Every time a person uses speech to communicate with others, it is a usage of verbal communication. However, the verbal communication skills go far beyond just the ability to speak. A person’s speaking skills showcase the ability to deliver as well as receive the communication whether it is spoken or written messaging. By honing your verbal communication skills, you can not just say things, but, make an impact on people you communicate with.
There are various components of engaging and effective verbal communication, and these include:
- Active listening
- Probing through questions
- Asking open-ended questions to gather inputs
- Identification and response to non-verbal communication
- Clear and concise speech
- Using anecdotes and humour to engage the listeners and deliver the message with greater recall
In this era of globalization and social engagements, it is important for everyone to overcome the barriers of communication through strong speaking skills. These skills are beneficial not only in the professional, but, in personal and social lives too. By speaking confidently, clearly and concisely, a person can create an impression of being knowledgeable, in-control and a clear thinker. Such an impression is what separates leaders from the crowd especially in the business vertical.
Here are some tips that can help you enhance your speaking skills and become a strong communicator capable of nurturing relationships in all spheres:
Be mindful of what you say: A good communicator doesn’t break into random speech, not even when provoked, interested or tempted. You should practice organizing your thoughts in advance. When in a social or a professional environment, you can avoid any embarrassing or awkward situations by knowing what you wish to say and to whom. While unplanned meetings and interactions can’t be eliminated from the routine, all you need to do is take a minute to collect your thoughts and decide on what you would say to the other person/people.
Be Clear and to the point: Great communicators always use less words to convey more. Don’t exaggerate or use long-winding sentences to drive home a point. Before you make your point, always pause and think, “What’s the clearest and most positive way to state my opinion?”
Back your words: You have to be confident if you wish to be trusted and given respect. Shaky voice, incorrect body language, fumbles, avoiding eye-contact and using words that might not sync with the discussion, are some of the things you need to identify and eliminate from your speech.
Intonation: One of the biggest distinctions of human speech is the ability to intonate. Unless you are an AI or determined to put your audience off, speaking monotonously is a strict no-no. Varying the pitch, the rate of speech and taking strategic pauses are all elements to ensure that your audience remains engaged and grasps everything that you have to say.
Active Listening: Communication is never complete or effective if it doesn’t involve listening to the others, understanding them and responding accordingly. You must be an attentive listener and integrate the 5 stages of active listening in your communication habits:
- Receiving
- Understanding
- Remembering
- Evaluating
- Responding
Active listening can make people feel valued and conveys the impression that you are sincere and empathetic to their needs. This impression can be invaluable in building trust and rapport with people.
Know your audience: You must always be mindful of who you are addressing and what’s the perspective of the listener/listeners. For instance, you might be required to speak at a dinner for business leaders, and in that scenario, you can’t speak the same way that you would if you were to address a group of school-children. Factors like interest, field of work, age, religious and cultural sensibilities, knowledge and education levels etc have to be carefully considered before talking to the audience.
These are some of the most effective tips that you can use to develop high quality speaking skills and experience superior growth in all aspects of life!
