Enhancing Your Communication Skills: From Childhood to Now

For many years, my communication skills were severely impacted by social anxiety. This struggle persisted from my childhood through to my adulthood. However, I have since turned this aspect of my life around by forcing myself to engage more with people, which significantly improved my social skills and ultimately led to a reduction in my social anxiety.

The Power of Listening

Improving your communication skills is all about understanding and being understood. The fundamental building blocks of effective communication involve three critical skills: listening, erudition, and clear and engaging speech. One of the most crucial aspects is the art of 3D listening. This involves paying careful attention to the intonation and voice of your conversational partner, understanding who they are speaking to, and establishing a rapport. Sometimes, people get so caught up in anticipating what the other person will say that they forget to truly listen. This can be particularly counterproductive in a conversation. I recommend not commenting, judging, or advising during someone’s speech. Instead, focus on listening, engaging both your mind and heart with what the person is saying.

Broadening Your Intellectual Horizon

Erudition is another essential aspect of effective communication. It helps you connect with people from all walks of life and enhances your ability to communicate in a more interesting and engaging manner. To develop erudition, read about current affairs and subjects that interest you. Make an effort to see the connections between different areas, such as how psychology is connected to politics, or how culture influences art. This will help you maintain intellectual curiosity and be more knowledgeable in various fields.

Clarity and Engaging Speech

Clear and interesting speech is essential to keep your audience’s attention, especially when speaking on the phone. To master this skill, you can perform speech exercises. Here are some daily practices that can help:

Read, listen, and make notes on topics that interest you.

Practice clarity of speech with apps like Get Rid of your Accent and Fluent English Speech.

Look people in the eyes when you speak, smile, and ask questions without interrupting the person you are communicating with. Try to understand the tone of voice, intonation, and speech pace of the person you are speaking with.

Practice intonation and inflection with the app Fluent English Speech.

Practise stressing your messages and using pauses in the right places with the app Fluent English Speech.

Master colloquial speech with the app Elocution Lessons. For the best results, download the video courses Get Rid of your Accent Part 1 and Get Rid of your Accent Part 2.

The wrong intonation can be perceived as rude or inappropriate, while the right intonation can add power and compassion to your communication. Additionally, you can learn to modulate your voice to show and understand emotions using the app Power Pitch Pace Pause.

Becoming a Competent Communicator

A competent communicator is one who knows how to speak with confidence and use various public speaking skills such as:

Informing: Provide accurate and clear information.

Inspiring: Motivate and encourage your audience.

Persuading: Convince your audience of a particular viewpoint or action.

Selling: Effectively market your ideas or products.

Facilitating a discussion: Manage and steer a conversation effectively.

Creating relationships and partnerships: Build strong connections with your audience.

Expressing yourself in front of others: Clearly and confidently convey your message.

Using visual aids successfully: Enhance your message with appropriate visuals.

Modulating your voice: Use your voice to convey and understand emotions.

By engaging in these daily practices and leveraging the available resources, you can develop and refine your communication skills, making you a more effective and empathetic communicator.