what are communication skills and how can you develop them?

 


Communication skills are the abilities you use when providing or receiving various types of information such as communicating thoughts and feelings to other parties, or expressing what is happening around you. The process of communication varies according to the method used for this. We find that face-to-face communication is often more difficult than communicating via phone or e-mail, and each method has its own advantages and skills that must be acquired to master the effective communication process. In today's article, we will learn about the different types of these communication skills, and how to develop and improve them to get the most benefit from this process.


Most popular communication skills.


 Effective communication skills include under its umbrella several skills that work together in different contexts and situations, including the following:


Effective listening skills.


 This means paying your full attention to the person talking to you. People who have the skill of active listening have a good reputation among their classmates and workmates, due to the interest and respect they show others.


The ability to adapt the style of communication with the audience.


By this we mean choosing the appropriate communication style and method based on the person or people you are communicating with. For example, if you are a university student and you want to communicate with one of the professors in your college whom you do not know personally, in this case, the most appropriate and best way would be by sending an email instead of a message on social media applications such as Facebook or WhatsApp, or even a phone message. Measure the various situations in which you need to communicate with others.


kindness.


Kindness here refers to all the positive behaviors - no matter how simple - that you do while communicating with others, such as asking your colleague how he is doing, smiling at him when he talks to you, or praising something he did.


trust.

People often tend to connect and get to know people who have high self-confidence, and are drawn to ideas that are confidently expressed even if they are not creative ideas, while they may ignore genius ideas, just because the person who presented them did not have enough confidence in himself and his idea.


 Receive and provide feedback.


Successful people with effective communication skills have the ability to accept criticism and feedback. They also offer advice and constructive criticism to others.


Clarity and appropriate tone of voice.


It is important that your voice is clear and heard when you speak, as the ability to choose the right tone and pitch based on different contexts is a critical skill for effective communication. A high voice in some situations may express rudeness and lack of respect, while in other situations a low voice indicates weakness and lack of self-confidence. Therefore, you must better distinguish the general atmosphere in your place and choose the appropriate tone of voice accordingly.


sympathy.


You will not be able to achieve effective communication if you are not able to understand and empathize with others. You must understand the feelings of others so that you can choose the appropriate words to respond to them. Empathizing with someone who is feeling sad and frustrated will make them feel better, and realizing that someone is happy and positive will help you put forward your ideas at the right time to receive the support you need.


respect.


One of the most important aspects of respect is knowing when to start speaking or responding, whether it is during communication with one person or a group of people, as giving others space to speak without interrupting them is one of the most important communication skills related to respec.


Understanding body language.


 A large percentage of communication occurs through body language. Therefore, reading nonverbal cues is an essential skill in effective communication. Here, you must be able to understand what the person in front of you is saying with his words and what the signals he makes with his body mean, and you must also be fully aware of your own body language and make sure to use it appropriately and consistent with what you say. You can learn.


Practical tips to improve your communication skills.


Have you ever heard of the term "KISS vs KILL"? It is one of the most important effective sales communication strategies, and you can apply this strategy in all other areas of your life to achieve effective communication. KISS in this context is an acronym for "Keep it short and simple", which means brevity and brevity. Whereas, the word KILL is an abbreviation of "Keep it long and lengthy" and means to prolong. In order to achieve effective communication and develop your skills in this field, always make sure to be brief and concise in your speech or writing, and the following are several practical tips to help you with this.


be effective in your speech.

 Replace the fillers with.

 Use your words smartly.

Avoid getting into the job interview.

Use affirmative sentences instead of asking.

Be a good listener.