Do you often feel misunderstood or ignored when having a conversation? You're not alone. You may need to improve your verbal and nonverbal communication skills.
What is Verbal Communication?
Verbal communication refers to the process of using words to send and receive messages. Words are exchanged through oral speaking, sign language, and writing, which is often categorized separately. Active listening is also considered a form of verbal communication.
With conscious practice, you can improve your speaking skills. When we talk about polishing our verbal communication skills, we must also discuss our nonverbal skills that affect our ability to communicate effectively.
Why Improve Verbal Communication Skills
The first reason to hone your verbal communication skills is that it will increase your value. Effective communication is essential in the workplace. We use our voice to inform, persuade, entertain, motivate, and inspire. Messages take the form of meetings, phone calls, presentations, and face-to-face conversations, either in person or video teleconferencing.
Supervisors use language to assign tasks, evaluate performance, and encourage their staff. Clear and concise words help employees explain projects with the team, and report progress. Compelling conversation influences customer decisions.
A benefit of verbal communication is that you can usually receive immediate feedback from the recipient. If the receiver does not immediately respond, you can ask questions to seek feedback. Feedback is excellent because it enables you to know whether your message was understood correctly.
Choose the Correct Words
For better understanding, use the language appropriate for your audience. When you speak with your technical team about a project, it's acceptable to use technical jargon. However, a customer probably won't understand the specialized terms and acronyms. Likewise, a small child doesn't understand the same level of details or vocabulary as an adult.
When you speak, be yourself, but be your better self. Regardless of how you express your thoughts at home or with your friends, it is best to avoid using profanity at work. There are companies with a no-tolerance policy for swearing in the workplace. Some individuals may be offended, and it could get you fired.
Speaking is More Than Words
Studies show approximately 7% of our messages are communicated verbally through what we say, and over 50% through nonverbal communication. What we find is that verbal communication alone is not the most effective way to communicate. The tone and gestures accompany the spoken words and help the receiver interpret the message with the intended meaning.
The gestures you use when speaking, the tone and inflections of your voice, and facial expressions like smiling or eye contact are examples of nonverbal communication. Your body language can signal if you are open to communication or defensive. Even what you wear speaks volumes. Your appearance demonstrated by your clothes, hairstyle, and jewelry can affect how you are perceived.
You've heard the term, "It's not what you said, but how you said it." Our emotions can influence the tone, inflection, pitch, rhythm, and volume we use when conversing. These factors influence how listeners interpret our messages.
Someone with an overly fast or slow pace when they talk can be challenging to understand. For easy comprehension, keep your voice's rhythm at a moderate speed, and try to enunciate your words. Think before you speak so that you can be clear and concise with your message.
A phrase expressed happily, and moderate will sound different and have a different meaning than the same words spoken angrily and loud. A voice that is too high pitched may sound like fingernails on a blackboard to some. For better results, adjust the tone, inflection, and volume of your voice to agree with your message's sentiment.
Eye contact, facial expressions, posture, and gestures work with our vocal sound to further communicate our message. Furthermore, your listener will mirror your emotions. They will feel relaxed and confident when you are. A smile and eye contact will establish a friendly rapport.
Be sure to make eye contact when you are talking or when they are talking. We judge people on their ability to make eye contact. According to a 2015 article in Business Insider, "Someone's gaze can be a channel of truth or a barometer of lies, depending on the speaker's intent and the listener's sensitivity. Both are communicated through the eyes".
Using your hands for gesturing can enhance the meaning of your message. Forbes pointed out the more enthusiastic and passionate we are about a subject, the more animated our gestures become. The article noted that studies have found that people who communicate through active gesturing tend to be evaluated as warm, agreeable, and energetic. In contrast, those who remain still (or whose gestures seem mechanical or "wooden") are seen as logical, cold, and analytical.
Other body languages can have either a positive or negative effect on your conversation. An open posture when sitting or standing and facing the listener signifies open to interaction. A person with arms folded and body turned away are not be well received and viewed as less receptive.
Steps to Improve Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
We've identified four steps you can take to improve verbal communication skills.
1. Become conscious of your voice.
How loud or soft is your voice?
Is your voice high pitched?
What is your cadence, fast or slow?
Do your inflections enhance the meaning?
Do you use the appropriate language for the listener?
To understand how you sound, record yourself in conversation with someone or ask a friend or coworker to describe your voice. Listen to other people speak; their volume, pitch, cadence, inflections, and choice of words. What sounds good and what doesn't? How does their voice sound relative to what they are saying?
2. Become aware of your nonverbal cues.
Do you make eye contact?
Do your facial expressions match your message?
Do you smile?
Do you use hand gestures to enhance the meaning of your message?
Do you stand or sit facing the listener?
Do you appear relaxed with open body posture?
An excellent way to understand your nonverbal cues is to videotape yourself having a conversation with someone. Try to view yourself objectively. Invite someone to review the video and give their candid feedback.
3. Become an active listener.
Active listening occurs when we give someone our full, deliberate, and undivided attention and remember what we hear. The objective is to understand both the message and the individual. Achieving this level of mindfulness requires us to use multiple senses and concentration. By practicing active listening when others talk, we become more aware of our communication skills.
4. Identify areas for improvement.
By listening to yourself speak and observing your mannerisms, you can determine the areas you need to improve. Start with the easiest skill to adopt and start practicing when you are alone and in conversation. When you have comfortably incorporated it into your communication, then add another area for improvement. Practice, practice, practice. Soon you will master the verbal and nonverbal skills and become an effective communicator.
The more senses we use when learning, the more we retain the information. Likewise, when you support your spoken message with positive body language using your eyes, facial expressions, posture, and hand gestures, you communicate with the listener's multiple senses. Therefore, the listener will consider you are sincere and trustworthy. They will listen and evaluate your message on its merit.
All aspects of our work involve some form of communication. Employers value strong communication skills among employees at all levels. Becoming proficient in effective communication should be high on your list of skills to develop. Developing excellent communication skills can aid your career growth and success.
This post is the third in a series of posts on communication. To be notified of new postings, be sure to subscribe at https://www.professionallysuited.com.
Comentarios