Voicing our thoughts often feels like building IKEA furniture out of the pieces provided to us. Communication is crucial in both personal and professional relationships – it forms the cornerstone of building connections. Effective communication seems far off if we don’t know what to say in situations.
But worry not! Once you have a direction, adapting to the different situations in our life doesn’t seem too challenging. (Also, read our blog on Being Adaptable here!) Communication is as easy as building IKEA furniture: all instructions are provided and all you need to do is take action.
Respect Boundaries
Asking about the weather is okay, but ensure that you don’t push too much and catch people off-guard like a deer in headlights. Respect boundaries, and observe people for any non-verbal cues that tell you otherwise. There are times when we get curious about someone’s life, or we want to talk about ourselves. However, we must ensure that the person in front of us is comfortable enough to talk to us, or hear us out. After we’ve ensured that, conversations go seamlessly!
Listen Actively
Be present. When conversations start and it’s their turn to talk, show them that you’re interested. Nod your head, use your words, repeat their words to show them that you are listening. We value people who are important to us, and listening actively helps people feel valued and validated.
Empathize
Every time we feel a pat on the back, or a hug from a closed one with the words, “I understand.” – we instantly feel better. That’s empathy – the ability to put yourself in others’ shoes and understand their perspective. Empathy makes bonds stronger and develops trust among people.
Ask Questions
Our best friend has often asked us – “Why are you like this?” That’s a great question – it makes you think about all the mistakes you’ve made in life. Questions are a great way of opening up conversations and even continuing them. They open up the floor for very interesting thoughts, opinions and perspectives.
Share Openly
People have developed languages over the years to change perceptions and influence our actions. When we share things about ourselves, it helps the other person to do so too. People feel more comfortable with sharing about themselves when we take the initiative to share our emotions or ideas with them. Balance it out with asking questions and empathizing, and this little dance of human interaction can create wonderful, deep bonds.
Use Positive Communication
Nothing shows appreciation as a well-timed compliment or a simple “Thank you”. The use of positive words, or affirming words, creates a powerful impact that will last for a lifetime. Humans remember how someone has made them feel, so why not make them feel good? Even appropriate humour plays a huge part in putting a smile on anyone’s face. Be encouraging, and people will want to talk to you even more.
Apologize When Necessary
Humans also remember exactly when they’ve embarrassed themselves by saying or doing the wrong thing. It isn’t the end of the world. Say you’re sorry when you’ve made a mistake, or when you’ve hurt someone’s feelings. If God can apologize and communicate to the world for sending the flood, us humans can definitely take a minute to be humble enough to accept our errors.
There you have it! This simple guide to effective communication should help you travel through the galaxy of relationships. Remember to be polite with everyone, and build strong relations that last by having regular conversations.
