Although everyone is now in the business of telling you how you need to enhance your communication skills to adapt to life, it’s easier said than done. Communication is a skill that takes time to develop and is deeply influenced by your personality. This means that besides just picking up some technical skills, you need to incorporate them into your daily life if you want to communicate effectively. It can feel overwhelming, right? If you’re finding it hard to express yourself or simply want to sharpen your communication skills, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of nine practical ways to elevate your communication skills.
Regular Reading
There is more to reading than just getting affiliated with the trending stuff and enjoying several storylines. Reading is a powerful and well-known tool that is very effective in enhancing people’s communication skills. This is because when you read regularly, you expose yourself to different styles of writing and perspectives which will, in turn, play a very big role in enhancing your communication skills. Whether it’s magazines, blogs, or classic literature, reading can significantly enhance your ability to articulate your thoughts. If you, therefore, want to become better at communicating, delve into the world of books and entertain yourself with reading materials. Whether you intend to or not, you will become better at communicating.
Train Yourself To Be An Active Listener
It's so easy to be self-consumed during conversations, so much so that the only time you allow someone to contribute to a conversation is when they raise another topic for you to talk away and share without listening to what they have to say. This, however, is not healthy as it communicates that you are selfish, even when that's not the intention. Instead of cutting off the person who is speaking to you so that you can pitch in your ideas, you need to take a step back and listen to what they are saying. Don't interrupt what they have to say but acknowledge it using non-verbal cues such as nodding so that they know you are following through with the conversation. This won't only make you look like you listen, but it will help you understand other people’s perspectives more clearly, making you a better person all in all.
Watching Recommended Movies
The fun thing about learning how to communicate is that there are diverse ways of doing it, all of which can be very entertaining when incorporated into the journey of learning how to communicate. This is why watching films can be a goldmine for learning how to communicate as it can be grounds for you to pick up on dialogue, body language, and emotional expression, enhancing your communication skills and knowledge base. Therefore, when you watch movies, especially those known for their strong writing or compelling characters, you have to pay attention to more than just the plot of the story but to the communication styles. What better way to learn than through enjoying your all-time favourites?
Join Public Speaking Classes or Platforms
If enhancing your communication skills is something that is of a pressing need for you, then you might just want to up the process by joining a more professional setting where it is taught in more depth and around people who can support you and encourage you. Although it may seem a bit scary, by practising giving speeches, receiving constructive feedback, and learning to engage an audience, you’ll gain more than you will gain when consumed by fear, so don't limit yourself because of it. Within no time, you'll find that you'll become way better at communicating than you ever were.
Journal Daily
Another effective way to improve your communication skills is to keep a journal. This is a very powerful tool when it comes to self-expression. When you journal daily, you get the chance to organise your thoughts and articulate your feelings, which are beneficial if one wants to communicate well. By conversing with yourself through journal writing, you can reflect on your day, express frustrations, or even jot down aspirations. Over time, this practice helps you become more comfortable with your voice, making it easier to express yourself in conversations with others. So if your goal is to become more eloquent when it comes to communication, don't shy away from journaling. Grab a book and journal your way to being a good communicator.
Record Yourself
As awkward as it may seem at first, recording yourself while you speak is an excellent way for you to improve your communication skills. This is because you will get the chance to identify areas for improvement and mistakes that you may be making, therefore, helping you to work on it and improve your skills. For starters, you can just record yourself speaking about universal topics like your passion, your interests, and other topics that usually come up in conversations. By doing this, you will be able to filter words that you use when you are speaking hesitantly ( for example ‘like’) and work on speaking more clearly and with the right speed. Over time, this practice will help you become more articulate and confident in your speaking abilities.
Use Online Resources
Don't just search for entertainment and unproductive things when you are exposed to the opportunity to be online. The internet can be a source of a wealth of resources that can help you advance your communication skills. Platforms like Duolingo and even YouTube have features that can help you improve your communication skills by giving you tips on public speaking, effective writing, and interpersonal communication. These resources can also tailor your learning experience to fit your specific needs and interests, making it convenient for you.