How to become an effective communicator?

Communication is the key to elevate in every area of your life- be it a relationship, career or personal development. The way you communicate your message across has all the power to build a strong connection between you and the other individual/ group of people.

Great communicators always aim at building meaningful relationships and trust among the individual or the group of audience they are speaking to. Especially, if you are in a business environment it is crucial to be an effective communicator. Below are some of the tips that can enhance your communication skills:

1. Connect emotionally

People will always forget what you said and did, but they will never forget the way you made them feel. A good communicator should connect with their audience emotionally and individually. Do not strive hard to maintain a persona. Let that go. Be you, be human. Express what you feel, tell people what you care about. Communicate your stories with them, what inspired you, what you did not like. Pour your heart and soul into the communication to make the audience feel like one with you.

2. Talk so that people will listen

There is no use in talking in lengths with no one listening. Great communicators know what their audience wants and what attracts the attention of their audience and communicate based on that. Adjusting the flow of the message appropriate to the audience will increase the chances of them lending ears to you.

3. Make your communication interactive

Do not bore your audience with long speeches with no pause to think and reflect. Ensure that your communication is interactive and not one way. Tell stories that connect with your audience, ask meaningful questions, and let them ponder over that. Give them ideas and always make sure that there is a huge take away from you and your ideas at the end!

4. Read body language

A great communicator knows that good communication does not solely rely on words and content. The greatest source of information lies in the body language. The body is an abundant pool of unspoken communication. You will understand the context of the communication if you thoroughly read the body language.

5. Practice active listening

Active listening is a simple technique that ensures people feel heard. Always spend more time listening than talking. Do not interrupt people while they are speaking. Make sure that you listen carefully to all the details they are mentioning and avoid asking unnecessary questions. Give the space they need to communicate. Developing the skill of active listening will not only make you a better communicator but also a better human.