It’s easy for communication to take a wrong turn. Once you’ve had a negative experience communicating with somebody, it can be difficult to become comfortable again. Building good communication skills is necessary to have a successful work life.
You work with superiors at work, colleagues, and perhaps customers. Having great communication skills can make a difference in how well you do. You can create a positive impression at work. Communication also matters if you’re starting your own online business because you have to work with customers.
Lets’s dive into some common mistakes in communication that you can avoid to create a better relationship in different spheres of life.
Inappropriate Tone of Voice
There ‘s more to communication than just the words you use. Your tone of voice and the emphasis you place on different words can affect the meaning of your words. If you’re uncertain about how you sound, you can record the way you speak. It’s also an excellent idea to ask for feedback from a colleague.
You can practice modulating your voice for the best effect. If in doubt, speak with a neutral, even tone, but don’t hesitate to express pleasure for someone else’s good news. Your tone also comes through in your written communication. If you’re a business owner and carry out social media marketing, using a friendly tone in your writing will win you more followers.
Not Giving Your Full Attention
Listening well is a key part of communication. You can miss important cues and context if you don’t pay close attention when someone is speaking. This can lead to miscommunication that negatively impacts your relationship.
You can practice active listening by giving the speaker all your attention. It’s helpful to silence or switch off your phone. You can even move to a quiet room where there are no distractions. When you pay attention and listen well, you’ll understand the interests of the other person and can work with them.
Jumping in to Speak
Here’s a small exercise that you can do. The next time you’re having a conversation, try to catch yourself jumping in to say something. Very often, we tend to listen only so that we can put in our own opinion. We fail to really listen to the speaker. This can come across as rude and you may look like you’re interrupting.
It’s also likely that you’ll misinterpret what’s said because you’ve reacted too soon. You may end up saying something that’s inappropriate or shows that you’re missing the point. Hold back from speaking when someone else is. You’ll have time to share your feedback later.
Closed Body Language
Like the tone of your voice, your body language impacts how people perceive your behavior. When you interact, keeping your arms crossed and having a stern expression can be off-putting. Standing too close, or being distant, turning away, or failing to make eye contact affects others.
Try to speak facing the other person. Let your arms and hands move naturally and don’t be afraid you use gestures. Smiling and nodding in response make people feel like you’re listening. There are membership platforms where you can learn public speaking skills that also teach you to modify your body language. You can improve how you physically move and create a comfortable rapport to get better responses from people.
Not Keeping an Open Mind
It’s important to remember that everyone comes from different backgrounds and has different beliefs. It’s important to keep an open mind and to be accepting of other people’s viewpoints. You can have a meaningful conversation by looking at other people’s points of view and questioning your own assumptions. You don’t have to change your own beliefs but you can look for a way to coexist and to find mutual benefits. Keeping an open mind can win you rich friendships.
Avoid Communication Mistakes that Cost You Relationships
Poor communication can create resistance at work and in your personal life. You can get co-operation and goodwill from people by avoiding common mistakes in communication. Whether you are dealing with family, work, or your own business good communication skills can get your further along.