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wikiHow to Develop Good Communication Skills

Three Parts:Understanding the Basics of Communication SkillsEngaging Your AudienceUsing Your WordsCommunity Q&A

Having good communication skills is important. They can help you not just for presentations in class, but also during job interviews, when handling arguments, and in other situations. This wikiHow will give you some tips on how to develop good communication skills.

10 Second Summary

1. Make eye contact with your audience.
2. Watch your body language.
3. Be a good listener.
4. Learn to enunciate your words and to slow them down.
5. Keep your voice animated and use appropriate volume for the setting.

Part 1
Understanding the Basics of Communication Skills

  1. 1
    Know what communication really is. Communication is the process of transferring signals/messages between a sender and a receiver through various methods (written words, nonverbal cues, spoken words). It is also the mechanism we use to establish and modify relationships.
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Part 2
Engaging Your Audience

  1. 1
    • One technique to help with this is to consciously look into one of the listener’s eyes and then move to the other eye. Going back and forth between the two makes your eyes appear to sparkle. Another trick is to imagine a letter “T” on the listener’s face ,with the crossbar being an imaginary line across the eye brows and the vertical line coming down the center of the nose. Keep your eyes scanning that “T” zone.
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    Don’t send mixed messages. Make your words, gestures, facial expressions and tone match. Disciplining someone while smiling sends a mixed message and is therefore ineffective. If you have to deliver a negative message, make your words, facial expressions, and tone match the message.
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    • Arms crossed and shoulders hunched, on the other hand, suggest disinterest in conversation or unwillingness to communicate. Often, communication can be stopped before it starts by body language that tells people you don't want to talk.
    • Appropriate posture and an approachable stance can make even difficult conversations flow more smoothly.
  5. 5
    Manifest constructive attitudes and beliefs. The attitudes you bring to communication will have a huge impact on the way you compose yourself and interact with others. Choose to be honest, patient, optimistic, sincere, respectful, and accepting of others. Be sensitive to other people's feelings, and believe in others' competence.
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Part 3
Using Your Words

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
    Use the right words. If you’re not sure of the meaning of a word, don’t use it. Grab a dictionary and start a daily habit of learning one new word per day. Use it sometime in your conversations during the day.
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  6. 6
    Animate your voice. Avoid a monotone and use dynamics. Your pitch should raise and lower periodically. Radio DJ's are usually a good example of this.
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Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • How can I gain confidence and stop mumbling?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Go out of your way to speak to people as frequently as possible, on whatever topic. Speak clearly and make eye contact. The more you practice, the easier it will become.
  • How can I speak fluently in English?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Practice as much as possible. Speak in English with others whenever you get the opportunity. Watch English language television shows and movies, read books, magazines, and newspapers in English, etc. Immerse yourself in the language, and the fluency will come.
  • What are the advantages if we know the right words?
    wikiHow Contributor
    You can express yourself better and communicate more clearly to others, which can save a lot of misunderstanding and frustration, help you connect better with people, make you better at influencing people, and generally make it easier to get what you want in life.
  • How can I get over my fear of speaking?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Practice speaking to yourself in the mirror for an extended period of time. Actually say the words aloud and act as if you are speaking to another individual or an audience. It might feel silly, but it will help you carry on a conversation.
  • Why is developing communication skills so important?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Communication is important for everyday life. You will need it in order to get a job and buy the things you need. You will also need it to establish new relationships and to resolve conflicts, be they between friends, family members, or romantic partners.
  • How do I avoid fear when I am speaking to group of people?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Be confident in what you are saying. Believe in yourself. Take deep breaths and speak slowly.
  • How can I improve my topic content and vocabulary?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Collect as much information as possible about the topic for your speech to give you a good understanding of the subject. Look up unknown words in the dictionary and then record your voice to make sure your pronunciation of new vocabulary is correct.
  • How can I improve my skill daily?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Practice makes progress. As a challenge, give yourself goals of the number of people you want to talk to each day.
  • Can I improve my communication skills without joining any institute?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Sure. You can read articles like this or watch videos, and you can apply the guidelines by talking/communicating with the people in your life.
  • What are reasons for learning about how to be a better listener?
    wikiHow Contributor
    If you listen carefully to the speaker, you will absorb most of the words and you will also notice more than just the words. You understand the important message the person seeks to convey to you. Listening properly also helps to prevent conflict, as you're more likely to hear and understand clearly than if you're only concerned with getting across your own issues.
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    • Try to speak fluently and try to make sure people can hear you when you speak.
    • A good speaker is a good listener.
    • Do not interrupt or talk over the other person--it breaks the flow of conversation. Timing is important.
    • Use appropriate volume for your conversation setting.
    • Get feedback from your receiver to ensure you were properly understood during your conversation.
    • Have confidence when talking, it doesn't matter what other people think.
    • Make sure you're using proper grammar.
    • Don't over-praise yourself in front of your audience.
    • Avoid thinking that whatever you say is always correct.
    • Make eye contact when speaking and listening.
    • If you want good communication skills, first be confident and do not stammer in front of people. Try socializing more with people. This will give you the idea how to talk with different people.
    • Practice makes your communication get better and better.
    • To improve your body language, practice what you're going to say in front of a mirror.
    • Practice speaking in public places.
    • Be practical and be socially strong.

    Article Info

    Categories: Speaking and Listening Skills

    In other languages:

    Français: développer de bonnes aptitudes de communication, Italiano: Sviluppare Buone Capacità di Comunicazione, Español: desarrollar buenas habilidades de comunicación, Deutsch: Gute Kommunikationsfähigkeiten entwickeln, Português: Desenvolver Boas Habilidades de Comunicação, Nederlands: Het ontwikkelen van goede communicatievaardigheden, Русский: развить навыки общения, 中文: 培养良好的沟通技巧, Bahasa Indonesia: Mengembangkan Kemampuan Komunikasi yang Baik, Čeština: Jak získat dobré komunikační dovednosti, Tiếng Việt: Phát triển Kỹ năng Giao tiếp Tốt, 한국어: 커뮤니케이션 잘하는 방법, हिन्दी: कम्युनिकेशन स्किल्स (Communication Skills) सुधारें, العربية: تحسين مهارات التواصل مع الآخرين, ไทย: พัฒนาทักษะการสื่อสารที่ดี, 日本語: コミュニケーション能力を高める

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