how to improve communication skill

Dear Sahil,

Communication is an essential part of not only life but career in today's world. From  acing an interview to getting through a group discussion, no matter how brilliant your ideas are, if you are not able to articulate them, they will be of no value.

1. Communication works in two ways- verbal and non-verbal. You would be surprised to know that verbal makes only a 30% impact on the person and the rest 70% that is your body language, gestures, eye movements, make the other 70% meaning out of the words spoken out of your mouth.

Here are some tips to improve your non-verbal cues:

1. The eye contact must be in the right limit. Less of it will make you look under confident while more of it might creep out the person you are talking to. "Triangle Technique" can help you! Imagine an Inverted triangle on the face of the person you are talking to. The eyes making the two points and the mouth making the third. Change your gaze after every 5 to 10 seconds along the lines of this triangle. This will make you look more engaged and less creepy.
2. Also, trying to decipher what colour someone's eyes are also helps you to make perfect eye contact.
3. Try remembering the names of the people you meet. People feel important this way.
4. If you are a part of an interview, don't move too much and also, do not touch your face too much.
5. Make sure your body posture is erect and correct.
6. Try to make your body open and confident. Let it be the master of your thoughts and not your anxiety.

2. Also, keep a check on your filters. Some people tend to use words like "like" and "um" way too much. Know how many times do you do it. Try to take pauses and speak. Feel like people are accepting you and listening to what you have to say. This way, you will be much more calm when you speak.

3. If it is a certain group which intimidates you, try to speak with family and friends or people you are comfortable with and practice that conversation before. In this process, you might get some honest feedback on where you need to work.

4. If you are tired of the silence with someone while you have to make a conversation, follow the formula FORD (family, occupation, recreation and dreams). This card plays wonders. This can turn your small talks into conversations.

5. Feel like you are telling a story. When you feel like the story is yours, you are more confident about it. Be the hero of that story and own it.

6. Ask people questions and repeat last sentences to reassure that you are listening. Don't overdo it. But make them feel you are interested.

7. Do not use your phone when someone is talking to you.

8. Try to understand who you are talking to. Change your words and gimmicks according to that.

9. Be BRIEF and remember the 7Cs of Communication- Clear, Concise, Concrete,  Correct, Coherent, Complete and Courteous.

10. Listen to what the person in front of you is saying. Really Listen!

Hope this helps. All the best!

Hello Sahil,

Communication is the most required thing in one's life if he/she needs to sustain in this society. There are many people who face lots of problems while communicating with others. Just follow some simple guidelines given below which will help you to improve your communication skills:

1. The first and most basic thing is developing the confidence. Develop confidence in yourself that you can surely communicate in any of your desired language. This can be done by regular communication in that language. For that, just try to speak in that language with your friends, surrounding people or anyone close to you, with whom you feel comfortable.

2.  Read more and more books in the language in which you want to improve your communication skills. Reading will help you to increase your vocabulary and it will give you an idea where to use words properly.

3. If you have interest in watching any kinds of series, shows or movies, then if possible, try to watch them in the language in which you want to improve. It will help you to observe that how the sentences are made and how they are delivered with expressions and toning.

4. An exercise I will suggest to you. Everyday, just stand in front of the mirror and try to talk with yourself considering any topic. While you do so, make sure that  you look into your eyes in the mirror and maintain proper gestures. In real life when you communicate by looking into someone's eyes, it shows your confidence.

5. Lastly, maintain proper gestures while communicating with others. Because sometimes before you speak, you gestures speaks a lot. Gestures play a very important role in communicating.

Hope it helps. Best Wishes.