Communication Hacks You can Follow

Humans have recently transitioned from communication in-person to primarily communicating through texts, chats, emails, and emojis. Almost 83 percent of all millennials in a recent Nielsen study confessed to sleeping with their smartphones. Over 30 percent mentioned that they took their social media with them to the lavatory. 

It is hard to blame most of us for the excessive use of technology. We’re the first generation to grow up with smartphones and social media and are naturally better at communicating from the other side of the screen. 

However, what this means is that most millennial employees aren’t as good at communicating in person as they would like to be. Today, successful employees and leaders should speak to their team members, employees, and managers flawlessly. Almost all successful entrepreneurs and corporate professionals are known for their superior speaking skills. 

In this article, we look at some of the communication hacks professionals today can follow to improve their communication skills and improve live communication. Could you stick with us to find out more? 

Improve Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication accounts for over 55 percent of all communication. This means that your audience, or the person you are talking to, will judge your communication skills more for your nonverbal qualities than verbal qualities. 

The majority of what we say today is communicated through physical cues than through words. The key to communicating correctly and confidently is to adopt a proper posture and ensure that you aren’t slouching. Maintain eye contact and stay easy without being too jittery or too rigid. 

Listen Intently First

Effective communication in the workplace isn’t just about talking more and not listening to others. If you want to be heard, you must listen intuitively to what the other person has to say, ask them questions in the process and build an in-depth conversation. 

Listening is the first step to effective communication and shouldn’t be compromised. Great communicators learn how to be present at the moment; they are not lost in their thoughts while listening, only to miss what the other person wanted to say. Additionally, good communicators do not feel the need to talk over others to get their points across. They listen intently when the other person is talking and present their issues when the other is done. 

Communicators who listen can concoct their responses on the go, rather than deciding lines beforehand and following them. The most significant distinction of a good communicator over an average communicator is the former’s ability to listen and comprehend information. 

Ask for Honest Feedback

As is the case with almost all leadership skills, asking your peers, team members, and managers for honest feedback can help you become better at communication. If you regularly look for input from others, they will help you develop new and advanced improvements in areas you weren’t previously aware of. There are specific points of improvement that others can help us better. 

Engage Your Audience

People have limited attention spans today. Well, the sooner you adjust to this, the better you will get at communication. Regardless of how good you are at communicating, some members of your audience will not be on board with what you’re saying. To ensure everyone is intently listening to what you have to say, you should try to engage the listeners in your discussion. 

Ask the person you are talking to a question, and see how they respond. Also, speaking slowly and adding humor were necessary to make your conversation fluid and less menacing. Communicate as humans and not as robots. An information overdose will lose the interest of your audience. 

Master the Art of Timing

Good communication is all about mastering the art of timing and knowing what to say and when to keep your audience engaged. This is one place where we think even corporate workers can take a leaf out of a stand-up comedian’s book. 

Comedians like Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and many others can host compelling 90-minute stand-up comedy shows without losing their audience’s interest. This is because they have learned how to master the art of timing and get the welfare of their listeners. Great communicators can determine precisely when to move to new topics, crack jokes, and engage audiences. This ability can help you maintain audience interest and also can make you fun to talk to. 

Develop Trust

To be good at communication, you should develop trust within the person you are speaking to. This is one thing that comes by creating and establishing your rapport right off the bat. As you install confidence within your listener, you will notice that they start feeling safer in your presence and open up a bit more. 

This isn’t something you can memorize or use as a manipulation tool for future conversations. You develop trust by being present in the moment and by actively considering what others feel and think. 

Be Positive in Communication

Pay attention to how positive people speak. You can take cues from positive colleagues and accomplices here. Once you do, you will notice that they refrain from too many negative words; they use a positive tone and are generally uplifting in their communication. 

You can genuinely be positive in your communication by offering helpful feedback to others. This will empower them, create trust and lift them. 

Communicating is a necessary skill in the workplace today. Remember to ace your verbal and non-verbal cues and listen intently to others for effective communication.