I have never recalled being the girl with the best articulation skills nor the confidence when it comes to interacting with others. It has never been easy for me to fluently express my mind, or convey my messages the way I want to. A lot of times I have fallen victim to misunderstanding, especially while working in an international organization. My experience as a feedback representative at Bayt.com hasn’t been a walk in the park, as I had to regularly interact with various people in different departments with different backgrounds and cultures, locally or overseas. This has been quite challenging since this was not exactly my forte but eventually I have managed to adapt and learnt skills and tricks that enhanced my communication abilities and helped me effectively connect and build trust amongst my colleagues. Here are 5 tips anyone can train themselves to do:
When trying to communicate, especially in business, you might not get a lot of time to express yourself, that’s why you need to be straightforward and concise, so that you won’t be misunderstood and then waste the listener’s precious time having to explain yourself. At the same time focus on your point, and don’t get distracted.
Vagueness and ambiguity are all very common in the workplace, so always try to be clear while explaining yourself by using simple words that can be easily understood. Also, remember to avoid mumbling or speaking too quickly, and make sure to use the appropriate tone of voice to deliver your message. Words might have different meaning if said in a different tone of voice.
Try to display confidence and seriousness to ensure that you will not be taken for granted. If your coworkers or managers feel any uncertainty and doubt coming from you, they probably won’t take the information very seriously. Showing confidence in conversation helps you add accuracy and credibility to your information. Present your data with a clear and assertive tone to show that you know the subject you are talking about, and that the information you’re presenting is valuable.
To help deliver your message better, effective body language reinforces the message and presents a strong image of the speaker. Nonverbal communication should support what you’re trying to express, so if you say one thing, but your body language is saying otherwise, your listener will most likely feel that you’re not being honest. Body language consists of gesture, body posture and facial expression. So try to stand/sit up straight, use your hands to help emphasize your point, shake hands firmly, use smiles and always make eye contact while communicating.
You have two ears and one mouth, so you must listen more than you speak. It’s not really efficient if you just deliver your message and then leave. Give room for feedback as it will make your listener feel more connected and engaged, plus you can actually know the effectiveness of your communication. It will also give you the benefit of knowing if your message was well understood and comprehended. You can encourage feedback by always opening the conversation to questions and clarifications. When you say a point, wait a moment and allow the listener to ask a question before moving to the next point. Also when you answer a question, make sure the other person understood you before moving on with the conversation. Also if you feel confused about something you heard, paraphrasing can really help you understand the speaker’s point, for example you can say “what you’re saying is…” or “sounds like you’re saying that…”.
