The importance of learning to communicate effectively

How many times do we communicate something and others interpret it very differently than we expected? How many personal conflicts are generated from a misunderstanding? We live in society and depend on each other. in countless aspects. It is essential to have the ability to express ourselves and learn to communicate efficiently with others.

Whether we want to prosper or cultivate an intense social life that satisfies us on a personal level, We need to improve our communication skills. To do this, it is necessary to take into account some keys that will help us do this.

Keys to communicate effectively

1. Communicate by being concise, not repetitive

When we reiterate a message with too many explanations, over and over again, our interlocutor may feel belittled, as if we think that he is not able to understand it the first time. It is always possible to raise something extremely profound and significant, but in a simple way, without so many clarifications and repetitions.

Also, if we are very repetitive the attention of our interlocutor will decline and he will stop listening to us, even when we are transmitting relevant information. Therefore, it is important to speak clearly, concisely and not repetitively.

2. Try to be specific and get to the point

To make our communication effective, we have to express ourselves specifically and clearly. Let’s leave aside ambiguities and generalizations and say exactly what we want. If we express ourselves bluntly, the effect will be much better.

Giving too much thought to the matter can cause confusion. When this happens, and they ask us: “Have you heard what I told you?”, the answer is usually: “You have told me so many things that I don’t know what you mean.” At this point, the speaker usually gets angry because he does not feel heard, however, he must know that Maybe it’s your way of communicating that’s wrong..

3. When communicating, do not go back

Nothing good comes from bringing up issues from the past. and return to old quarrelsexcept pain and problems.

It is true that the past can serve us a lot and show us the way forward, but as long as we are willing to consider it in a positive way, that is, trying to learn from it. Recalling what happened over and over again, without the intention of grasping the implicit “lesson”, does not bring good results.

4. Find the right time and space to communicate

It is obvious that there are topics that cannot be addressed anywhere. When we have to communicate something difficult to another person, it is best to do it privately..

On the contrary, if we are going to congratulate or congratulate someone, it is advisable to do it in public, where others can also listen. It is not necessary to flatter excessively, but if we do it naturally, the person will surely feel very valued.

5. Address issues separately, one after the other

It is not advisable to bring up several topics togetherthat have nothing to do with each other.

Sometimes we want to take advantage of the moment and bring up a long list of pending issues, but most likely this will only make the interlocutor angry and uncomfortable.

6. Monitor silent communication

What is said verbally is not everything. Your gestures, the tone and volume of your voice, as well as the faces you make, have to match what you are saying.. Otherwise, the message is lost. What you say is as important as the way you say it.

As stated Elisabeth Corrales (2011)we must be careful with the non-verbal message, since “many times this message is stronger than the verbal one, because it can even reveal a lie to us”.

On the other hand, McEntee (1996) ensures that “Through the gestures, facial expressions and body tension or relaxation that are described, certain information is communicated to us about the relationship between two characters.”.

7. Do not speak in absolute terms

When we say expressions like “you always do the same thing,” we are applying labels that are not true.. If we express ourselves like this, we are probably being unfair and not honest. If resolving a conflict is the goal, let’s try to use more relative terms like “sometimes” or “frequently,” which make our interlocutor feel better.

When you have to give constructive criticism, refer to the behavior and not the person themselves. Most of the time, in a given situation, what we really dislike is someone’s specific behavior and not the person themselves. It is essential to understand the difference and also make it clear.

In conclusion, communicating effectively is an art and it is worth striving to do it better and better.. This will ensure great success in our relationships, allowing misunderstandings and conflicts to stay away from us as much as possible.

You might be interested…