How to Communicate Better

Written By Colēgia

Effective communication is the cornerstone of a happy life since it teaches us how important it is to speak with others. Being able to improve these skills can take time and it's ultimately worth the effort. Today we want to cover some key ways to help us communicate better.

Speak With Confidence

When we're confident with what we're saying, people are more likely to listen to us. Confidence is a key component in leadership, and while we don't necessarily have to be in that position, it does help with communication. People who are confident are more sure of the message they're trying to deliver which makes it that much easier to help get everyone on the same page. We can use this when we're trying to be more persuasive so others can see our point of view better. It helps us practice sincerity as well since we want our confidence to be genuine to establish trust. Confident people recognize that there is power in their words and that it’s good to be mindful of how things are said.

“When we're confident with what we're saying, people are more likely to listen to us.”

Less is More

The quality of your words matters much more than the quantity of your words. Learning how to deliver your message in a way that doesn't take too long is important since we need to be aware of how valuable people’s time is. Less is more when it comes to communication since we don't want to dilute what we're saying. A great example of this is when we get into a debate. Oftentimes our best information is one that has enough evidence behind it. Presenting it in a manner that is approachable allows us to focus on the most important aspects of something which in turn strengthens our points. One good exercise to do is using bullet points on a flashcard when presenting a speech. Given how much room we have to work with, this gives us the ability to focus on the big topics.

“The quality of your words matters much more than the quantity of your words.”

Think Things Through

If we truly want to become better communicators we need to think before we speak. This can be tricky because sometimes we're not always aware of what we say until we say it. This can cause us to hurt others’ feelings or it can make us come across as aloof. To avoid this we want to practice mindfulness whenever we speak. This approach gives us the tools needed to be aware of how others will receive our message along with thinking through if we're saying it in a respectful manner. One effective way to do this is by asking someone if you can take a moment to think things through. This helps them know you want to reach the best possible outcome and gives you a moment to breathe. Learning how to do this requires an active effort to understand the other side since we need to handle things differently depending on the situation. Communication allows us to more accurately express ourselves, and we need to put in the effort to do so by reviewing our thoughts.

Colēgia

Colēgia

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