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Contact Jayson DeMers


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7 Things Good Communicators Always Do

Communicating is easy, but communicating well takes skill. Thinking beyond basic language rules and facilitating effective, positive exchanges of information is something not everyone can do. Fortunately, good communication habits come with regular practice, so if you know what it takes to sharpen your skills, you can proudly communicate like all the great orators and writers before you. Remember these seven things that good communicators always do, and make sure you’re doing them!

1. Get personal

Most of the time, people don’t care about what you’re saying unless you’re saying something they find valuable on a personal level. That personal level doesn’t have to be deep, it just has to exist.

Good communicators establish a personal connection by focusing on how their message may impact the other person. For example, good communicators in the marketing industry always explain how the company’s products or services will benefit the customer. This gives the audience a reason to listen and remember what the marketer has said.

2. Represent facts

Inaccurate information is worthless, so if you’re not sure about something you’re saying, either don’t say it or at least admit that you’re not sure about it. Sometimes, we can get carried away with a conversation and begin spewing out random things we’ve heard but don’t know to be true. Although this may seem harmless, regularly offering inaccurate information not only leads people to believe things that aren’t true, it discredits you as a valuable source of information, and sharing information is what communicating is all about.

3. Be specific

Good communicators cut to the chase and understand the value of brevity. You may love to talk, but that doesn’t mean others want to hear it. If you have something to say, say it. Ambiguity and superfluous words are likely to bore people and discredit you, causing your message to get lost in a cloud of noise. Good communicators always respect people’s time and choose simple, straightforward words.

4. Ask questions

Whether the conversation is with one person or many, good communicators always ask questions. Most importantly, they question their audience to confirm that their point has been understood.

Of course, it can get irritating if someone continually asks us “Do you know what I mean?” or “Get what I’m saying?” Such questions may come off as condescending, but there are friendlier, more subtle ways to ask for confirmation. Instead of putting the focus on your audience’s ability to understand, put the focus on yourself by asking “Am I explaining this well?” This invites the other person to ask for clarification without feeling incompetent.

5. Ask for clarification

While it’s necessary to make sure others understand your own points, good communication also requires you to understand their points. The same way you think the information you share is important, your conversation partner likely believes the same and would love for you to truly comprehend what they’re saying. Furthermore, understanding their message is vital to responding appropriately.

Many people are afraid to ask for clarification for fear of offending the other person, but that fear is unneeded. Everyone comes from a different background, so everyone associates different words, phrases, and even body language with different meanings. If you aren’t sure what someone means, ask for clarification! Simply asking “What do you mean?” is not only a good way to understand better, it’s also a great vehicle for moving conversations forward.

6. Listen

A big part of communicating well is responding appropriately to what someone else communicates. This requires knowing how to actively listen and making every effort to understand what they’re telling you. If you don’t listen and then respond inappropriately, that can make people feel unimportant and literally unheard. In addition to responding appropriately, attentive listening makes the exchange enjoyable for your conversation partner.

7. Read body language

Listening with your eyes is just as helpful as listening with your ears. By looking for non-verbal cues, you can more readily ascertain how someone is receiving your message, and then adapt accordingly. Furrowed brows, for example, can indicate that the other person is trying to understand your point, but not fully succeeding. If you notice, you can facilitate good communication by asking if there’s something you can clarify.

I’ve described seven things that good communicators always do in relation to spoken conversation, but they can be applied to written communication as well.

For further information on good communication in writing, check out the article “5 Practical Copywriting Marketing Tips for the Everyday Marketer“. Effective marketing rides on effective communication, so marketing copywriting is perfect for the examination of good communication habits. And if you always do these things, you’re well on your way to becoming a great communicator.

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