How to Improve Your Verbal Communication
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Job Outlook 2012 survey, hiring employers seek candidates with strong verbal communication skills. In fact, this ranked as the second most important skill to surveyed employers. This is not surprising. Is it possible to improve your verbal communication? Or, is excellent communication a gift? It does come more naturally for some people. However, this is a skill that you can continue to improve throughout your lifetime.
Body Language
Practice in front of a mirror to become aware of your movements and expressions. Un-cross your arms, do not touch your face, and stand firmly on two feet. Subtle hand gestures are natural, but excessive hand movements can be distracting. Eye contact is important to build rapport with someone. It also gives the impression that you are confident. A pleasant, genuine smile is best. Frozen-face smiles can be creepy. Lowered eyebrows and frowning expressions can be intimidating or off-putting.
Voice Quality
Speak clearly in a moderate, mature tone. If you have a squeaky or boisterous voice, you can practice to develop a more pleasant voice pitch and quality. Reduce your pace of speech, but not to the point of monotony. Hit the words needing impact. This should happen naturally when you are fully connected and focused on your message.
According to the Workplace Communications Impact Survey conducted by Harris Interactive, 34% of surveyed adults said that communication bottlenecks negatively impact their productivity at work.
Active Listening
Active listening requires making a conscious effort to truly understand what the other person is saying through words and body language. Acknowledge that you are listening by nodding periodically. Consciously stop yourself from thinking about what you will say next until you have heard the other person’s entire message. This requires being totally present in the moment. Make sure you don’t cut other people off during interactions. Wait until the other person has completed his or her thought before you speak.
Articulate Your Message Clearly and Succinctly
The old expression, “Say what you mean and mean what you say” is true. Getting to the point shows that you respect the other person’s time. Practice communicating what is necessary so you are not wasting the time of others. Focus on the salient points and mentally edit out superfluous details. Listeners appreciate brevity.
Communication is essential for career success. Even if you are satisfied with your communication abilities, there is always room for improvement. Enhance your skills through attention to your body language and voice quality. Practice active listening and create concise messages. As your communication develops, other aspects of your life will also flourish.
