Improving Communication Skills

Whatever your field, improving communication skills leads you to greater success. Smart people make improving communication skills a lifelong endeavor. Improving communication skills now can make the difference between success and failure, profit or loss later.

Face to face, telephone, and written correspondence make up most of our business and personal communications. Through these means we relate to others our ideas, feelings, perceptions and desires. When we fail to communicate effectively we in essence fail ourselves.

Start improving communication skills now. Begin with an honest assessment of your skills. Then apply some easy tips you can put to work immediately.

Communicating is not only speaking but also listening. Are you a good listener? Sales people use a rule called the “70-30 rule.” This rule states the sales person should only be talking 30% of the time, allowing the potential customer to talk the other 70% of the time. They should be allowed to describe their problems and objectives to the sales person. This rule is relevant in many business and social settings as well.

What about body language? Certain gestures like shrugging your shoulders or rolling your eyes can send the wrong message. Various stances like slouching or crossing your arms make a negative impression on your listener. Talk to yourself in a mirror. Remove all of the gestures and poses that do not fit with your speech.

If you are shy and talking with others or in groups makes you feel uncomfortable, then consider joining a Toastmaster’s club. You’ll be joining a group filled with others that have similar feelings. This will help you gain confidence naturally over time.

There are also plenty of excellent products that you can purchase which specialize in helping you to improve your communication skills.