Communication is something we do daily. However, not many know how to efficiently communicate their thoughts and ideas to others. In some instances, we struggle to do this, and our struggle jeopardizes specific projects at work or school. Nevertheless, communication is vital to our success, and learning how to improve upon it is crucial if we want to have better relationships.
There are various ways we can communicate better. But the most vital thing we need to learn is to speak correctly.
How can people know what you’re saying if you’re delivering it poorly? Sometimes, this isn’t your fault. It can come from a speech impediment, or maybe it’s something you’ve been used to saying your entire life.
Speech impediments are relatively common in the US. About seven million Americans have it, and some consider it normal. However, sometimes speech impediments and learned accents can hinder how we communicate. To address this, you can go into in-home speech therapy. This therapy should correct any problems you might have in speaking. Furthermore, it can help you speak in a much clearer tone and accent.
Another option you have is to treat it yourself. Read a book aloud and record it. Listen to it and markdown intangible words. Ask yourself if you’re having trouble saying such a word. Once you’ve identified that you do, you can start practicing it daily. Listening to various accents and imitating them can also help you improve upon your own.
Once you’ve corrected the way you speak, it’s time for you to correct how you act when communicating. Unfortunately, not many people know this, but sometimes their body language is incongruent with what they are saying, which can lead to confusion when communicating.
Human beings communicate not just through words and the tone of their voice. We also communicate through our emotions and the way our body moves. Delivering a sad story with a happy face can cause a lot of confusion among your peers.
To ensure that your body language is congruent with the message you’re saying, you’ll have to learn how to speak in front of a mirror. Memorize a short speech or read a passage from a book in front of the mirror and see whether the faces you’re making the match the speech or passage you’re delivering.
Body language plays a significant role in the way we communicate. To avoid confusion, make sure it matches the message you are delivering.
Relaxed and confident communicators are less likely to make mistakes when delivering different messages to their peers. They can also tell a story more interestingly and engagingly.
Confidence isn’t inherent. We learn to have it as we grow older and engage in all sorts of social interactions. If you want to be more confident with the way you speak, you’ll have to engage in a lot more social interactions. Moreover, you can always choose to practice in front of a mirror, especially if you plan to deliver a speech in front of people.
Have you found yourself in an argument, and it’s gotten you so riled up that you end up losing a friend or two? This is a common position we find ourselves in, and since you can’t avoid getting in an argument, you need to learn how to diffuse or try to control it.
One way you can be a better communicator during an argument is to find common ground. This requires a lot of quick thinking and logic, and it can certainly be hard when you’re in the heat of the moment. It’s good to take a pause and take a breather when you’ve found yourself in an argument. Review what you’ve said so far and see if any has coincided with your peers.
Finding common ground within an argument isn’t easy. However, being able to do it can mean that you and your peers can learn something from the argument, isn’t of feeling betrayed and angry among one another.
A Good Leader
If you want to be a good leader in front of your peers or maybe your co-workers, you will need to become a good communicator. Studies have shown that the best leaders out there are confident in speaking their thoughts and ideas while finding common ground in certain arguments. If you can apply these skills to the way you communicate, you can become a good leader in no time.
