Do not snap chat

Maintaining eye contact and not interrupting while the other person is speaking are few of the things you must keep in mind to ensure a meaningful conversation, says Jai Madaan

From the moment we are born, we start learning about how to communicate our feelings, wishes and information to other people. These skills remain with us and are imperative throughout our lives. Depending on our age and technical abilities, many of us will be familiar with multiple forms of communication, including those that don’t involve being in the same room as the person you are having a conversation with. However, even though we are currently living in the communication age with so many different methods of communication at our disposal, there are a surprising number of people among us that have difficulty in communicating effectively.

There are few things that you can keep in mind the next time you are trying to have a meaningful conversation or interaction with anyone, so that you are not misinterpreted or misunderstood.

• Of all the instruments we use to converse with each other our voices are by far the most powerful. So when speaking you must be clear — if you find that people tend to ask you to repeat what you have said, make an effort to enunciate properly and speak at an audible volume, also avoid obstructing your mouth with your hands, hair or items of clothing whilst speaking. Additionally, do not raise your voice when trying to make a point. Being passionate about an issue can mean that you’re either inclined to get into heated discussions or postpone important conversations with colleagues, if your emotions are running high.
• During conversations, it is imperative that you give them your undivided attention. Even thinking about what you would like to say next is a distraction. So listen when they are speaking. One way to make sure you have understood them completely is to paraphrase what was said and repeat it back when they are done talking. This gives you the chance to verify your grasp on the conversation.
• It is also exceptionally rude to butt in whilst the person in front of you is speaking. Therefore, it is important not to interrupt your contemporary. However, you can make a mental note of any points you would like to raise and mention them when the other person is finished.
• Always tell the truth when communicating with others. Irrespective of whether it is personal or professional, a relationship will always be improved if all parties are honest with each other. Establishing trust in business deals is a very important part of being successful.
• Be particular and careful about the words you chose. Steer clear of using slang or curse words in any professional environment as these give off an informal and disrespectful impression.
• Be as specific and clear as possible when making statements. Being vague and generalising when you speak gives wrong impression and is generally considered not true. For example, it is very unclear if you say that someone ‘always’ or ‘never’ does a certain thing. Instead, if you use concrete examples to explain what you mean, the person you are speaking to will have a better understanding of your objective.
• Never underestimate your body language and tone. A single spoken sentence can have multiple meanings because of the words you choose to emphasise, the facial expressions you use, and your tone of voice. A surprising amount of information can be conveyed without even uttering a single word.
• If you must engage in a negative confrontation, start and end the conversation on a positive note — this will ensure that the listener doesn’t feel bombarded with criticism or bad news and comments.

So to improve your chances for effective communication, focus and pay attention to the others, make eye contact, listen intently and ask questions for clarifications.