Do you want to improve your life? Make communication a priority

If you want to Improving Your life, make communication a priority.

It is a huge mistake to consider communication skills something soft.

Soft skills are essential and transferable skills – meaning, you can take it with you and you can value it at any time, in any context – life or business.

Do you want to improve your life? Here’s what to start with:

1. Simplify and stay on message – Use simple, straightforward language.
2. Engage – Draw your listeners and readers into the conversation. Ask questions and invite opinions. Solicit their feedback.
3. Take time to respond. – After you’ve listened (and understood) take time to “draft” in your head what you want to say.
4. Make sure you are understood. – Don’t blame the other person for not understanding. Instead, look for ways to clarify or rephrase what you are trying to say so it can be understood.
5. Develop your listening skills, too. – The best communicators are almost always the best listeners. Listen without judgment and don’t be distracted by thinking about what you want to say next. Then, respond, not react.
6. Body language is important. – Studies show that 65% of all communication is non-verbal. In fact, it’s about the emotions we transmit through nonverbal language. The emotions!!!! I’ll talk about this in a different video. So, watch for visual signs that your listener understands, agrees or disagrees with your message. And be aware that your body is sending signals, too.
7. Maintain eye contact. – Whether speaking to a crowd or one-on-one, maintaining eye contact builds credibility and demonstrates you care about your listeners.

Bonus tips: Respect your audience.

Recognize your message is not just about you or what you want.

You should sincerely care about the needs and the unique perspectives of those to whom you are communicating.

One of the best ways to show your respect is simply by paying attention to what they say (verbal, paraverbal or nonverbal).

With strong communication skills, you’ll master the art of having difficult conversations, make your ideas heard, negotiate a salary increase or promotion skillfully, and make a strong impression on everyone you meet.

Knowledge is important – it helps you to know, to understand that you have options, to think more deeply, to guide others, to influence them.

Exposure is more important. It helps you find out about yourself: who you are, what you want, where you want to go.

So, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!