Take these little tips to heart, even if they don’t seem so important to you. The devil is in the detail. That’s why many a communication has failed because one of these 10 points was ignored!
1. Avoid negative body language.
Over 80% of communication takes place on a subconscious level, and your body language is a large part of this. It is therefore important that you pay attention to your body language. Your counterpart is unaware of your body language, and if it expresses something other than your words, this will lead to discomfort or mistrust.
2. Avoid interruptions.
It is very rude to interrupt someone in the middle of a sentence. Firstly, it interrupts the thought process and secondly, it is not very respectful. Make sure you always let your communication partner finish speaking, even if you already know what they are going to say. If an interruption is absolutely necessary, you should announce it politely, i.e. apologize, and ask for an interruption.
3. Think before you speak.
You could also say: “Look before you leap!”. Always think first about how your statements will affect people. You should definitely try to respond to people’s feelings or take them into account in order to signal to them that communication is important to you. It is also not very helpful if you offend people with your statements, scare them off or otherwise create a negative effect.
4. Listen carefully.
Listening carefully when people say something and then thinking about what they actually want to say is a valuable communication skill. If you listen carefully, you will better understand what moves people and what they actually want to say. We often paraphrase our true feelings and intentions with what we say. Apart from that, by listening you are also signaling that the person and the communication are important to you.
5. Attack and defense
Occasionally, people tend to (re)act in an attacking or defensive manner when communicating. Dealing with criticism is not always easy, especially when it may not be justified. However, it is advisable to always remain calm and neutral and to use facts instead of attack, defense or justification. Fault line: insist on your own opinion!
6. Do not deviate.
Deviating from the core topic of a conversation can be entertaining, but it distracts the focus from the actual topic. This can also lead to you wasting the time of your communication partners unnecessarily, as they may not be interested in your off-topic remarks. Focus on the topic of the communication and on the desired effect! Focus: think of the magnifying glass and the sunlight. If you don’t hold the magnifying glass constantly over a point, nothing will happen!
7. Be self-confident.
You should always communicate confidently and convincingly. Stand behind what you say and express yourself confidently and clearly. This will give your counterpart a sense of security. If you convey uncertainty, this will also rub off on the content of your communication. Make sure that you really know your facts and that you don’t come across as arrogant or overbearing. Self-confidence is key, but too much self-confidence can be off-putting!
8. Be open to feedback.
It is usually good to step back for a moment and be open to feedback. Communication is a two-way process and should stay that way. You should be able to open yourself up to feedback from others and give honest feedback yourself whenever you feel it is needed. It is important to always remain objective and, above all, to really think objectively about the feedback you receive!
9. Use the right communication method.
Communication does not always have to be verbal, as different situations sometimes require different methods. Think about which communication method is more effective for which purpose. Sometimes a phone call can be useful as it allowsa certain distance and people say things on the phone that theymight not say in aface-to-face conversation . The right place is also important.t’s important to remember that different types of communication require different venues. Think about the purpose and content of the communication, consider what your communication partner might prefer, what type it is, and then plan your communication accordingly.
10. Be commited and reliable.
Convey commitment to your counterpart. Make concrete statements and set deadlines by which you will fulfill your promises. Give your conversation partner the feeling that you mean what you say and that you will stick to your statements. People are looking for stability and security. If you are binding, you give them this feeling. It is also a good feeling when you are binding and reliable.
