Healthy and effective communication starts at the roots. To improve the conversations with others, it’s important to analyze our own approaches to dialogue, debate, and conflict. Changing how we work takes time and conscious thought during those moments where conversation matters the most.
It starts at the very core of communication and expands to how we address situational conversations. By reading these tips, your understanding of communication will improve, helping it be more effective.
Communication takes place when party A sends a message to party B, and party B receives the message. The message can be sent over any format: chat, verbal, nonverbal, or visual. The most basic tip is to make sure that you are communicating, and that the other party is receiving it.
Barriers can range from physical, like a wall, to regional, like words meaning different things. There are many different kinds of barriers that can hinder communication. Once you can understand what is stopping communication from taking place, you can ensure that your message makes it from point A to point B.
One way you can improve communication is to routinely practice the four types of topics. The first is “remember when’s”, or reflection on past events. The second is events and people. The third is philosophy, concepts, or ideas. The fourth is truth. Getting comfortable talking about all four positively will open up new opportunities for conversations in the future. It also allows your conversations to become deeper.
This does not mean you turn any conversation away, but to approach each one like it is relevant somehow, like a pursuit of knowledge. This will build up your interest in the topic, which will have you more engaged.
When you speak to others, don’t belittle them or speak out of contempt. If you treat them well, they are likely to reciprocate. This will also leave them with the impression that they can speak to you without having to feel like they have to put up a defense.
When listening, show respect. By listening actively, you show respect to the speaker which can help them maintain a good impression. Maintain eye contact and communicate with body language that you are interested and invested in what they are saying.
Sometimes, when conflict arises, it’s important to ask why someone would take the actions they took. Everyone believes that they are doing the best possible thing given their circumstances. Be open to others perspectives and analyze your own. This will help make sure you are communicating effectively to the other party.
When listening, you can find out the thought process of the other person. The more you can piece together in a conflict, the better you can react to the situation. Try to get the whole story before becoming angry. Emotions can be a barrier that ruins communication.
Approach confrontation calmly, and keep conflict to a minimum. Most conflict stems from differing opinions and miscommunication. Conflicts over opinions can be resolved if someone approaches it with a dialogue mindset over a debating one. However, conflicts over miscommunication would best be resolved by speaking with dignity, listening with respect, and reminding yourself that the end goal is mutual understanding over being right.
In any conversation, to avoid miscommunication, make sure that your words convey your meaning. Speak thoughtfully to iron out any room for error. Miscommunications happen, but if you can speak with clarity, you are speaking effectively.
When speaking effectively, it is important to stay away from exaggerating details. The more you exaggerate, the further away from the truth the message becomes.
When exiting a conversation, the best impression to leave is one where the other party can feel welcome to come back and talk about it later. You can help them feel comfortable by giving them respect and dignity in the conversation.
Sometimes, people need to hear the truth. However, the other party might not feel welcome to criticism or harsh news. By speaking the truth in kindness and compassion, your words can go a long way, and make the other person feel more comfortable hearing hard things from you in the future.
Responding to a question is much easier than answering a statement. Try asking “How are those reports coming along?” versus “You need to get those reports finished.” The first one is less demanding, and creates a more empathetic feel.
I added this one because the best way to practice effective communication is to improve your communication skills. One book I recommend Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson. I also appreciated the textbook Speech Communication: A Redemptive Introduction by Don Alban.
Effective communication can be reached if you apply these tips to your conversations. Practicing them will set you up for success in both the professional world and your everyday life.
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