How to Communicate Effectively

Communication makes
the world go round. On a smaller level, communication, or being able to
communicate effectively, is what gets you through each day, in both
your career and personal life. No matter what your age, background or
experience, communicating effectively is something that every person
can achieve. All it requires is self-confidence, good articulation
and knowledge of how communication can be made more effective.

Steps

An intimate conversation might be the best for some topics

1. Choosethe right moment and the right place.
If you need to discuss something in private with a person, make sure
that the choice of venue is private and that you do not feel
uncomfortable about the possibility of being overheard. On the other
hand, if you need to make your point before a group of people, ensure
that the location is somewhere that your discussion will be audible to
all who are present to ensure that you engage each and every person in
the group.

The 3 points are even more important when you
are presenting a speech to a large audience

1. 
   Organize and
   clarify ideas in
   your mind before you attempt to communicate them.
   If you are feeling passionate about a topic, you may become garbled if
   you haven"t already thought of some key points to stick with. A good
   rule-of-thumb is to choose three main points and keep your
   communication focused on those. That way, if the topic wanders off
   course, you will be able to return to one or more of these three key
   points without feeling flustered.
2. Stay on-topic.
   Make
   sure all facts, stories, allusions, etc, add to the
   conversation/debate. Again, refer to the three key points. If you have
   already thought through the issues and the essence of the ideas that
   you wish to put across to others, it is likely that some pertinent
   phrases will stick in your mind. Do not be afraid to use these to
   underline your points - even very confident and well-known speakers
   re-use their key lines again and again for major effect.
   
3. Be clear about
   the purpose of the communication. For
   example, your purpose could be to inform others, to obtain information
   or to initiate action. You need to know this in advance.

Effective eye contact and engagement can
enhance communication for both parties

4. Articulate.
Articulate talk is talk that gets remembered because people instantly
understand what it is that you are saying. To be most effective at
articulating your message, there are some key considerations:

• Do not
  mumble. Sound out the words clearly and openly, with the intent to have
  them heard without error. If mumbling is a defensive habit
  that you have fallen into out of fear of communicating, practice your
  message at home in front of the mirror. Discuss what you want to
  communicate with those you feel comfortable around first to better
  develop the message in your mind. Both the practice and the development
  of your words for the messaging will build your confidence and help you
  to avoid wanting to mumble.
• Look
  into the other person"s eyes if possible but be aware that this is
  culturally ordained - in some cultures eye contact is considered to be
  unsettling or inappropriate. Be aware of this as fits your context.
  
• Use
  facial ex-pressions consciously. Aim to reflect passion and generate
  empathy with the listener by using soft, gentle and aware facial
  ex-pressions. Avoid negative facial ex-pressions, such as frowns or
  raised eyebrows. What is, or isn"t negative is dependent on the
  context, including cultural context, so be guided by your situation.
  
• Use breathing
  and pauses to your advantage. Take deep breathes to steady yourself
  before you begin communicating. Get into the habit of solid, regular
  breathing during a conversation that will help you to keep a steady,
  calm voice and will also keep you more relaxed. Use pauses to take a
  breather in what you are saying. Pauses are also an effective tool to
  emphasize your point, as the listener has a moment to digest what has
  been said and then wonders what is coming next.

Does this gesture unsettle you or encourage you
to listen?

1. Use
   hand gestures carefully. Be conscious of what your hands are saying as
   you speak. Some hand gestures can be very effective in highlighting
   your points. Others can be distracting or even offensive to some
   listeners. Also watch the body language - wandering eyes, hands picking
   at fluff on your clothing and constant sniffling are all guaranteed to
   dampen the effectiveness of your message and will cease to engage your
   listeners.

If the phone rings, laugh it off the first time
and then turn it off immediately
and continue talking

2. Remove distractions.
Turn off the cell phone, put away the iPod, tie your dog to a post. Do
not allow external distractions to act as crutches that keep
sidetracking your concentration. They will distract both you and your
listener and they will also effectively kill the communication. Even if
the communication that you are having is a difficult one, it will not
help the effectiveness of your message if you are seeking comfort in
such distractions.

Be attentive when listening and ensure that
your facial ex-pressions reflect your interest

3. Listen.
Communication is a two-way street and requires you to listen as well.
Remember, while you are talking you are not learning. In listening, you
will be able to gauge how much of your message is getting through to
your listeners and whether or not it is being received correctly or is
being misinterpreted. It can be helpful to ask listeners to rephrase
some of what you have said in their own words if they appear to be
returning confused or mistaken views to you.

Thank the
person or group for the time taken to listen and respond.
No matter what the outcome of your communication, even if the response
to your talk or discussion has been negative, it is good manners to end
it politely and with respect for everyone"s input and time.

*.*.*.*. Tips.*.*.*.*

• Do not beat
  around the bush when you are trying to get a point across. State what
  you want in a clear voice.
• To
  maximize the effectiveness of your communication make sure the person
  has time to devote solely to you. If the person is otherwise occupied
  it might be better to save your thoughts for a better time.

 Warnings

• To talk
  without purpose is to ramble. If you want to be taken lightly, ramble.
  
• Do not
  whine or plead. Neither is guaranteed to instill respect or interest in
  the listener. If you are very upset, excuse yourself and come back to
  the discussion later when you have had a chance to think it through.
  
• Be
  careful with levity. While a little humor injected into what you are
  discussing can be very effective, do not take it too far and do not
  rely on it as a crutch to cover up the hard-to-say things. If you keep
  giggling and joking, your communication will not be taken seriously.