Communication Techniques
Types of Communication Techniques
There are so many different communication techniques that it can be difficult recognizing them if someone communicates differently than you. Communication techniques are often the key to climbing the corporate ladder, so you’ll want to master them earlier in your career rather than later.
No matter how you communicate, listening is one of the most important communication techniques you can master. You might not think it takes much effort to listen, but listening is harder work than you think! Not only does it involve closing your mouth, but you also have to concentrate on what the other person is saying. It’s pretty hard to carry on a conversation if you don’t listen to what the other person is saying. Restating what the other person said also shows to him that you’re listening.
Another important thing on the long list of communication techniques you need to master is your nonverbal cues. Communication experts say 55 percent of the impact from every conversation you have comes from your nonverbal cues. These include eye contact, your posture, and the gestures you make. They can be as simple as crossing your arms or nodding your head. The type of nonverbal cues you give indicates what you think, even if your words say something else entirely.
For example, if you’re nodding your head up and down while your wife is telling you about her day, she’ll immediately see you as a good listener and a very supportive husband. Nodding indicates a “yes,” and we all want to be agreeable to our spouses. On the other hand, if someone you know slightly from work stops you to talk at the mall and you cross your arms for the entire conversation, then you’re giving off the vibe that you really don’t want to be there. It’s also important to watch how touchy-feeling you get with people while you’re speaking to them. Some people don’t like to be touched, and invading their personal space is one nonverbal cue you can easily avoid. Nonverbal cues are just as important as any other communication techniques you’re trying to master.
Of course talking is a vital part of any conversation, and all your communication techniques are worthless if you don’t watch the tone of voice you use when you talk. According to communication experts, 38 percent of what you actually mean when you’re talking is determined by what tone of voice you’re using. Basically, if you say you’ll be happy to do something for someone but you’re yelling when you say it, the other person will clearly see that you’re actually not happy to do it. Tone of voice can easily give our displeasure away at times when we really don’t want it to.
Can you believe that only 7 percent of the real meaning of your conversation is usually determined by the actual words you use? This really puts into perspective which communication techniques you should work on the most. Apparently having a big vocabulary is less important to the communicative process than having the right hand signals and facials expressions is.