How to Improve Your Communication Skills
1. Strengthen Your Voice
A strong speaking voice is necessary when dealing with people. Persons with a soft or high voice are typically identified as easy prey by aggressive individuals. Co-workers and business people may take you less serious, or stereotype you as naïve or inexperienced. In turn, these persons will attempt to take advantage of you. If you want to be taken serious, develop a strong speaking voice. Record your voice on tape. Next, practice speaking in a deeper or more authoritative tone. Continually record and listen to your voice until you find a natural speaking voice that is mature and powerful.
2. Speak Slower
Speaking fast comes natural for some people. However, if you want to improve your communication skills and maintain a relaxed disposition, slow down. Practice reading a magazine or book out loud at a slower pace. Speaking too slow can also be a distraction. Therefore, it is important to find the right balance.
3. Enunciate and Use Volume
When holding a conversation with others, don't mumble your words. Effective communication skills necessitate enunciation. If you do not speak clearly, people will constantly respond with "huh" or ask you to repeat yourself. A further tactic to help others understand you better is speaking with adequate volume. Persons who speak in a low tone may appear shy or unsure of themselves. Don't shout your words. Rather, use appropriate volume for the situation. Furthermore, use correct pronunciation. Rule of thumb: if you can't pronounce it, don't say it!
4. Good Eye Contact
If you want to appear competent and confident when speaking to a group of people, display good eye contact. Public speaking is not easy. Before entering a room to give a speech, be determine to use eye contact. Staring off into space or looking down during a presentation shows lack of confidence in your speaking ability. Good preparation can help ease nervousness. Besides, if you know the material well, you won't depend on your notes as much, and good eye contact will come easier.
5. Take a Public Speaking Workshop
Before accepting employment that entails public speaking, consider taking a class or workshop on the subject, especially if you hate speaking in front of people. Public speaking classes can teach your valuable techniques such as how to speak at a natural space, how to use adequate volume, and how to use gestures. What's more, you'll receive a lot of practice.
