How Can I Make My Communication Skills Better? A Step-by-Step Guide

Christina Aidy
Nov 23, 2024
4 min read

In today's digital world, communication is the bridge that connects us to others, both personally and professionally. Yet, many of us find ourselves asking, "How can I make my communication skills better?" Whether you're hoping to improve your relationships or aiming for career growth, mastering communication is your key to success. Let’s explore practical steps to transform your communication skills and open doors to new opportunities.

Understanding the Basics of Communication

At its core, effective communication is about more than just exchanging words.

It’s about connecting with others on a deeper level, understanding their perspectives, and conveying your own thoughts and emotions clearly.

Communication involves three main components: verbal communication, non-verbal cues, and active listening. By understanding each of these elements, you can completely change the nature of your interactions into meaningful connections that build understanding and trust.

So, How Can I Make My Communication Skills Better?

Let's jump right in with 5 steps you can start taking today.

how to improve your communication skills

Step 1: Self-Assessment

Improving your communication skills starts with self-awareness. Take a moment to reflect on your recent interactions. Do you feel heard and understood, or do you often find yourself repeating or clarifying your points?

Consider using self-assessment tools or seeking feedback from trusted colleagues or friends. Honest feedback can be a powerful tool for growth, helping you identify your strengths and areas for improvement.

You can also prop your phone up and record yourself speaking for a minute or two, then watch it back and evaluate. How was your volume? Your pace? Your Tone? Did you mumble or ramble on too long? How was your body language and facial expressions? This is all important information for you to know.

If you want a professional analysis of how you speak, check out my personalized speaking assessment here:

GET A PERSONALIZED SPEAKING ASSESSMENT

Step 2: Active Listening

Active listening is the art of truly hearing what the other person is saying. It requires full concentration, understanding, and thoughtful response.

Practice maintaining eye contact to show engagement, nodding to affirm understanding, and summarizing the speaker’s points to ensure clarity. Active listening not only helps you grasp the message but also builds trust and respect, making others feel valued and understood.

There are many tips out there for active listening, but here's what most people overlook: active listening is about more than just pretending to hear what they said. It goes beyond fake nodding and smiling while waiting for your turn to speak.

It requires a deeper attention to what is being said - and what isn't being said intentionally. It requires having the capacity to have the conversation in the first place, and knowing what to do with the information you hear.

Want to dive deeper into how you can become a great active listener? Check out my active listening masterclass:

IMPROVE YOUR ACTIVE LISTENING SKILLS

Step 3: work on speaking clearly and concisely

Clear and concise communication is essential in conveying your message effectively.

Here are some tips for you to start with:

Avoid jargon or overly complex language that might confuse your audience.
Instead, focus on delivering your message in a straightforward manner (help them connect the dots from A to B to C).
Organize your thoughts before speaking, and aim to get to the point without unnecessary details. This is especially important if you tend to ramble.
Remember, simplicity is powerful—your goal is to be understood.

Step 4: understand your Non-Verbal Communication

Your non-verbal communication includes your body language and facial expressions.

They can either reinforce or contradict your words, so it’s crucial to be aware of them.

When first starting out, practice maintaining open body language (keep your arms and legs uncrossed), using gestures that match your message (for example, don't lean away from the person if you're telling them you're interested), and do your best to have your facial expressions match up with your words.

Consider recording yourself or practicing in front of a mirror to become more aware of your non-verbal cues. Recording yourself while speaking or working is a great way to see what you actually look like in action (... and it's okay if it's not what you expected at first!).

Not sure how your non-verbal cues hold up? Get your personalized in-depth speaking assessment to learn more:

GET A PERSONALIZED SPEAKING ASSESSMENT

Step 5: Practice, Practice, and more... feedback

Just like any other skill, communication improves with practice.

Try different role-playing exercises with family or friends, join public speaking groups, or take advantage of opportunities to speak in front of an audience. Experiment with different techniques at home or in low stakes environments - like at the grocery store, at the gas station, or at a coffee shop.

The more you practice (particularly when you practice the right techniques), the more confident you’ll become. And most importantly - don't be scared of feedback! Constructive feedback can help you identify any areas for improvement... and it can help you celebrate your progress and small wins! Every bit of progress is worth celebrating. You deserve it.

Wrapping up

Improving your communication skills "is a journey, not a destination." By taking these actionable steps (repeatedly) you can keep improving your ability to connect with others and express yourself effectively.

Remember, the key is to practice consistently and remain open to feedback. With dedication and effort, you can transform your communication skills and others will notice.