1. Know what communication really is.

 Communication is the process of transferring

signals/messages between a sender and a receiver through various methods (written words, nonverbal
cues, spoken words). It is also the mechanism we use to establish and modify relationships.

Ads by Google
PSHE & Tutorials
 Make huge savings on teaching materials. Download and use today
www.eresourcesforteachers.com

2. 2

Manifest constructive attitudes and beliefs. The attitudes you bring to communication will have a huge
impact on the way you compose yourself and interact with others. Choose to
be honest,patient, optimistic, sincere, respectful, and accepting of others. Be sensitive to other people's
feelings, and believe in others' competence.

3. 3

Make eye contact. Whether you are speaking or listening, looking into the eyes of the person with whom
you are conversing can make the interaction more successful. Eye contact conveys interest, and
encourages your partner to be interested in you in return. In less intimate settings, when giving a speech
or when in front of several people, holding the eyes of different members of your audience can
personalize what you are saying and maintain attention.

4. 4

Be aware of what your body is saying. Body language can say so much more than a mouthful of
words. An open stance with arms relaxed at your sides tells anyone around you that you
areapproachable and open to hearing what they have to say. Arms crossed and shoulders hunched, on
the other hand, suggest disinterest in conversation or unwillingness to communicate. Often,
communication can be stopped before it starts by body language that tells people you don't want
to talk. Appropriate posture and an approachable stance can make even difficult conversations flow more
smoothly.

5. 5

Have courage to say what you think! Be confident in knowing that you can make worthwhile
contributions to conversation. Take time each day to be aware of your opinions and feelings so you can
adequately convey them to others. Individuals who are hesitant to speak because they do not feel their
input would be worthwhile need not fear; what is important or worthwhile to one person may not be to
another and may be more so to someone else. In a world so very big, someone is bound to agree with
you, or to open your eyes to an even deeper perspective. The courage to say what you think can afford
you the opportunity to learn more than you knew before.

6. 6

Speak clearly enough to be heard. When you are saying what you think, have the confidence to say it
so as to be heard. An appropriate tone and volume can inform listeners that you mean what you say, you
have thought about what you are saying, and what you are saying is worth hearing. Using proper
inflection helps ensure that your listeners hear exactly what you are saying, and reduces possibilities for
misunderstanding.

7. 7

Practice. Developing advanced communication skills begins with simple interactions. Communication

skills can be practiced every day in settings that range from the more social to the more professional.
New skills take time to refine, but each time you use your communication skills you open yourself to
opportunities and future partnerships.

8. 8

Develop effective listening skills. Not only should one be able to speak effectively, one must listen to
the other person's words and engage in communication on what the other person is speaking about.
Avoid the impulse to listen only for the end of their sentence so that you can blurt out the ideas or
memories that come to your mind while the other person is speaking.

Ten Effective Communication Skills

By: Aysha Schurman
Effective communication skills may seem like a simple thing to master. However, if you don't realize that
effective communication skills involve more than just what you say, you probably confuse people all the
time. Try the following ten tips to help you sharpen your communication skills.
To the point
Be as direct as possible, within the limits of good manners. Beating around the bush confuses people and
makes them lose interest in what you're saying. Be direct whenever possible and get to the point.
Manners count
Use your manners. Whatever type of communication you use, always remember your manners. Being
polite is a much better way to put a person at ease than being rude. A person who feels open and at ease
is much more likely to be receptive to what you have to say.
I statements
Use the word "I." When you use the word "I," you're letting people know that what you're saying is only
according to your personal understanding, not a blanket fact. This can help keep people from feeling
targeted and attacked. There's a difference between telling someone "You're ignoring me" and "I feel like
you are ignoring me."
Positive thinking
Emphasize the positive. Regardless if you're conducting a budget meeting or trying to get a spouse to do
the dishes, you need to keep the tone positive. This can help keep people willing to listen to what you
have to say and prevent them from feeling defensive.
Understanding
You have to listen to understand. Actively listening to the conversation can do wonders for your overall
ability to communicate. The same goes for written and non-verbal communication. Don't daydream or let
your mind wander. Instead try to visualize what is being communicated about and actively engage your
brain in the subject.
Spice up your words
Make your communications interesting. If you're communicating verbally, use different inflections and
pauses to make the dialogue interesting. Use body language to help emphasize your words.  If you're
communicating through writing, always use proper punctuation to help dramatize certain points and
create character in the text.
Visual cues
Use visual elements to help explain your communication. If you're speaking or writing, try using pictures,
graphs and other visual aids. This helps engage people's senses and leads to greater depth of
understanding.
Clarity
Avoid confusing and ambiguous language. Avoid using vocabulary that people won't know or general
terms that will leave people confused. It's also best to avoid words that sound alike and may confuse
listeners, such as where and wear.
You know what they say about assuming
Anticipate reactions, but never assume you know how someone will react. It's smart to plan ahead and be
ready for all potential situations. However, you don't want to pigeon hole yourself into one scenario.
Assumption will only limit your flexibility.
Patience
Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to effective communication. If you rush things and become
easily frustrated, your communication abilities suffer. If you are always ready to slow the pace as needed
or go back over certain points, you will communicate much more efficiently.