Do you struggle with communicating effectively? Communication is a crucial part of
success at work or in other aspects of your life. Top leaders have practiced and
mastered the skills that enable them to communicate so well. Luckily, you too can
learn these same skills!
Follow these strategies to practice essential communication skills:
1. Learn to listen. Top leaders know that listening is a crucial part of
communication. Learn to love listening and engage in the stories of others.
Try to really pay attention during a conversation instead of being
distracted by your phone or other devices. Have one conversation at a time
to give each person your full attention. Practice retelling the person’s story in your mind to get better at listening. Everyone wants to be heard. Others will notice that you’re listening to them and will go away from your conversations thinking what a great
communicator you are when all you did was listen.
2. Avoid slang and informalities. It’s normal to use slang or other types of
informal language while talking to friends or family. However, the business usually
requires a more formal language set. Pay attention to whom you’re talking to and
make the necessary adjustments.
Slang, acronyms, and informalities can also make some people feel
uncomfortable, especially if they’re not familiar with them.
3. Focus on being brief. Top leaders know that you don’t have to make a long
speech to be effective.
1Practice being brief and getting your point across with fewer words and
less time. People appreciate short conversations and respect others who
don’t go off on tangents.
However, ensure you’re still providing enough information while you talk.
You don’t want to be vague or miss important details.
This skill may take time to develop, so practice it often. The next time you
have a conversation, try to get your point across with less talking. Try to
summarize the essential parts and only focus on them while you talk.
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