How to Communicate Effectively

Communication makes the world go round. On a smaller level, communication, or being able to
communicate effectively, is what gets you through each day, in both your career and personal life.
No matter what your age, background or experience, communicating effectively is something that
every person can achieve. It requires selfconfidence, good articulation and knowledge of how
communication can be made more effective.
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"n intimate conversation might be the best for some topics
Choose the right moment and the right place. If you need to discuss something in private
with a person, make sure that the choice of venue is private and that you do not feel
uncomfortable about the possibility of being overheard. On the other hand, if you need to
make your point before a group of people, ensure that the location is somewhere that your
discussion will be audible to all who are present to ensure that you engage each and every
person in the group.
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$he % points are even more important when you are presenting a speech to a large audience
Organize and clarify ideas in your mind before you attempt to communicate them. If you
are feeling passionate about a topic, you may become garbled if you haven&t already thought
of some key points to stick with. " good ruleofthumb is to choose three main points and keep
your communication focused on those. $hat way, if the topic wanders off course, you will be
able to return to one or more of these three key points without feeling flustered.
%. Stay on-topic. 'ake sure all facts, stories, allusions, etc, add to the
conversation(debate. "gain, refer to the three key points. If you have already thought through
the issues and the essence of the ideas that you wish to put across to others, it is likely that
some pertinent phrases will stick in your mind. )o not be afraid to use these to underline your
points even very confident and wellknown speakers reuse their key lines again and again
for ma*or effect.
+. Be clear about the purpose of the communication. ,or example, your purpose could
be to inform others, to obtain information or to initiate action. -ou need to know this in
advance.
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/ffective eye contact and engagement can enhance communication for both parties
rticulate. "rticulate talk is talk that gets remembered because people instantly understand
what it is that you are saying. $o be most effective at articulating your message, there are
some key considerations0
o )o not mumble. 1ound out the words clearly and openly, with the intent to have
them heard without error. If mumbling is a defensive habit that you have fallen into out of
fear of communicating, practice your message at home in front of the mirror. )iscuss what
you want to communicate with those you feel comfortable around first to better develop the
message in your mind. 2oth the practice and the development of your words for the
messaging will build your confidence and help you to avoid wanting to mumble.
o 3ook into the other person&s eyes if possible but be aware that this is culturally
ordained in some cultures eye contact is considered to be unsettling or inappropriate. 2e
aware of this as fits your context.
o 4se facial expressions consciously. "im to reflect passion and generate empathy
with the listener by using soft, gentle and aware facial expressions. "void negative facial
expressions, such as frowns or raised eyebrows. 5hat is, or isn&t negative is dependent on
the context, including cultural context, so be guided by your situation.
o 4se breathing and pauses to your advantage. $ake deep breathes to steady
yourself before you begin communicating. 6et into the habit of solid, regular breathing
during a conversation that will help you to keep a steady, calm voice and will also keep you
more relaxed. 4se pauses to take a breather in what you are saying. 7auses are also an
effective tool to emphasi8e your point, as the listener has a moment to digest what has
been said and then wonders what is coming next.
9.
)oes this gesture unsettle you or encourage you to listen:
!se hand gestures carefully. 2e conscious of what your hands are saying as you speak.
1ome hand gestures can be very effective in highlighting your points. Others can be
distracting or even offensive to some listeners. "lso watch the body language wandering
eyes, hands picking at fluff on your clothing and constant sniffling are all guaranteed to
dampen the effectiveness of your message and will cease to engage your listeners.
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If the phone rings, laugh it off the first time and then turn it off immediately and continue talking
"emove distractions. $urn off the cell phone, put away the i7od, tie your dog to a post. )o
not allow external distractions to act as crutches that keep sidetracking your concentration.
$hey will distract both you and your listener and they will also effectively kill the
communication. /ven if the communication that you are having is a difficult one, it will not help
the effectiveness of your message if you are seeking comfort in such distractions.
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2e attentive when listening and ensure that your facial expressions reflect your interest
#isten. Communication is a twoway street and requires you to listen as well. =emember,
while you are talking you are not learning. In listening, you will be able to gauge how much of
your message is getting through to your listeners and whether or not it is being received
correctly or is being misinterpreted. It can be helpful to ask listeners to rephrase some of what
you have said in their own words if they appear to be returning confused or mistaken views to
you.
9. $han% the person or group for the time ta%en to listen and respond. No matter what
the outcome of your communication, even if the response to your talk or discussion has been
negative, it is good manners to end it politely and with respect for everyone&s input and time.