From texting to video calls, the modern communication methods you use today were just science fiction a century ago. Through technology, it’s now easier to communicate with other people in various situations, ranging from personal to educational. But no matter how advanced the technology is, the most important component of it is still the human element. If you want to boost your people skills, here are a few tips to improve on it:
Learn to smile
A simple smile can make quite a difference when it comes to initiating conversation. It makes you look friendlier and more approachable. After all, if you were going to talk to someone, you’d be scared if you were to see them in a bad mood. So, make sure to take care of your dental health. Go for a check-up at a dental clinic in Orchard Road or any area near you to preserve your winning smile.
Balance it out
When you’re talking to someone, you usually try to gauge the person’s temperament in deciding on which words you should and shouldn’t use. Of course, you don’t need to be too careful nor too relaxed, especially if it’s something related to a serious matter. Learn how you can improve the way you talk by keeping your emotions and subjectivity in check. It would also help if you try to engage in deeper conversations, not to prove that you’re smart, but rather to show that you’re interested in what the other person likes to talk about.
Listen and focus
One key to effective communication is the ability to listen to what others say. Having a one-sided conversation is like having to listen to someone in a conference speak for an hour and get no entertainment or value out of it whatsoever. When you try to engage in conversation, there are times when you and the one you’re talking to will exchange information or opinions. They may or may not be the same as yours, but this is good because you get to have an understanding of others’ views and perspectives. This will help you in gaining more knowledge about a certain topic and build rapport with the one you’re talking to, as well.
Understand differences
As stated earlier, there are times when you and others won’t see eye to eye, and it’s not entirely a bad thing. Nobody likes to be preached at or looked down upon when they’re trying to understand your point. You don’t have to raise your voice just to win an argument. Accepting that there are differences between people makes communication more interesting because you get to know much more about a subject than what you usually hear. It helps you grow as a person and as a professional, too.
A large percentage of what can be called communication is composed of body language. It transcends words and often says more than what words could. Be also aware of it in the sense that you have to both see what the other person is saying, as well as check yourself on what you’re communicating. When you pick up on verbal and non-verbal cues, you can understand each other better.
