COMMUNICATION SKILLS (Verbal And Non-verbal)

Communication is the most essential part of our life. Communication is needed in our daily life, may it be at home, your work place or your educational institution. Communication means exchange of information through a medium. We not only communicate through words, but also through our body language. And so, in soft skills we broadly classify communication as:

1.) Verbal communication- Related to speech or talking.

2.) Non verbal communication- related to body language like facial expressions, posture and so on.

When we relate soft skills to our work place we need more communication skills:

3.) Written communication- related to emails, blog, and text messages and so on.

4.) Visual communication- related to signs, symbols, and pictures.

Listening skills is also a major part of Communication. We will be discussing it further. Verbal and non-verbal communication is the part to be focused more on. They play a vital role in exhibiting our personality.

To leave an impression on an individual, we need to possess communication skills. To improve verbal skills means to feel confident while speaking. Here are few tips to improve Verbal Communication:

Start speaking: The most important part in communication is to speak up. Unless you do not speak, the communication remains incomplete. If you are afraid to speak in public, take a step and try to eradicate that fear. Participate in college speech competitions. Be the host of the next social gathering at your workplace. You may go wrong at the start, but be confident and try.

Get your Grammar right: When you speak, it is necessary to speak right. Grammatical mistakes show that you are not well versed with language and leave a bad impression on the listener. Be fluent with the language you are using. Use simple sentences. Avoid complexity in your speech.

Be confident: Be confident about yourself. Be sure that you can do it. Communicating with your boss will be easier if you feel confident. To feel confident you should be confident from within and for that you need practice.

Rehearse the important part: If you are giving an important speech or presentation, then practice it. Stand in front of the mirror and rehearse the speech. Stand in front of your family or friends and rehearse. Ask them to give you feedback and improve on those points.

Take charge: Only you can improve yourself. Unless you do not feel like improving your skills, you cannot improve. Try till you feel confident. Be determinant and face the audience. Be yourself and speak up.

Speak on the topic: Speak about the topic only. Do not add irrelevant points. The listener may lose interest. Keep your points concise, valid and clear. Do not leave your points incomplete. If you are not sure about the topic, apologize politely and be silent. Do not speak invalid points and make a fool of yourself.

Listen: The most important part is to listen. Be attentive to what others have to say. Respect the opposite person and listen to what he has to say. And give your opinions in a polite tone. Do not use an arrogant tone. Stay calm and be polite while speaking.

Non verbal communication is equally important as verbal communication. In fact, it is said that we express more through our gestures than our words. Gestures speak about your confidence, personality and your attitude. If used appropriately, your body language can be a catalyst for your success. Below are some tips to be better at non verbal communication to emerge as a self-assured and credible individual:

Have a pleasant face:  A smiling face shows your comfort and conveys to the environment that you are an approachable person. When you smile, you get back a smile and it shows your positive and open minded attitude. Wear a genuine smile and speak politely to be known as a person with charm.

Speak in low tone: Your voice is a factor that sends a positive signal about yourself. Keep your voice low to be seen as a powerful and confident person. Do not shout or disrespect the other person. Speak politely and convey your message.

Correct posture: You need to maintain correct posture. Stand straight and always hold your head high. While sitting, keep your spine straight and keep your feet flat on the ground. Maintain your space and do not enter other person’s personal space. Your correct posture shows that you are confident and respect others space too.

The art of handshake: A warm handshake is the right gesture to show your presence and warmth. But you should be well versed with the different diversities of handshake. Do not use an untidy or sweaty hand for a handshake. Be sure you have a clean hand else it will leave a bad impression on the opposite person.

Use open gestures: When you keep your movements relaxed, you send a message of being transparent. This will increase your trustworthiness and truthfulness factors, through which you are perceived to be sincere.

Following the tips , you can be better at communicating with people. Speaking and listening are two sides of the same coin. Speak out your opinion but at the same time listen to other’s opinion too.

Remember “Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you. Listen in such a way that others love to speak to you.”