One of the most essential skills, whether in business or in life, is communication. If you are able to effectively communicate with large groups of people, you’re able to work well in teams or step into leadership roles in business.
But how do you boost your existing communication skills? Here are five of our favourite methods.
1. Master the basics of nonverbal communication.
One study found that nonverbal communication made up 55% of how a presenter was perceived by an audience. To communicate nonverbally, focus on your posture and avoid slouching or crossing your arms, as this can make you appear smaller and less confident. Instead, take up space with your body language and maintain eye contact
2. Engage with your audience.
All audiences have limited attention spans, no matter how confident the speaker is. In order to maintain their focus and attention, take time to ask questions and encourage your audience to speak out and join the discussion where possible.
3. Know your audience
One of the key focus areas when looking to improve your communication is to know who you’re communicating with. This should include where they’re from, what their interests may be, and their overall personality. This will have an impact on how you communicate with them ~ for example, the stories you tell, references you make and the overall tonality.
4. Be concise with your message
Say just enough that you get your point across, without trailing on. Speak less, but more effectively, and listen more than you speak. An easy way to practice this would be to actively listen and think before speaking or responding. It can be a challenging skill to master, but ultimately it’s incredibly effective.
5. Learn how to listen
Much like the previous point, listening to your audience ~ and actually hearing what they’re saying ~ is a key skill for an effective communicator, in fact, it’s probably the most important.
While it might seem like listening is a natural part of communication, it still needs an intentional effort. Take the time to listen to what your audience is saying, as well as their nonverbal cues and body language. This will help you understand what they’re feeling and thinking, and will assist you with effective communication.
Refining your communication skills will take time and intentional effort, but will pay off in the long term.