Improve Your Communication Skills With These Easy Activities 

Listen actively 

It's easy to compulsively think about what you're going to say next. But if you're too focused on your own thoughts and the next big thing you're going to share, you'll miss what others are trying to say, even if they're talking directly to you. . Research shows that most people only listen at about 25% efficiency. Instead of worrying about what you're going to say next, practice active listening. Active listening is when you are present in the conversation, and you try to understand the message that is being shared with you, not just the words. 

ASK QUESTIONS 

A key part of communication is sharing ideas back and forth with your audience, not just lecturing them. To make a mediocre conversation amazing, get the other person involved. The easiest way to do this is by asking good questions. While there are no such things as bad questions, some questions are better than others. Yes/no questions lead to flat conversations. Questions like, “Do you have any questions?” will almost always be answered with a simple “No,” and can create an awkward pause. 

RE-READ AND EDIT 

Writing is a wonderful communication tool because you have more time to craft and control your message. Unlike when you’re speaking to someone, writing gives you the time to go back and make improvements to your message when needed. Whether it’s an email or a letter, no one makes a perfect first draft, so get into the habit of proofreading before you click send. This will save you from embarrassing typos and errors, but it also enables you to create a complete, concise message. 

What to focus on 

If you're aiming to create effective dialogue, don't waste your time starting with small talk, short comic routines, or any other topic. Get to the point of what you want to talk about. If you're leading a conversation and he starts drifting away from you, gently redirect the conversation back to the original topic. Negotiations can easily derail when participants have their own agendas and emotions run high. But to successfully solve the problem, it's important to stay on topic. 

Choose the right tools for the job 

Choosing the right communication tools for the job is an essential part of learning how to improve your communication skills. Consider the message you're sharing and how you want your audience to interact. One-way monologues work great as emails, but if you want to interact with your audience, opt for in-person communication. There's a time and a place to poke your head into someone's office for a formal meeting, phone call, message, email, text, thoughtful note, or even a quick chat, 

CREATE A SAFE PLACE 

If people do not feel safe sharing their ideas or viewpoints, they will never speak up and share their truth. A great place to start with respect is by considering others’ perspectives and trying to understand what they are saying with empathy. If you do run into conflicts or differing opinions, focus on rebuilding safety within the dialogue. You can do this by finding and cultivating a mutual purpose. This will help you have a respectful and positive conversation, even when you don’t agree on everything. 

DON’T OVERLY RELY ON VISUAL AIDS 

Some of the largest companies have abandoned slide decks and visual aids. When you’re uncomfortable with speaking or writing, it’s easy to lean on visual messages. However, it usually ends up distracting both you and your audience from the conversation. 

AVOID EMOJIS  

In texts to friends or informal messages, it can be fun to sprinkle in emojis, but they should never show up in professional written communication. Emojis don’t make a good first impression, and instead of lightening the mood, you could, unfortunately, damage your reputation and appear uneducated or incompetent at your job. 

Thank You