GlobalBX

The phrase, ‘No man is an island,’ could not be any truer than it is today. In a world where globalization is occurring at an unprecedented pace, the need to communicate with those around you effectively has become a crucial factor that makes or breaks your chances of achieving success, whether it be for school, work or the entrepreneurial world.

The need for good speaking and writing skills has never been more pronounced, with hundreds seeking effective communication training to gain an edge over the competition. This comes as no surprise, as having solid communication skills has shown to give people the ability to get a head start over people who are not as assertive. For example, even if you do have the skills and talents to be successful in a certain function or task, they wouldn’t do you any good if you couldn’t talk about them to your peers and superiors effectively.

If you’re thinking of facilitating your own corporate training and development to gain better communication skills, here are 4 steps to try out.

Work on your Body Language
More than half of what humans say doesn’t come out of their mouths, but through their actions and body language. When speaking to someone, make sure you look relaxed. Don’t slouch, instead, maintain a straight and confident posture—but don’t look arrogant. Regardless of whether you are the one doing the talking or listening, your body language needs to convey the message that you’re attentive and confident. Be sure to make eye contact with whom you’re speaking, nod occasionally to show you’re paying attention, and never ever cross your arms as it shows you’re uninterested and bored.

Maintain Clarity when Speaking
The best way to know if your speech is clear and concise is to have someone pay attention to your speech mannerisms. When speaking to someone, are you able to get your points across clearly, or do you wander into little side stories that end up boring who you’re talking to? Be sure to make clarifications with the person you’re speaking to, to find out if he or she understands you. Remember that you can’t expect people to understand what you’re talking about right away.

Listen and Understand
Verbal communication goes both ways, so make sure you’re actually listening and paying close attention to whom you’re speaking. Don’t just wait for your turn to speak. Instead, making mental notes of the points the person speaking is making. This way, you actually have something real and valid to say in return.

Be Patient
This goes with being able to listen and understand. Always make it a habit to give the people you’re speaking to the time to also communicate any points they wish to share—in other words, don’t hog the conversation to yourself. This makes the conversation effective and gets whatever needs to be done, done.