In whichever walk of life you are, it is your communication skills that you have to rely on to not only get your message across but also get your work done.
It plays an important role in cracking important recruitment exams as well. State and National level recruitment exams are considered difficult in India, not just for the syllabus but for the fact that they test the overall personality of an individual through interviews. For a candidate to pass an interview, communication skills are a must have skill. I came across an incident last year where a distant relative of mine was super happy when the uptet answer key ( A state level exam conducted in Uttar Pradesh, India) and his answers matched 99% .Eventually he cleared the cutoff and got a call for the interview, which unfortunately did not go well. He was declared ‘Not Selected ‘ when the uptet result was announced. The reason was lack of communication skills.
To excel in your career and to avoid cases like the above example, try to follow the following tips!
- Talk to the point and talk simple
You have to be clear and precise. The best way to improve communication is to stay away from fancy language that creates confusion.
- At work, talk to the point, do not beat around the bush.
- Do not waste too much time on pleasantries if you are nervous. Get to the point soon.
- Healthy discussions are always welcome, shouting is not.
- To communicate more confidently, work on your posture. Avoid slouching, folding your arms or making yourself appear smaller than you are.
- When talking to a group, ensure you are addressing all members, not just one person.
- Be approachable
Many mid-level and senior level professionals come across as unapproachable to their subordinates.
- Maintain a friendly and healthy atmosphere around.
- Have a cheerful attitude towards the task at hand and opt for small chunks at a time.
- Be friendly and talk in a soft and understandable tone.
- Maintain Eye Contact
We cannot stress enough the importance of keeping eye contact. It keeps the person engaged.
- When talking to the team, make sure you look at everyone, so each person feels included.
- Avoid looking at the walls or ceiling (or here and there) when talking to anyone. You have no idea how often this happens.
- If you focus your full attention on the speaker, eye contact will follow automatically.
- Focus On Nonverbal Communication
Apart from eye contact, other nonverbal cues are as important. Improving communication is not just verbal but also body language cues.
- Positive affirmations with nods and sounds should be given.
- Listen to the full statement before mentally dismissing it. The dismissal will become evident in your body language.
- Gestures play a major role in communication, so be constantly aware of what you are doing.
- If you have a habit of fidgeting, be conscious and reduce it with regular practice.
- Listen
If you want to improve your communication, you must learn to listen as effectively as you learn to talk. Communication is about both.
- Pay attention to what is being said, and show respect.
- Do not start judging from the word go.
- If you have a response, wait your turn to give it, but until then, be attentive.
- No matter what, do not interrupt because you think you have a solution.
- There are several listening tests available online, try one!
- Respond Carefully
To improve communication is to avoid reacting. Take your time to the person, digest what he/she is saying and then give your thought-out response.
- Before you blurt anything immediately, first think of what you want to say.
- If there is a counter query, do not get defensive, and go back to thinking about what you want to say.
- Your goal should be getting to a solution, not to put the person down, or reject their ideas.
- If difficult feedback needs to be given, do so objectively, don’t be judgemental.
Hope you liked this short read!