Mastering Communication Skills

Listen more than you talk and focus on understanding the speaker's message. Apply the 'Listen-Reflect-Respond' technique.

“Listen more than you talk”

Pay attention to your own and others' nonverbal cues. Try mirroring the speaker's body language to build rapport.

“Your nonverbal communication cues the way you look listen move and react to another person tells them more about how you're feeling than words alone ever can”

Actively listen to and value the opinions of others. Acknowledge their perspective, even if you disagree.

“Respectful communication involves the ability to effectively assert your own views and fully listen to the views of others”

Maintain eye contact to show focus and attentiveness. Aim for a comfortable gaze, avoiding staring.

“When you keep eye contact with a person to whom you are talking it shows that you are focused and paying attention”

Avoid using your phone while someone is talking to you. Put your phone away or silence notifications.

“It is very rude to use your phone while someone is talking to you”

Use open-ended questions to engage and show interest. Encourage deeper conversations.

“Asking questions is a powerful tool in community questioning is a very good way of starting a conversation and keeping it going”

Be aware of your emotions and those of others. Identify and label emotions accurately.

“Emotional awareness or the ability to understand and manage your emotions will help you succeed when communicating with other people”

Pause and consider your words before speaking. Avoid impulsive reactions.

“Thinking before you speak is a really good habit to develop to avoid causing problems in your life”

Avoid interrupting others. Practice active listening and patience.

“Interrupting is the ultimate conversation killer”

Speak clearly so you can be heard. Vary your tone and pace for emphasis.

“Speaking effectively is defined as speaking in such a way that your message is clearly heard”

Strive to maintain a positive attitude in your communications. Use encouraging language.

“An important aspect of good communication skills is the ability to communicate positively no matter how upset and stressed you are try to stay positive”

Eliminate meaningless filler words from your speech. Practice pausing instead.

“Words such as like well you know um I guess and uh are meaningless and really have no value in any conversation”