What Skills Does Working in Retail Give You

November 24, 2021

The Top 10 Communication Skills to Practice

What does it take to be a good communicator? There's more to it than just talking for the sake of hearing your own voice. Learn these 10 communication skills to become a better communicator in your personal and professional life.

Listening

It may seem counterintuitive to some, but it's truly impossible to have a good conversation if the only person you're paying attention to is yourself. You must listen to and really pay attention to the person you're talking to in order to respond directly to what they say.

Empathy

Similarly, good conversationalists express compassion and understanding for the people they speak with. Automatically dismissing another person without taking their point of view into aCC0unt does not make you a good communicator.

Active Participation

Have you ever had a phone conversation with someone who doesn't make any noise, and you end up having to ask if they're still there? Talking to a person who doesn't respond to what you're saying can feel similar. Nodding, saying "OK" or even "uh-huh" when you agree or want to make it clear that you understand helps make the other person feel heard.

Body Language

The signals you send with your posture can be important for face-to-face communication. If you cross your arms and look away, the person you're talking to is probably going to think you don't want to be there. Try to sit up and look alert or, if appropriate, you can relax a bit for a casual conversation.

Getting to the Point

It's essential to be concise and to the point when it's your turn to talk. Don't ramble on about irrelevant things or drone on for minutes at a time. A conversation involves two people, and that means you want to speak so the other person can understand and let them respond. It can be hard in the moment, especially if you're nervous, but that's why practicing is a good idea.

Focus

This relates to other skills, but it's important to make it clear you're focused on the conversation. That means always responding to what people say rather than introducing new topics out of nowhere, making appropriate eye contact with the people you're talking to and avoiding distractions like looking out the window or at your phone.

Honesty

This is an underrated skill in conversation. There may be times when it isn't appropriate to give a detailed aCC0unt of something—avoid too much information (TMI)—but in general, a conversation isn't very useful if you aren't telling the truth.

Meeting People Where They Are

From email to chat, text, social media and more, there are tons of ways to communicate these days. But it's important to reach people in a way that's convenient for them. If someone you try to talk to never responds to email, try a different method. If all else fails, face-to-face is usually a good bet.

Asking Questions

Good communication does not mean that everyone always understands each other. Asking and answering questions can be an important part of communication. It shows you're listening when you ask and, when you answer, that you care about the other person.

Observing Mood and Response

Following with the theme of "conversations aren't all about you," a good conversationalist will pay attention to other people's nonverbal signs and tonal signals. If you notice that someone seems to be fidgeting and nervous, you can try to put them at ease. If they seem angry and uninterested, you can try to end the conversation.

Kauper Whishor