How To Communicate Effectively

Connect

• Establish rapport with people
• Pay attention to people’s facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice.
• See things from the other person’s point of view.
• Adjust your communication style to match theirs.
• Avoid criticizing, making negative judgments, or saying that the other person is wrong.
• Show interest in the other person’s interests and concerns.
  

Listen

• Encourage people to talk.
• Show your willingness to listen. Minimize distractions. Attend to the other person with your whole body (your body language, eyes, facial expressions).
• Nod your head and give verbal cues to communicate that you are paying attention.
• Ask open-ended questions.
• Listen to what people are trying to communicate, not just to what they are saying.
  
• Listen to their emotions.
  
• Listen also to what they want.
• Check to make sure you understand. Use your own words to reflect what you have heard and noticed.
  

Communicate

• Speak with sincerity and conviction.
• Be sensitive to other people’s communication style.
• Know what you want to accomplish. Do you want people to understand your position? Lend their support? Approve your request?
• Listen at least as much as you talk.
• Attune what you say with how you say it. Keep your message fitting with your tone of voice, facial expression, and body language.
  

Speak

• Project confidence.
• Connect with your audience.
• Know what you want to accomplish. Do you want people to understand your position? Lend their support? Approve your request?
• Keep it short and simple. Most communication can accomplish only one objective, develop three main points, and hold people’s attention only so long.
• Ask for feedback; was the message understood.