Tips for clearer communication

Effective communication does not come naturally to all of us. In fact, for most of us it takes time and practice to find out what does and doesn’t work when it comes to dealing with other people.

Here internationally acclaimed author and psychotherapist Derek O’Neill gives his tips for clearer communication.

Sharing information is of the utmost importance in life and work. When information is misunderstood, things can go drastically wrong. This is why it is so important to communicate as clearly and effectively as possible – something that can in fact be quite a challenge.

If you, like many, find it difficult to get your meaning across eloquently, then there are a few things you can do to improve your communication.

1. Realise and respect that other people have different model’s of the world

In life coaching you will come to understand that each of us enjoys a unique perspective of the world. Our genetics, past experiences, personalities and emotions combine to form our own model of reality, through which we see everything. To communicate well, you must learn to respect other people’s models and not try to inflict your own version of things upon other people.

2. Build up a rapport

Trust is a key part of communication. In order to build trust you must first establish a rapport. A rapport is when two people share the same level of understanding and this can be achieved through simple things such as mirrored body language, using a similar tone of voice and giving a lot of open, encouraging feedback (nodding, smiling, maintaining eye contact etc.).

3. Mirror their language

When listening to someone speak, make a mental note of their vocabulary, their pace and their tone of voice. Without being obvious, try to mirror some of their own linguistic techniques and match their vocabulary. Once you can establish how the other person communicates, you can decide the best way to make yourself understood.

You can find a life coach yourself to help improve your communication skills. Often it is a case of observing how effective communicators operate, learning the technique yourself and practising until it becomes natural to you. Communication skills help in all walks of life, from friendships, relationships and parenting, right through to your professional life. To find out more, please visit our Personal Development page.

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