Communication is such a vital skill in our lives. From being a good friend to managing your home and family to networking and sharing ideas at work, communication is often the key to success. This is true whether you are speaking with someone face to face, over a telephone, or in writing.
This blog post is going to cover effective communication techniques that you can use in all areas of life.
Table of Contents
How is the meSsage Perceived?
The very first thing you will probably want to do is consider how your message is being perceived. Are you giving the impression of a person who knows what he or she wants and how to get it? Do you come across as energetic and enthusiastic? Or are you coming across as weak, uncertain, and non-committal? This is true whether you are using verbal or written communication across an intranet platform like Simpplr.
People Communicate in Different Ways
You should also be aware that people communicate in different ways. Some people like to talk while others prefer writing. When talking to someone, look at their body language and the way they communicate with you. If possible, try to meet them halfway by adapting your own style to the way they communicate best.
You also shouldn’t forget to consider what your audience is likely to understand and be able to manage. For example, if you’re asking someone to do something that is outside their scope of responsibility, they are likely to wonder why you’ve asked them to do it and will feel compelled to decline your offer. If you approach them from the perspective that they might be able to contribute positively, then they’ll probably take on the challenge.
It’s also important for people to know about your motives for approaching them. By doing this, an understanding of who you are can be established and trust can develop between the two of you.
Be Clear on Why You are Approaching Them
So, how do you achieve this? Very simple. The first step is to let them know where your interest lies and why you are approaching them. This shows self-confidence and lets the other person know that you think he can help you. Clarify why you want to pursue the issue and emphasize the positive aspects for both of you – not just for yourself. Give him a specific call to action, proposing an activity and a date for it to take place – and follow up on it.
Communication is also about helping each other in a way that makes it easy for the other party to comply or contribute positively.
That said, what happens when people don’t listen? Moreover, what do you do when it’s your turn to speak and no one is listening?
The Importance of Listening
For communication to be effective, you need to listen effectively. When someone is talking, there’s nothing wrong with giving yourself a couple of moments to form your reply. However, if you aren’t sure what was said and are just stalling for time, then that might be seen as bad manners. If you aren’t certain about the facts, it will show if you pretend that you know everything that was said. If you need more information or want to gain a better understanding before responding, then politely ask for clarification or repetition of the facts.