Whether personal or professional, at home, between friends, or in the workplace, effective and positive communication plays a vital role for sustaining good and long-term relationships in life. Exchanging ideas between one person and another is a common behavioral action which we often see in our day-to-day activities. But how many of them turn successful? Just a handful! Reason being, very few people utilize the fundamental techniques of communication to make the conversation result in a positive outcome. Most others simply lay down their ideas without indulging in actual communication, resulting in a relationship breakdown. Likewise, business communication is, all the more, crucial for the growth and development of any organization, without which you cannot expect positive results. Positive communication techniques are not just necessary at executive levels, but also at administrative and subordinate levels, with equal importance. Healthy and effective communication is vital for facilitating teamwork between key business functions. If this has induced enough curiosity to learn the different communication skills required at work, glancing through the section below would be of great help to you.
Positive Communication Techniques
Civilized Body Language
While using positive words and gestures is essential for good communication, body language also plays an equivalent crucial role. Your body should also be involved in the communication, exhibiting your interest to what the other person is speaking about. While listening, sit or stand straight. Avoid playing with your hair, rolling eyes, popping chewing gum, or looking elsewhere during a conversation. Displaying such gestures shows that you are least interested in what the speaker is saying. Make eye contact with the person and nod your head whenever required. Also, follow up with your comments after the speaker is done.
Appropriate Knowledge
Unless you know what to speak, you cannot begin a conversation. The primary aim of communication is to convey and pass on information and knowledge. Irrespective of whether you are giving directions or placing your opinions, you should know what to speak to showcase your informative skills as this would lead to an effective communication. Therefore, you must first research the topic sufficiently before you proceed towards speaking on it.
Pay Attention
While sharing a conversation with any person, be attentive to what the speaker is saying. Listen carefully to the topic(s) discussed in your conversation, before you place your opinions. Also, before you begin with giving your views, summarize the other person’s views to avoid any kind of confusion later on. Speak only when required at the appropriate time, without interrupting in between, else the person may lose the flow and break the conversation. After the speaker has completed his part of talking, speak out your thoughts and ask questions, if any.
Right Time
Having a healthy and positive communication does not mean you can begin having a discussion with a person in the middle of hallway, busy office, or around nosy co-workers, friends, and family. This may not result in a positive communication, but will contribute to your negative image instead. Contact the person and set up enough time to have a conversation, at a place which is most appropriate. Look out for a place which will be comfortable for both of you to have a positive communication amongst you both.
Summarize
Positive communication is the outcome of clarity, understanding, and effectiveness of the discussion. Thus, it is highly significant for both the listener and speaker to understand and clarify the most important messages shared between the two. It is only when each person feels respected and clearly understood that the communication is regarded as successful. Hence, after you are done with the conversation, take out some time to summarize the talk, in order to, reduce the chances of misunderstanding, which can otherwise result in unclear and ineffective communication.
Limit the Blame
While communicating with a person, chances are that the conversation might just turn sour. In such a situation, instead of blaming the other person or pointing a finger at him, calm down and think over it. Instead of using the phrase "you did it” or "this was because of you", redirect the conversation on yourself by saying ”I would like to discuss the issue so as to find out the cause”, and so on. The deal is to express your thoughts, without hurting the other person’s feelings. Having said so, make sure you first allow the other person to complete his point of view and then speak up, in a loud, clear voice, free from anger and accusations
In the modern world today, positive communication techniques are required not just for managing professionals, but also at all stages of life. Incorporate them in all your spheres of life and communicate with confidence.
