| Do you ever leave conversations at work | | | | what the resistances are to what you are saying. |
| wondering why you bothered opening your | | | | 2. Keep to the point |
| mouth? Do you sometimes wonder how many | | | | State your points clearly and simply with no |
| times you have to tell somebody something in | | | | mistakes in order to be easily understood. Signal |
| order for them to get it right? Do you feel that | | | | what you are going to talk about from your very |
| they just don't listen? If so, then perhaps you | | | | first sentence by stating your aim right away. |
| need to know how to communicate better. | | | | Then the rest of your talk should be the way |
| Communication failure is one of the biggest | | | | you expand upon it and illustrate your point of |
| problems faced by businesses today, especially by | | | | view. You can ask for feedback later or allow |
| their managers whose job it is to solve these | | | | brainstorming of ideas if you wish, but make your |
| communication problems; if you learn how to | | | | point clearly first to avoid confusion. At the end, |
| communicate better you can prevent these | | | | you should summarize any decisions that are |
| communication difficulties happening at all. | | | | made and make each person's responsibilities for |
| You know you are heading for communication | | | | action clear. Make sure each person that needs to |
| problems when it appears that the other person | | | | do something after the communication has a |
| has stopped listening to you even before you | | | | SMART target. |
| have finished talking. You will get the hint when | | | | 3. Watch your tone |
| you can't attract everyone's attention when you | | | | You should speak to others as you wish them to |
| speak at meetings or when you are not getting | | | | speak to you, without arrogance, hostility or |
| anything back from the other person with whom | | | | sarcasm. Make sure you speak loud enough to be |
| you are attempting to have a conversation. But, | | | | heard but not so loud that your tone appears |
| you can't blame other people for this and you | | | | aggressive. Speak with authority, having thought |
| can't change the way that people listen to you; | | | | out your words; you will be much more credible |
| you need to improve your own communication | | | | to your audience. If you have a strong regional |
| skills. | | | | accent you should try to soften that and make |
| 1. Pause for thought | | | | your dialect and accent more standard, to avoid |
| People are only capable of listening for so long. | | | | confusing your audience who may not be from |
| That attention span becomes shorter if they | | | | the same region. |
| disagree with you or become confused, so when | | | | You don't have to neutralize your accent |
| you see your audience's eyes glazing over, you | | | | completely as an accent can be very endearing, |
| know it's time to stop talking. Hopefully you will | | | | but you need to make sure the way you speak |
| have stopped before that point. If you really want | | | | is standardized enough to be understood by |
| to communicate better, you have to listen too. | | | | others. However you do need to learn how to |
| Find out what other people are thinking; not only | | | | communicate better because communicating well |
| is that the polite thing to do but it also enables | | | | is the best way to ensure that you are listened |
| you to find out what people do not understand or | | | | to and understood by others. |