Improving Your Diction
Your style of speaking, or writing, choice of words while conveying your idea, or point of view are very powerful components in communicating with effectiveness and purpose.
The right word said the right way can make all the difference.
MORE IDEAS FROM THE ARTICLE
The essence of communication is to inform, influence, inspire, motivate, learn, socialize and build relationships. Communication makes possible persuasion, negotiation, and improved work delivery.
Your words need to be interesting both in terms of content (what is being said) and delivery (how it is being said) to be able to draw the people towards what you are trying to say.
Active listening makes you a better communicator. If you haven’t listened properly, your response or feedback can be faulty.
Your eyes and ears need to fully comprehend what is being said to be able to communicate better.
Communicating with emotion, while sometimes useful, can ‘taint’ or filter your content in unpredictable ways. Put your emotions under control while communicating.
It helps to relate with people, as it makes them naturally drawn towards you. This skill is essential in any work or social setting.
Develop habits and skills that make you relatable and also approachable.
Being able to persuade is an essential skill. Your ideas, without any convincing power can be worth nothing, even if they are good.
This also helps people who are in a competitive environment.
Our bias, personal feelings, prejudice, and interpretations wreak havoc on our communication.
Being objective means having an open mind and communicating with facts and figures.
Your enthusiasm, energy, empathy and sincerity speak volumes and add to your verbal and non-verbal communication.
Your actions too, speak louder than your words. Do the deeds and say the words that inspire others.
If part of a team, ensure that the team communication is promoting productivity and togetherness, forging a sense of community and harmony.
This is one of the most neglected pieces of action, and is a must.
Communicate to tie up the loose ends, get feedback, set reminders and move on to next things in the agenda. Follow-up also removes any lingering doubt in the other persons minds which may arise due to lack of communication.
RELATED IDEAS
- It helps to create effective brand messaging. It determines how your brand is perceived and also builds trust with customers.
- Customer service relies on good communication. "60% of consumers have stopped doing business with a brand due to a poor customer service experience." Microsoft’s 2016 Global State of Customer Service Report.
- It enables positive team relationships. Effective communication helps to unite teams and create a safe environment to express themselves.
It helps to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts. It can help to defuse a potentially explosive dispute while bad communication can set it off.
- Objectives – This is what you hope to accomplish. Objectives usually take the form of broad goals that are not measurable (that’s what the Key Results section is for).
- Key Results – Based on objectives, the key results are almost always defined with a specific number.
... using the SMART criteria:
- Specific: make your goals clear and well-defined.
- Measurable: avoid any abstract notions – you should be able to tick “done” any goal you set as well as any step it involves
- Achievable: Make sure you have enough time and resources (money, free time, energy) to achieve it
- Relevant: your personal goals should be relevant to your life goals and feel rewarding
- Timed: set a deadline for achieving each goal and subgoal.