Communication can sometimes be quite challenging. All it takes is the wrong attitude or inappropriate intonation, and misunderstandings can arise in an instant. What should you pay attention to during a conversation, and what are the rules of effective communication?
Engage both words and body language
When talking, it is important to think not only about what you say, but also how you say it. Therefore, engage in both verbal and nonverbal communication. It may happen that your mouth says “yes,” but your posture screams “no.” Everything should be in harmony. During a conversation, think about your facial expression and body posture. For example, crossed arms evoke distance, while excessive hand gestures distract attention.
Intonation is more important than you think
Every sentence can be said in a million different ways. All you need to do is change your intonation slightly. Surely that can’t have such a big impact? Believe it or not, it does. Tone of voice is particularly important in business meetings and negotiations, where we don’t know the other party and can’t predict how they will react. Therefore, avoid ironic and sarcastic tones in business conversations. The other party may not understand your joke, and the meeting could end in disaster.
Ask questions and listen
Effective communication must be balanced. You should talk and listen equally. When listening, however, focus only on the conversation. Don’t look at your phone, play with your pen, or glance at what your colleagues are doing in the hallway. Ask questions and try to understand the other person. Feel free to repeat what they said to make sure you understand everything.
Stay on topic and don’t digress
Conversations always start with a goal, and you should stick to it, especially in work communication. Prepare for the conversation and keep in mind the points you want to discuss. Once you’ve covered everything important, you can move on to non-work topics, such as weekend plans.
Learn assertiveness
Assertiveness is useful in both your work and personal life. It will help you assert your opinion without offending or insulting anyone. You can learn assertive communication just like any other communication skill. It just takes practice. Listen to others and hear their opinions. Never dismiss them. At the same time, don’t be afraid to express your point of view, even if it is completely different.
Don’t interrupt
This is a golden rule that you should follow whether you are talking to your mother, your boss, or even a stranger on the street. Always let the other person finish speaking. Once they have expressed their opinion or idea, respond. How do you do this with talkative people who won’t let you get a word in? Gently let them know that you want to say something (e.g., by moving your body or opening your mouth). They will usually slow down and give you space to express yourself.
You don’t need to attend specialized courses or seek out communication strategy experts to improve your communication skills. Often, it’s enough to just think about how you express yourself and observe yourself when communicating. If you want to improve but don’t know where to start, record a conversation on a voice recorder or invite a colleague to a meeting who can then give you feedback.
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But communication is far from everything. How can you master all the important qualities of a manager? Take a look at our range of MBA programs and the courses taught within them. Not sure if an MBA is right for you? Check out our references and find out what our graduates say about us.
