Communication skills are arguably some of the most important to success and happiness in work and life. They are fundamental to connecting, relating, getting your point across, getting your needs met and supporting others.
But in an increasingly polarized world and one in which more happens at a distance, communication skills may be illusive or challenging.
Here are the best ways to improve communication skills today—and keep them fresh going forward.
Communication Skills Matter—A Lot
You know communication skills are important, but today’s context makes them even more critical—with 82% of knowledge workers saying that working at a distance from colleagues increases the need to be a better communicator, according to data from Grammarly and the Harris Poll.
The same poll finds people feel disconnected, and communication skills are key to feeling greater ties to others. And 62% of workers say better communication skills are necessary to nurture diversity and inclusion.
Great communication also provides the opportunity for 52% to work with more flexibility, and for 42% to be more productive. In addition, 56% of people credit communication skills with greater satisfaction at work and 54% say solid communication is responsible for improved relationships with colleagues.
Perhaps all these positive effects on work are why communication skills are among the primary capabilities employers are looking for, according data from Adzuna—with 28% of jobs specifying them as critical to be considered as a viable job candidate.
There are three steps to improve your communication skills: send information, receive information and ensure the flow of the exchange works based on feedback.
Articulate Yourself Brilliantly
The first thing people typically think of with communication skills is the ability to express themselves, and this is indeed one of the primary elements of brilliant communication—both in person and through the written word.
Great communicators are clear. You need to determine what you’re really trying to say—the primary content of what you want to get across to others. And then express yourself with as many words as necessary, but as few as possible. One of the things that gets in the way of great communication is using too many words and stating your point with redundancy. People will get your message best when you’re concise and clear.
You’ll also be a better communicator when you demonstrate energy. You don’t have to be over the top with your passion, but when you’re interested in what you have to say, others will be intrigued as well. People tend to turn off when they’re communicating with someone who lacks enthusiasm or a strong point of view—so ensure you’re engaged with your message and your listeners.
Express Yourself With Humility
Humility is also critical to great communication. You want to be confident, because people respect someone with a perspective of their own—but listeners also tend to be turned off by people who believe their opinion is the only one that counts.
In fact, those who were perceived as humble were also perceived to have better job performance, according to a study by Baylor University. And leaders who admitted mistakes and who showed a willingness to learn were viewed more positively, based on a study at the University of Buffalo. And when you’re cooperative with others, you’ll be more likely to rise to leadership roles, according to a study published in Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science.
The bottom line: Express yourself with confidence and clarity, but avoid forcing your ideas on others. Look for common ground, and ensure others know you’re open to learning, cooperating and connecting your perspectives with theirs. This will help your ideas stick and raise your influence.
Listen to Understand
After how you share your own messages, a second fundamental element of communication is listening well. When you listen effectively, it will help you adjust your message and get your point across, but it will also build trust and reinforce the relationship. And strong relationships help advance communication.
Put away devices and distractions and tune into the other person. Try to quiet your own inner voice while they’re speaking and really pay attention not only to what they’re saying but to their experience, their emotions and the intention of their statements. Give them space and time to speak, without interrupting or using their talk-time to formulate your response.
Also give people the benefit of doubt. No one communicates perfectly and those around you may say things poorly or express themselves in a way that frustrates you. But know you’re also not perfect and the best relationships allow for mistakes and growth.
Ask questions and be open to learning with an assumption that you don’t have all the answers and that the other person has something to say which can help you advance your own thinking.
Manage the Flow of the Exchange
The third element of communication beyond sending messages and receiving messages is the flow of the process itself. Communication is about aligning—what you have to say with what the other person has to say. Even if you don’t agree, you need to understand each other.
Pay attention to the content of their messages, but also their non-verbal communication as well as your own. Classic communication theory says we collect 93% of our information from non-verbal channels including the expressions on people’s faces, the position of people’s bodies, the tone of their voice and the manner of their speaking.
Dynamic awareness is both an awareness of yourself as well as an awareness of the other person. At the same time you’re attentive to them, also be intentional about how you’re coming across. If you’re angry, slow down and take a breath. If you’re interested, demonstrate it by leaning forward and making eye contact. If you’re ardent about something, ensure you’re not overwhelming the other person with your intensity.
Your Influence Is Significant
The primary way people learn is through watching, listening and experiencing others. For this reason, your influence is tremendous—no matter what your role. How you show up in terms of your attitude, your openness and your spirit will affect others.
When you have a strong point of view, but you’re also open, and when you’re able to listen and adjust to situations, you’ll be most effective. You’ll bring a positive experience to a world that will benefit from constructive communication more than ever.
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