How to Know if You Are an effective Communicator

All the great communicators, that the world has seen so far, have one thing in common, that they choose their words well, understand their audience, and connect with them at the right time and the right place.

The introduction here itself expounds that the communication is never about you. And it should never be about you.

Effective communication is a non-negotiable aspect of any business communication. We communicate to connect, we connect in order to move, move the other person to see things from our perspective and vice-versa. We want to move people to sell – our products, services, or even our ideas.

To communicate effectively, it is essential to communicate clearly. Studies have indicated that it is likely that the audience will fail to absorb as much as you expect them to. Human beings perceive things differently; my definition of success may not be the same for you, but acknowledging this difference plays a crucial role in giving the positive direction to your discourse. “One person’s idea of “large” may be different from another. By using clarifying questions or even an analogy you can pinpoint (e.g. “Do you mean large like an elephant or like a large FedEx envelope?”), you’ll know everyone is envisioning the same end goal.”–Kim Kaupe, ZinePak

In certain situations, it becomes all the more important to communicate not just using the verbal cues, but physical cues as well.

Next comes, the communication that your body language makes. To communicate clearly and confidently, adopt a proper posture. It is advised to fill up the space you are given, maintain eye contact and (if appropriate) move around the space.

Nothing can beat the connection that you make with your eye-contact, avoid wasting such opportunities by hiding behind the slides/presentations.

Steve Jobs instituted a rule at Apple banned the use of presentations. Similarly, Facebook instituted a PowerPoint ban. Both leaders realized that PowerPoint presentations can obstruct rather than support communication.

Tips for effective communication:

• Be prepared to use verbal as well as nonverbal cues to communicate your point with the audience.

• Avoid using visual aids unless absolutely necessary.

• Brain storming your audience is an effective way to engage with your audience – in between sharing your ideas, you may ask hypothetical questions to get your audience thinking.

• Ask for a feedback- no communication is complete if there is no feedback or acknowledgement from both sides.

• Avoid slouching, folding your arms or making yourself appear smaller than you are.

• Time-management, here it is not just about the duration (how long to communicate) but also knowing about when to communicate, be aware of your audience’s mind-set. Timing is a big factor in successful communication.

• Listen more than you talk. Always remember, the most important person in any scene/situation is not you, actually, it is never about you, it should never be about you.

To communicate effectively, first listen to what others have to say. Then you can provide a thoughtful answer that shows you have taken those ideas into consideration.

Communicating clearly is one of the most effective and productive skills you can cultivate as a business professional. Always try to communicate using verbal as well as non-verbal cues. Listen carefully to what others have to say, and pay attention to their body-language as well.

Remember, communicating effectively is an art that can be learned, practiced, and polished at any stage of your life.

What has been stopping you so far?