To be effective in information gathering, you need to let go of assumptions and be aware enough to recognize when you’re jumping to conclusions, making judgments, or using labels.

Asking curious, open-ended questions encourages dialogue instead of dictating what other people should do or think, And the best communicators listen more than they speak.

If you’re not getting the result you want, go back to whether you were clear about what, exactly, those results should have been.

If you’re using a lot of jargon or vague language or trying to communicate in endless emails instead of calling a quick face-to-face meeting where you can show that you’re open to questions and explaining what you want, you’re likely to get much better results.

Listening is essential to good communication. 

After meetings, for example, jot down a few notes about what was said and what others’ viewpoints were. If you can’t articulate them, it’s a sign you need to go back and ask more questions to be sure you are clear.

People who are continuously seeking feedback are the ones who get the best at it for saying: "What am I missing here? What have I not told you? Am I filling you in consistently?"

Those who are hungry for feedback are the ones who will improve most consistently.

It’s important to remember that all people have good days and bad days. 

Being a good communicator requires compassion, empathy, and understanding when communicating—especially in potentially difficult conversations.