3 Habits That Instantly Make You a Better Communicator

Are you looking to improve your communications skills? Whether it’s in person, via email, or across other mediums, having a sharp and effective communication style is essential for business professionals.

But how do you go about achieving this? Luckily there are simple but powerful habits that can help instantly boost the quality of your verbal, written and body language communication. In this blog post I’ll discuss 3 such habits so you can become a better communicator right away!

Common Communication Mistakes

Before we dive into the 3 habits, it’s important to identify and address common mistakes that people often make when communicating.

Mistake #1

The first mistake is assuming that everyone understands the same thing you do. It’s easy to get swept away in your own thought process and forget that others might not share the same working knowledge or understanding of words, concepts, and ideas.

Mistake #2

Secondly, people can often be too verbose when communicating. In other words, they use more words than necessary to relay a message. This makes it hard for the receiver to grasp the intended message as quickly as possible.

Mistake #3

The third mistake is not considering the other person’s point of view or perspective. It’s important to make sure that you’re always taking into account how someone else might perceive your words and overall message.

3 Habits to Instantly Improve Your Communications

Now let’s explore 3 powerful habits you can start implementing right away to improve your communications.

Habit 1: Lack of Certainty

The most common habit people have is speaking before they have something to say, which results in a longer sentence full of uncertainty and “Umms”. This habit can give off the impression of being unprepared, which is unprofessional and can make conversations uncomfortable.

Instead of speaking without certainty, pause and take a moment to think before you speak. This will help ensure that everything said is clear and direct, making communication much easier for both parties.

An example of this for many people is imposter syndrome. Going into a conversation or presentation with the assumption you’re not good enough will ensure that you’re not communicating effectively.

Habit 2: Indirectly Leading

Depending on how you were raised, you probably have tips and tricks that have worked for you in which you can communicate something indirectly and get your way. However, depending on who you’re talking to, this habit can leave the receiver confused and frustrated.

Instead of using indirect language, be direct about what you’re trying to say. This will ensure that the other person understands your message clearly, which in turn will help build trust between both parties.

I have noticed this habit happens more to Americans and Latin Americans than other parts of the world. For example, in Europe, people tend to be more direct with their words and there’s less room for indirect language and thus less room for confusion.

Habit 3: Hiding Behind Invisible Armies

In the age of technology and social media, it’s easy to cite sources as “somebody said” or “they” because people very rarely question the validity of what you’re saying. As Brene Brown says, many people create “invisible armies” of unnamed people to back up their opinions.

But with this habit comes a lack of accountability and credibility. If someone claims something as fact, but can’t cite the source, it’s hard for them to be taken seriously or trusted. This is especially true when it comes to conversations about important topics like politics, religion and culture – because they all rely heavily on facts and sources.

For example, if you’re presenting to a client, you might say something like “the entire team loves this idea.” When really, you should be focused on putting the team’s name forward and be accountable for what you’re saying.

In conclusion, communication is essential in any organization and being mindful of how we communicate can make a huge difference in understanding each other better and coming to solutions faster. By avoiding common mistakes like speaking without certainty, using indirect language, or hiding behind anonymity – you can create a more positive and effective communication environment.

In the end, it’s important to remember that communication is not always easy but with enough practice and thoughtfulness, you can be sure to communicate effectively in any situation!

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