101 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

101 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills

 

 

 

Objectives

 

 

 

 

•           Communication

 

•           Techniques

 

•           Listening

 

•           Speaking and Listening

 

•           Speaking and Writing

 

•           General Tips

Communication

 

 

 

•           Speaking

 

– Know what you want to say

 

– Control Fear

 

– Stop Talking and Listen

 

– Think before you talk

 

– Believe in your message

 

– Repeat Major Points

 

– Find Out what your Listener wants

Communication

 

 

 

•           Techniques

 

– Define Acronyms

 

– Reduce Jargon

 

– Level Objections

 

– Use Humor

 

– Anecdotes and Stories

 

– Ask for feedback

 

– Increase your vocabulary

Communication

 

 

 

 

•           Techniques -continued

 

– Eliminate Audible Pauses

 

– Enunciate Clearly

 

– Practice Pronouncing Words Properly

 

– Exercise Tongue, Jaws and Lips

 

– Make Eye Contact

 

– Gesture

Communication

 

 

 

 

•           Techniques -continued

 

– Pause

 

– Speak more slowly

 

– Speak faster

 

– Vary Your Volume

 

– Watch your tone

 

– Record your voice

Communication

 

 

 

 

•           Listening

 

– Prepare to Listen

 

– Focus on the Speaker

 

– Screen Out Distractions

 

– Concentrate on the Message

 

– Listen to Tapes while you commute

Communication

 

 

 

•           Speaking and Listening

 

– Ask Questions

 

– Avoid Daydreaming

 

– Accept Accents

 

– Use mind mapping

 

– Interview

 

– Complaints

 

– Telephone

Speaking and Writing

 

 

 

 

•           Key Points

 

– Write a Purpose Statement

 

– Outline

 

– Transfer Negative Emotions to Paper

 

– Get to the Point

 

– Explain Abstract words

 

– Use Absolutes and Generalities Sparingly

Speaking and Writing

 

 

 

•           Key Points - Continued

 

– Ask for what you want

 

– Use active verbs

 

– Use gender neutral language

 

– Cite Source of Statistical Data

 

– Illustrate with personal examples

 

– Express Emotion

 

– Keep it simple (KISS) Method

Speaking and Writing

 

 

 

•           Key Points - Continued

 

– Paint verbal Pictures

 

– Be Concise

 

– Support Statements with Details

 

– Watch Semantics

 

– Quote Authorities

 

– Consult Experts

 

– Suppress emotion

Speaking and Writing

 

 

 

 

•           Writing

 

– Keep a Journal

 

– Take notes

 

– Write personal Notes

 

– Write Effective business letters

 

– Use Short Sentences

 

– Communicate online

General Tips

 

 

 

 

•           Reading

 

– Read

 

– Keep up with Current Events

 

– Read Something Inspirational

 

– Use the Internet

General Tips

 

 

 

•           Non Verbal

 

– Presence

 

– Give Nonverbal Cues

 

– Check Your Posture

 

– Dress Appropriately

 

– Smile

 

– Touch

 

– Shake Hands Properly

General Tips

 

 

 

•           Attitude

 

– Intend to Improve

 

– Visualize

 

– Be flexible

 

– Be Likable

 

– Commit to Being Truthful

 

– Empathize

 

– Don’t take yourself too seriously

General Tips

 

 

 

 

•           Attitude – continued

 

– Eliminate Negative Feelings

 

– Be receptive to New Ideas

 

– Take Responsibility

 

– Respect the Other Person’s Point of View

 

– Recognize the Impact of Stress on Communication

 

– Be Real

General Tips

 

 

 

 

•           Attitude – continued

 

– Check Your attitude

General Tips

 

 

 

•           Behavioral

 

– Laugh

 

– Use Good Manners

 

– Recognize Manipulative Behavior

 

– Recognize Condescending Manners

 

– Avoid Words that Hurt

 

– Change Abrasive Behavior

 

– Handle Disagreements with Tact

General Tips

 

 

 

 

•           Miscellaneous

 

– Organize Productive Meetings

 

– Consider Experience Level

 

– Understand the Importance of Timing

 

– Present a Good Personal Image

Questions