniques

Following are a few effective communication techniques that I have benefitted from in my personal & professional relations-

1. Ask open-ended questions

Questions like ‘what do you think about that?’ can encourage others to speak up and ensure everyone gets the chance to express their thoughts and feelings on a topic.

Open-ended questions require more than a one or two-word answer. Asking open-ended questions in a conversation gives people the chance to answer at length and feel like you’re listening to them.

2. Use empathy

Empathy is the ability to sense other people’s emotions and understand their feelings as if they were your own. It is a crucial tool for good communicators, as it allows you to see things from the other person’s perspective.

Adopting and practicing empathy isn’t always the most comfortable of experiences, but it helps the other person to feel like you understand them. You can elevate your empathic listening skills by asking people how they feel, adopting a caring and considerate approach, asking questions that allow people to express themselves, letting them finish before you speak and mirroring their body language.

3. Be an active listener

Good communication isn’t just about conveying information. It’s also about being a good listener in order to fully understand what someone is saying. When you listen carefully to the speaker you get what they are saying. Allowing them to finish fully before responding is important to ensure we show that we value and respect the speaker.

Active listening involves being fully attentive to someone when they’re talking to you. Active listening includes adopting open body language and eye contact and paying attention to the body language of the other person. It also involves paying attention to the tone of voice and other cues that can communicate a message beyond the words the speaker is saying.

4. Remain calm

Staying calm may help you to communicate more effectively, as it helps you to maintain a reasonable perspective on any situation and for your judgement to remain unclouded.

Maintaining a calm and consistent demeanour can help you to communicate clearly and effectively. The workplace can be a stressful, pressured environment. If you’re known as someone who remains calm under pressure, then your colleagues and superiors may be more likely to trust you and find you easier to work with.

5. Be open to feedback

As useful as it can be to give feedback, it’s also essential to be open to receiving feedback from friends & colleagues. The process of giving and receiving feedback is itself a very effective communication tool that may lead to healthier relationships and a better functioning team.

6. Resolve conflicts

Personal & professional relationships work best when communication channels are open and collaboration between members is free of friction and conflict. Unspoken and unresolved conflicts can become a major obstacle to progress in the workplace.

Making a conscious decision to resolve conflicts when they arise can highlight you as a strong communicator who favors an open, honest approach to work.

7. Be open minded

Think about this. If you aren’t open minded while having a conversation with someone, chances are you won’t be listening very well. You’ll be too busy formulating a response to think objectively about what is being said.

Having an open mind will allow you to have a strong dialogue with others that leads to working together to solve problems.

8. Be concise

Try to be as concise as possible with your written & oral communications. Colleagues and superiors are likely to appreciate your communications if they’re clear and to the point. Concise communication can help people understand you better while projecting a professional image to your superiors & peers at workplace.

9. Be aware of body language

A significant proportion of communication is nonverbal. Your body language can say just as much as the words you speak. While focusing on the body language of others can help you to understand them beyond their words, it’s also critical that you think about the role your body language plays in your communication.

Some tips for improving your body language include trying to maintain eye contact as much as possible, using open hand gestures and not crossing your arms or putting your hands in your pockets. Try to face the person you’re speaking with and mirror their posture. If you’re sitting, lean forward while the other person is talking to show you’re interested and listening.

10. Allow others to finish before speaking

Giving other people space to finish what they’re saying can help your communication in several ways. First, it lets the other person know you’re listening to them and can help them feel appreciated and valued. Second, it can help you to listen and understand them better.

Talking over people and not letting them finish is an indicator of someone who doesn’t listen well and doesn’t value the thoughts and opinions of others. By giving the other person time to finish before you speak, you can help to improve your communication and your relationships.

11. Use inclusive, respectful language

Choosing your words wisely is one of the most important things you can do to improve your communication. Using inclusive, considerate language shows you respect people and helps to portray a positive image. At workplace referring to colleagues by their name helps to build respect while using ‘us’ and ‘we’ rather than ‘you’ and ‘me’ helps to develop a spirit of collaboration and teamwork.

Thinking about the words you use can give time to allow others to finish, help you to be concise and present yourself as a calm and consistent presence in the workplace. It can also help to avoid conflict. Carefully considering your words can help colleagues to understand you better and help you to develop a reputation as a strong and clear communicator.

To conclude, strong communication skills are wonderful to have in your arsenal, as they will help you in every phase of your life. This goes for all of your personal relationships as well as your work partnerships. You will be able to get more of what you want when you communicate well. I can’t stress enough on the listening side of communication; it helps you to understand the needs of others & enables you to build a better bond with them.

Did you like the suggested techniques? Do give them a try & observe the benefits yourself.

-Karishma