6 Communication Skill Secrets That Work In Any Situation

People forget sometimes that a communication skill may have to be learnt. They are so hard on themselves when talking and understanding people doesn’t come easy – and then so the tension that builds up makes it even harder to have this communication skill.

But you can develop your communication skill just like you can develop any other skill. You don’t get angry with yourself for not having the skill to play the piano or to sail around the world do you? No? Well there’s no need to be hard on yourself because talking and communication doesn’t come easily to you. All you need to do is learn a few skills and practice them. You’ll soon find it much easier to talk and to listen.

1. Develop your voice

Your tone of voice says a lot about you, so you need to be careful that your tone is portraying the desired feelings. Your voice should be strong and not too high. That will portray a confidence and warmth which is suitable for most occasions. Try smiling when you speak. Practice at home and you’ll be surprised how this will change the sound of your voice in a very good way.

2. Slow dow

When you’re nervous or excited, it’s tempting to speak too quickly. That can be difficult to understand and you will tend to trip over your words. What’s more, it will make your listeners feel agitated and uncomfortable. They will find it hard to listen to you. So take a deep breath and collect your thoughts before you speak and make a conscious effort to slow down.

3. Be animated

Your voice is capable of great dynamics. Play with that a bit and get used to it. It will add a lot of interest to your voice and make it much more likely that people will be engaged with what you have to say. Your pitch should alter according to the mood of what you are saying and so can your volume. A way to develop this communication skill in a fun way is to read a children’s story. Do all the voices for the characters and have some fun with it whilst you learn a lot at the same time.

4. Speak clearly

People need to be able to understand your words. They will often feel embarrassed if they have to ask you to repeat things because they couldn’t hear or make out the words. Avoid making people do that by opening your mouth a little more and pronouncing your words properly. You don’t need to use a large or impressive vocabulary to be an effective communicator.

You can often say things better in simple terms. By all means develop your vocabulary, but don’t feel obliged to use big words; in fact, if you’re not sure how to pronounce a particular word, don’t use it.

5. Use volume appropriately

You need to speak loud enough so people can hear your words. You will need to speak louder if you are addressing a larger group of people, but sometimes too, it can be effective to lower your voice. By practicing your communication skill, it will become more natural to know how to use volume effectively, as it will all these skills.

6. Use eye contact

This is about making your audience feel at ease and making them feel that you are speaking to them directly. Looking at them without staring at one person for too long will help to make them feel included. They will relax and you will in turn feed off this relaxed state and it will help you.

Remember, communication is a two-way process. Using these few techniques will greatly enhance your communication skill, making it easier for you to talk to anyone, in any situation.