1.
Listen, listen, and listen. People want to know that
they are being heard. Really listen to what the other person is saying, instead
of formulating your response. Ask for clarification to avoid misunderstandings.
At that moment, the person speaking to you should be the most important person
in your life. Another important point is to have one conversation at a time.
This means that if you are speaking to someone on the phone, do not respond to
an email, or send a text at the same time. The other person will know that she
doesn’t have your undivided attention.
2.
Who you are talking to matters. It is okay to use
acronyms and informal language when you are communicating with a buddy, but if
you are emailing or texting your boss, “Hey,” “TTYL” or any informal language,
has no place in your message. You cannot assume that the other person knows
what the acronym means. Some acronyms have different meanings to different
people, do you want to be misunderstood? Effective communicators target their
message based on who they are speaking to, so try to keep the other person in
mind, when you are trying to get your message across.
3.
Body language matters. This is important for face-to-face
meetings and video conferencing. Make sure that you appear accessible, so have
open body language. This means that you should not cross your arms. And keep
eye contact so that the other person knows that you are paying attention.
4.
Check your message before you hit send. Spell and grammar
checkers are lifesavers, but they are not foolproof. Double check what you have
written, to make sure that your words are communicating the intended message.
5. Be brief, yet specific.
For written and verbal communication, practice being brief yet specific enough,
that you provide enough information for the other person to understand what you
are trying to say. And if you are responding to an email, make sure that you
read the entire email before crafting your response. With enough practice, you
will learn not to ramble, or give way too much information.
6.
Write things down. Take notes while you are talking to
another person or when you are in a meeting, and do not rely on your memory.
Send a follow-up email to make sure that you understand what was being said
during the conversation.
7.
Sometimes it’s better to pick up the phone.
If you find that you have a lot to say, instead of sending an email, call the
person instead. Email is great, but sometimes it is easier to communicate what
you have to say verbally.
8.
Think before you speak. Always pause before you speak, not
saying the first thing that comes to mind. Take a moment and pay close
attention to what you say and how you say it. This one habit will allow you to
avoid embarrassments.
9. Treat everyone equally.
Do not talk down to anyone, treating everyone with respect. Treat others as
your equal.
10. Maintain a positive attitude and smile.
Even when you are speaking on the phone, smile because your positive attitude
will shine through and the other person will know it. When you smile often and
exude a positive attitude, people will respond positively to you.
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