Best Ways to Effective Communication
In order to be successful within any career, you must know how to communicate in many different types of scenarios and situations. Speaking and writing are two skills that anyone must have to further themselves in the workplace. Having great communication can sometimes take practice, but it is vital. Here are a couple ways to start improving your communication skills and set you on the path for success.
1. Simplicity. Whether you are writing or explaining something to a group of people, it is important to keep it simple. Do not beat around the bush, or elongate the explanation to create an extensive summary that no one wants to follow. Write and speak simply so that listeners or viewers can easily follow along, and most importantly understand along the way.
2. Get rid of technical language. In some cases, using big words or extremely technical language is necessary in order for viewers or listeners to grasp what you are trying to get across. However, for the most part, stay away from using jargon so that your audience has time to reflect on what you are saying instead of spending time figuring out what the terms that you are using mean.
3. Find a happy medium of being concise. While many times it is important to “keep things short and sweet” it is important to still communicate in an effective way, even if that means not communicating in a quick fashion. If a reader or listener wants or needs more of an explanation- keep going! Give your audience enough information that they will not struggle to know what you are talking about, but not so much information that they are half asleep by the end.
4. Stay away from abbreviations and acronyms. If you ever want to refer to something using an abbreviation or acronym- don’t. Many abbreviations or acronyms could stand for something that you are not talking about at all. Unless the abbreviation that you are mentioning has become a common word that the majority of viewers or listeners would know- don’t use it.
5. Be original. Come up with phrases that are original, clever and relevant. If you are constantly using old, out dated phrases, people will not stay interested in what you are saying. Make your communication towards your audience unique enough that they will stay engaged throughout the entire time.
6. Keep your communication concrete. When you are explaining something, be sure to use examples to back up your information. This allows for all of the information that you are sharing to be concrete and believable. Examples to back up information can include hard facts, statistics, or even a story to prove that you are knowledgeable in what you are talking about.
7. Be conversational. You must speak in a professional way so that your viewers or listeners respect what you are saying. However, it is important to talk in a conversational tone so that people do not get bored. The more conversational you are, the more of a connection you are forming with your audience. This allows for your audience to find you as more credible and stay more in tune with what you are saying. Write as you speak, and speak as you write.
