"The Power of Effective Communication"
" Communication opens the door to a successful lifestyle." ...Rodrick Anderson
Imagine a world that we are able to understand exactly what each and every person was telling us or every time you are conversing with someone, I would love to see that world. Unfortunately, clear, effective communication is harder than we think it is.
Like most things in the world, developing effective communication can be improved to help build your overall lifestyle and relationships. When we communicate, two important and key things should be considered: the audience whom you are communicating to and the goal or objective that is being accomplished. The reasoning behind this is, different audiences require different goals and or objectives that meet their expectation.
5 Key Effective Communication Skills
Be Attentive and Use Active Listening
Majority of the time people think they are listening when the other person is speaking, all the while, they are actually thinking about their own response. Using active listening requires the receiver to listen to what the other person is saying and then when a relatable response arises, the speaker feels validated.
Be Yourself and Honest
A relationship should be built on honesty and trust with your spouse, partner, co-worker, supervisor etc… Being totally honest is a difficult task but its not impossible. Whether you are communicating with your friends, family or at work being yourself and practicing honesty will be beneficial for your mind and body. Nobody is perfect in this world but staying true and being honest with yourself helps establish a baseline for who are as a person.
“Put yourself in their shoes”
For the most part, we all enjoy talking about ourselves, being heard and understood. How often do we stop, think and say, “this is not about me”. Using effective communication allows us to be mindful of someone else’s point of view. Their story could be relevant to your story.
“Check in and Follow up”
People are busy, always on the go and have a million things on their mind. Sometimes when communicating with someone you are going to have to follow up with that person for them to know that your are interested in what they have to say or offer. This is also a form of Active Listening.
Body Language
I know we all have heard the expression “Actions speak louder than words” this also applies to Body Language. During social interactions, keep your eyes on the person who is speaking, use active listening and show them that you are interested and attentive to what they are saying. When in conversation, understand that your non verbal gestures are noticeable. When speaking, use body language such as eye contact and relatable gestures. Some communication skills come natural to people and others require improvement. Continuing to build on your skills will improve the effectiveness of your personal, business and social interactions.
