Published on Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009
If your lament is, “How does Mr. Sharma manage to always convince the boss to give him leave when I cannot?” the answer is simple – communication skills. Speaking and writing are habits ingrained into us and seldom do we expend any thought or effort while using these skills. Little do we realise the power of words. Yet, fact is that a subtle change in phrasing a request, a pleasant and smiling countenance accompanying a query or a well-worded order can wo rk wonders.Does not the mumbling colleague at work get on your nerves? Do not the vague memos sent by your boss confound you? This is why communication has to be hard-hitting. The spoken or the written word should strike you between the eyes and compel you to go further.
Believe in the power of speech as vagueness leaves one guessing as to the real import of the message. It is proper communication that will help the listener to understand the point and utilise it effectively.
Importance of clarity increases in written communication as ambiguity confuses the reader. There is also a lack of face-to-face clarifications in this form thus necessitating effective communication skills.
To be understood as well as to understand – is the heart of communication. It has to be two-sided to be effective. It can help build a good working rapport – be it with your peers, superiors, sub-ordinates or customers. It also helps to create conducive work environment.
To break the barriers
Make the mirror your best friend - Keep practising what you want to say before the mirror till you get it right. Believe me, it definitely helps.
Knowledge and ideas need to be imparted - Condition yourself to speak. Do not be afraid to express your views. They may well prove to be the turning point of your career.Build your self-confidence - Inculcate a positive attitude. This will reflect in your attitude and instil trust and confidence in the listeners. An open-minded attitude is also necessary to be able to put the point across clearly.
Learn to be firm, yet polite - Weak talk loses impact immediately. What you should do is come out and say it without beating around the bush. But a dose of diplomacy is also essential. Pepper your speech with small courtesies like ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’.
Anticipate possible queries – This will help you to think of suitable responses beforehand and speak more eloquently when the time comes. This works in eliminating any hesitation, stumbling over words and frequent pauses.
A serious approach is not always necessary - Infusing harmless jokes in what you say can lighten the atmosphere by several degrees. Indeed, it also helps build working camaraderie. Turn on the charm and your audience will simply be blown by your charisma.
Get to the crux of the matter - Nobody can spare the time and effort to consider long-winded explanations for trivial issues. Aim for brevity and clarity. Pay attention to how you say it- Conveying the right idea in the right tone is necessary. Think before speaking or try penning down the message first.
Having a good command over the language is essential - Good vocabulary is a definite asset, but it need not be high-flown. Listen as well - One needs to not only speak well but also to observe and listen. Proper understanding of the issues is vital.
The basic good manners still hold good - Do not interrupt a person while he is speaking or speak out of turn.
Walk your talk - Body language can speak volumes. Practice a confident gait and maintain eye contact with the listeners. Avoid shuffling, wringing hands or fiddling with objects. There is a proper time for everything - Give maximum attention to the people you are talking with. Avoid multi-tasking. Speak directly and not while working on the computer!
Be prepared to go that extra mile - Attend seminars, interactive sessions and discussions to improve your communication skills. You can also take advantage of training programmes organised by your company.
A word of caution, do not overdo things. You should know where to draw the line. Chattering incessantly, gossiping, bragging, spreading rumours and indulging in loose talk are not effective communication. In the long run, joking about others, mocking or snubbing them will get you nowhere.
Even repetitive talk can be irritating to others. One should know when to speak and when to keep quiet!
Good communication skills have to go hand-in-hand with talent, ability and knowledge. So stop being taciturn and woo your audience and the world will be at your feet!
PAYAL CHANANIA
wapakels
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