Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Being able to communicate effectively is perhaps the most important of all life skills. It is what enables us
to pass information to other people, and to understand what is said to us. You only have to watch a baby
listening intently to its mother and trying to repeat the sounds that she makes to understand how fundamental is
the urge to communicate.
Communication, at its simplest, is the act of transferring information from one place to another. It may
be vocally (using voice), written (using printed or digital media such as books, magazines, websites or emails),
visually (using logos, maps, charts or graphs) or non-verbally (using body language, gestures and the tone and
pitch of voice). In practice, it is often a combination of several of these. Communication skills may take a lifetime
to master—if indeed anyone can ever claim to have mastered them. There are, however, many things that you
can do fairly easily to improve your communication skills and ensure that you are able to transmit and receive
information effectively.
Give them the impression that you’re enthusiastic about talking to them.
Ask open-ended questions about their interests.
Adapt to their body language and feelings.
Show them approval: Tell them what you admire about them and why.
Listen attentively to everything they say.
Give them the right amount of eye contact.
Reveal as much about yourself as possible.
Give the impression thatyou are on the same team.
Give them your best smile.
Offer helpful suggestions.
Give them encouragement.
Appear to have a slightly higher energy level than the other person.
Say their name in a way that is pleasing to their ears.
Offer to take the relationship a step further.
1. Listening
Being a good listener is one of the best ways to be a good communicator. No one likes communicating with
someone who cares only about putting in her two cents and does not take the time to listen to the other person.
If you're not a good listener, it's going to be hard to comprehend what you're being asked to do.
2. Nonverbal Communication
Your body language, eye contact, hand gestures, and tone of voice all color the message you are trying to
convey. A relaxed, open stance (arms open, legs relaxed), and a friendly tone will make you appear approachable
and will encourage others to speak openly with you.
3. Clarity and Concision
Good verbal communication means saying just enough – don’t talk too much or too little. Try to convey your
message in as few words as possible. Say what you want clearly and directly, whether you're speaking to
someone in person, on the phone, or via email. If you ramble on, your listener will either tune you out or will be
unsure of exactly what you want.
4. Friendliness
Through a friendly tone, a personal question, or simply a smile, you will encourage your co-workers to engage in
open and honest communication with you. It's important to be polite in all your workplace communications. This
is important in both face-to-face and written communication. When you can, personalize your emails to co-
workers and/or employees – a quick "I hope you all had a good weekend" at the start of an email can personalize
a message and make the recipient feel more appreciated.
5. Confidence
It is important to be confident in your interactions with others. Confidence shows your co-workers that you
believe in what you’re saying and will follow through. Exuding confidence can be as simple as making eye contact
Assertive Communication:
A communication style in which a person stands up for their own needs and wants, while also taking into
consideration the needs and wants of others, without behaving passively or aggressively.
Assertiveness Tips
Respect yourself. Your needs, wants, and rights are as important as anyone else’s. It’s fine to express
what you want, so long as you are respectful toward the rights of others.
Express your thoughts and feelings calmly. Giving the silent treatment, yelling, threatening, and
shaming are all great examples of what not to do. Take responsibility for your emotions, and express
them in a calm and factual manner. Try starting sentences with “I feel…”.
Plan what you’re going to say. Know your wants and needs, and how you can express them, before
entering a conversation. Come up with specific sentences and words you can use.
Say “no” when you need to. You can’t make everyone happy all the time. When you need to say “no”,
do so clearly, without lying about the reasons. Offer to help find another solution.
“I won’t be able to take you to the airport on Friday. I’ve had a long week, and I want to rest.”
The speaker respects their own needs and wants by clearly saying “no”.
“I’m having a hard time sleeping when your music is on. What if you use headphones, or I can help you move
the speakers to another room.”
The speaker describes their needs, while also considering the needs and wants of the other person.
Practice Exercise
Instruction: Write an assertive response of the following situations. When writing, consider the effective
communications skills and tips in communication.
Tip: Before responding, consider what your wants and needs might be in each situation.
Partner: “I know you have plans for the weekend, but I really need you to watch the kids. I have a friend coming to town, and we made p
rtive Response:
on: You’ve just received your food at a restaurant, and it was prepared incorrectly. Your sandwich seems to have extra mayo, instead of no
ive Statement:
d: “Hey, can I borrow some money? I want to buy these shoes, but I left my wallet at home. I’ll pay you back soon, I swear. It won’t be lik
Response:
n: Your neighbor is adding an expansion to their house, and the crew starts working, very loudly, at 5 AM. It has woken you up every day fo
e Statement: