Effective communication skills are essential in all scenarios, whether in business dealings, romantic

entanglements or family affairs, and being misunderstood is often a huge embarrassment. Do you
find that you are often being misunderstood, or that you have difficulties getting your point across,
when it comes to effective communication skills it is as much what you say as how you say it, while it
is equally important that you learn what not to say. Being a good listener will also determine how
effectively you are listened to, while of course the image that you portray will also impact how
effectively you communicate in many if not all situations.

Empathy and listening are the initial steps to work on when developing effective communication skills.
When you can actively listen and empathize or show understanding when being spoken to you stand
a better chance of receiving the same courtesy when you speak. It is important not to interrupt a
speaker even if you don't understand of disagree. Take a mental note and wait until it is your turn to
reply to discuss your query. Respect is a factor not often mentioned when discussing effective
communication though when acting and receiving communication with respect and an open mind you
are showing that you are keen to improve and you will better listened to when it's your turn to speak.

Speaking clearly and cohesively will increase your chances of being understood. Use appropriate
language for the situation and person. You will not be understood if you speak Japanese to and Irish
man, so ensure that even your academic level of speech is fitting to the person you are directing a
conversation with. Try to cut out unnecessary and over wording in sentences be concise and to the
point. If it's an important meeting where a certain number of topics need to be covered quickly, bullet
pointing major points is a handy guide to lessen the amount of time wastage and make you look more
professional, therefore keeping more people interested and listening to what you say.

When you enter a conversation with someone you are inadvertently encountering a person's barriers
to communication whether you are aware of this or not. Each person brings with them their own
decisions and ideas concerning effective communication and when in a situation where you may be
unfamiliar with the crowd you are directing it is necessary to effectively read and monitor the body
language of your audience, if people are looking bored or uninterested this may be a clue that you are
talking to much and need to reduce and simplify your message, while in other situations you may
need to exacerbate a point several times to have your voice heard. The key is to read people well and
this takes time but the more you try it the better you will get.

Communication is never as simple as simply speaking or writing you must be aware of personal
opinion, taste and understanding, you must be able to read every situation and person perfectly so if
you're anything like me you have a long way to go but in the meantime listening and watching people
who you admire for their communication is a good idea, this can help you by allowing you to compare
and analyze how well others can articulate their messages and in turn lead you down the path to
great communication skills so that you will learn to effectively utilize your communication skills in
many if not all situations.
Close

How to attain effective communicatio0

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How to Unlock Effective Communication Skills and Make
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Communication is never as simple as simply speaking or writing you must be aware of
personal opinion, taste and understanding, you must be able to read every situation and
person perfectly so if you're anything like me you have a long way to go but in the meantime
listening and watching people who you admire for their communication is a good idea, this
can help you by allowing you to compare and analyze how well others can articulate their
messages and in turn lead you down the path to great communication skills so that you will
learn to effectively utilize your communication skills in many if not all situations.
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Conflict in a relationship is virtually inevitable. In itself, conflict isn’t a problem; how it’s handled,
however, can bring people together or tear them apart. Poor communication skills, disagreements
and misunderstandings can be a source of anger and distance, or a springboard to a stronger
relationship and happier future. Next time you’re dealing with conflict, keep these tips on effective
communication skills in mind and you can create a more positive outcome.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: Just a little extra time.

Here's How:
1. Stay Focused: Sometimes it’s tempting to bring up past seemingly related conflicts when
dealing with current ones. Unfortunately, this often clouds the issue and makes finding
mutual understanding and a solution to the current issue less likely, and makes the whole
discussion more taxing and even confusing. Try not to bring up past hurts or other topics.
Stay focused on the present, your feelings, understanding one another and finding a solution.

2. Listen Carefully: People often think they’re listening, but are really thinking about what
they’re going to say next when the other person stops talking. Truly effective communication
goes both ways. While it might be difficult, try really listening to what your partner is saying.
Don’t interrupt. Don’t get defensive. Just hear them and reflect back what they’re saying so
they know you’ve heard. Then you’ll understand them better and they’ll be more willing to
listen to you.

3. Try To See Their Point of View: In a conflict, most of us primarily want to feel heard and
understood. We talk a lot about our point of view to get the other person to see things our
way. Ironically, if we all do this all the time, there’s little focus on the other person’s point of
view, and nobody feels understood. Try to really see the other side, and then you can better
explain yours. (If you don't 'get it', ask more questions until you do.) Others will more likely
be willing to listen if they feel heard.

4. Respond to Criticism with Empathy: When someone comes at you with criticism, it’s easy
to feel that they’re wrong, and get defensive. While criticism is hard to hear, and often
exaggerated or colored by the other person’s emotions, it’s important to listen for the other
person’s pain and respond with empathy for their feelings. Also, look for what’s true in what
they’re saying; that can be valuable information for you.

5. Own What’s Yours: Realize that personal responsibility is a strength, not a weakness.
Effective communication involves admitting when you’re wrong. If you both share some
responsibility in a conflict (which is usually the case), look for and admit to what’s yours. It
diffuses the situation, sets a good example, and shows maturity. It also often inspires the
other person to respond in kind, leading you both closer to mutual understanding and a
solution.

6. Use “I” Messages: Rather than saying things like, “You really messed up here,” begin
statements with “I”, and make them about yourself and your feelings, like, “I feel frustrated
when this happens.” It’s less accusatory, sparks less defensiveness, and helps the other
person understand your point of view rather than feeling attacked.

7. Look for Compromise Instead of trying to ‘win’ the argument, look for solutions that meet
everybody’s needs. Either through compromise, or a new solution that gives you both what
you want most, this focus is much more effective than one person getting what they want at
the other’s expense. Healthy communication involves finding a resolution that both sides can
be happy with.

8. Take a Time-Out: Sometimes tempers get heated and it’s just too difficult to continue a
discussion without it becoming an argument or a fight. If you feel yourself or your partner
starting to get too angry to be constructive, or showing some destructive communication
patterns, it’s okay to take a break from the discussion until you both cool off. Sometimes
good communication means knowing when to take a break.

9. Don’t Give Up: While taking a break from the discussion is sometimes a good idea, always
come back to it. If you both approach the situation with a constructive attitude, mutual
respect, and a willingness to see the other’s point of view or at least find a solution, you can
make progress toward the goal of a resolution to the conflict. Unless it’s time to give up on
the relationship, don’t give up on communication.
 10. Ask For Help If You Need It: If one or both of you has trouble staying respectful during
conflict, or if you’ve tried resolving conflict with your partner on your own and the situation
just doesn’t seem to be improving, you might benefit from a few sessions with a therapist.
Couples counseling or family therapy can provide help with altercations and teach skills to
resolve future conflict. If your partner doesn’t want to go, you can still often benefit from
going alone.

Tips:
1. Remember that the goal of effective communication skills should be mutual understanding
and finding a solution that pleases both parties, not ‘winning’ the argument or ‘being right’.

2. This doesn’t work in every situation, but sometimes (if you’re having a conflict in a romantic
relationship) it helps to hold hands or stay physically connected as you talk. This can remind
you that you still care about each other and generally support one another.

3. Keep in mind that it’s important to remain respectful of the other person, even if you don’t
like their actions.

4. Here's a list of common unhealthy ways to handle conflict. Do you do some of these? If so,
your poor communication skills could be causing additional stress in your life.

sertive communication can strengthen your relationships, reducing stress from conflict and
providing you with social support when facing difficult times. A polite but assertive ‘no’ to
excessive requests from others will enable you to avoid overloading your schedule and promote
balance in your life. Assertive communication can also help you handle difficult family, friends and
co-workers more easily, reducing drama and stress.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: Very Little Extra Time

Here's How:

1. When approaching someone about behavior you’d like to see changed, stick to factual
descriptions of what they’ve done that’s upset you, rather than labels or judgments.
Here’s an example:

Situation:
Your friend, who habitually arrives late for your plans, has shown up twenty minutes late for a
lunch date.

Inappropriate: "You’re so rude! You’re always late."

Assertive Communication: "We were supposed to meet at 11:30, but now it’s 11:50."

2. The same should be done if describing the effects of their behavior. Don’t exaggerate, label or
judge; just describe:

Inappropriate: “Now lunch is ruined.”

Assertive Communication: “Now I have less time to spend lunching because I still need to be
back to work by 1pm.”

3. Use “I Messages”. Simply put, if you start a sentence off with “You”, it comes off as more of a
judgment or attack, and puts people on the defensive. If you start with “I”, the focus is more
 on how you are feeling and how you are affected by their behavior. Also, it shows more
ownership of your reactions, and less blame.
For example:

‘You Message’: “You need to stop that!”

‘I Message’: “I’d like it if you’d stop that.”

4. Here’s a great formula that puts it all together:

“When you [their behavior], I feel [your feelings].”

When used with factual statements, rather than judgments or labels, this formula provides a
direct, non-attacking, more responsible way of letting people know how their behavior affects
you. For example:

“When you yell, I feel attacked.”

5. A more advanced variation of this formula includes the results of their behavior (again, put
into factual terms), and looks like this:

“When you [their behavior], then [results of their behavior], and I feel [how you feel].”

Here are some examples:

“When you arrive late, I have to wait, and I feel frustrated.”

“When you tell the kids they can do something that I’ve already forbidden, some of my
authority as a parent is taken away, and I feel undermined.”

Tips:
1. Make sure your body reflects confidence: stand up straight, look people in the eye, and relax.

2. Use a firm, but pleasant, tone.

3. Don’t assume you know what the other person’s motives are, especially if you think they’re
negative.

4. When in a discussion, don’t forget to listen and ask questions! It’s important to understand
the other person’s point of view as well.

5. Try to think win-win: see if you can find a compromise or a way for you both get your needs
met.

3 golden rules for effective communication

ave you been wondering how to put together an impressively-phrased Powerpoint

presentation?
Have you been wondering how to compose an e-mail that captures your strategies and goals
effectively?
It is time you did something about it.
As a young professional in today's global business world, it is imperative that you are competent in
both oral as well as written communication.

Important forms of oral communication at the workplace include:

• Building interpersonal relationships.
• Giving presentations and debating viewpoints effectively.
You need to master oral skills for both in-person and over-the-phone interactions.

Similarly, important written communication includes:

• Writing professional e-mails (sans SMS slang).
• Putting together concise reports.
• Creating visually powerful Powerpoint presentations.
And the key to acing oral and written communication is to spruce up your communication skills. And it
is a lot easier than you think.
Here are some easy tips to do it on your own:
1. Improve pronunciation and diction
There are a few tricks to making a vernacular accent more globally understandable.
~ Try making sure that 'air' comes out of your mouth when saying the letters, 'T, P, K' and the sound
'Ch'.
~ Focus on elongating your vowel sounds. This will also automatically slow down your rate of speech.
~ Sing English songs out loud!
~ Watch news shows on channels like CNN and BBC.
~ The web site www.m-w.com is great for pronunciation help.
~ I would also suggest buying books on pronunciation and language that come with audio cassettes.
A good book that I found really useful was Better English Pronunciation by J D O'Connor. It is part of
the Cambridge series, and some of those books come with cassettes.
2. Spruce up your writing skills
~ Believe it or not, you have to Read More!
~ Well-written magazines, like The Economist and India Today, are great to read not only to improve
language skills but also to learn more about the world.
~ In terms of books, read what interests you. The basic goal is to read as much as you can.
There are a plethora of good authors who are popular today. Some good writers whose language is
easy to follow include Vikram Seth, Jhumpa Lahiri, Paulo Coelho, J D Salinger, Albert Camus and
Roald Dahl.
~ People tend to forget basic grammar when writing e-mails. An e-mail is nothing more than a letter
which is sent electronically.
Make sure salutations and content are professional. Use special phrases when attaching documents.
For example, "Please find attached with this e-mail a report on..." This helps you sound professional.
3. Five exercises to practise every day!
i. Pretend you are a newscaster and read out the newspaper to your
mirror.
ii. Do not read local newspapers. Focus on national newspapers.
iii. While reading a book, underline all the words you do not know. Look
them up in the dictionary.
iv. Make a list of these words, and make sure you use at least five of
them in a conversation during the day.
v. Most important, make an effort to speak in English to your friends and
family.
 Research shows that a lack of basic skills in the workplace is widespread, and contrary
to popular perceptions, illiteracy in the workplace is not solely a result of large numbers of
immigrant workers for whom English is a second language. In fact, many native speakers of
English make regular common errors in their written use of the language every day.
Fortunately, those errors can easily be corrected to improve one's communication skills.

Learn the Basics, or Take a Refresher Course

 Use the Internet. These days it's easy to learn (or brush-up on your knowledge of) basic
grammar. And if you think you know the basics quite well, take a look at what Sanford
University Professor Andrea Lunsford describes as the "twenty most common errors" in
English usage. You may just be guilty of one or two. Many people are.

Take a class. If you would prefer a classroom setting with others seeking to improve their
English usage, or interaction with a teacher who specializes in English or linguistics, many
colleges offer courses or tutoring services in those areas. Check your local college offerings
for more information.

Keep a grammar text nearby at all times. For some of us, a laptop, desktop or phone may be
more accessible than a book in hard copy, but it's advisable to own one that you keep on
hand for reference purposes. An online program may have glitches that a hard copy would
most likely be free of.

Read good writing regularly. Whether it's newspapers, magazines, or books (hard copy
versions or online versions), reading well-written work regularly will help improve your
English usage skills.

Practice Wherever You Can

 Keep a journal. In a daily journal you could practice using the skills you have learned or
those you have improved. You don't have to be rigid about your writing in it; some of your
entries can be practice exercises on the particular skill---the use of an apostrophe, or how to
use a semi-colon, for example---and other entries can be your thoughts about, and the
experiences you have had, using the particular skill.

Write to others. If you don't already do so regularly, write letters and send emails to friends,
family members and colleagues as another way of practicing your writing skills. Also, try
writing for a publication. The Writer's Market lists hundreds of publications that depend on
good writing from freelance writers. You can hone your skills by becoming a part-time writer
for one or more of them.

Ask for Feedback

 Be open to criticism. Constructive feedback can only help you improve even more. So
learn to take criticism well, and not see it as a personal attack. Keep in mind that excellent
communication skills---written and oral---will set you apart from many and will make you a
more highly regarded candidate for any job you're seeking and for advancement in your
current and future workplaces.

Keep in mind these simple rules for effective communication:

• Listen carefully when others are clarifying their thoughts. Don’t
interrupt others in-between.
• Do not speak too fast. Slow down while speaking.
• Speak clearly. Your pronunciation should be loud and clear.
• Make eye contact with whom you are speaking. This increases
chances of mutual agreement.
• Read, read and read. For better communication and effective
words in your speech your vocabulary should be very strong.
Reading more and more will increase your vocabulary.
Besides these 5 golden rules for effective communication here is PPT presentation on
improving your communication skill.
Main topics covered in this PPT:
1) What makes a good communicator?
2) Process of communication
3) Active listening
4) Using non-verbal communication effectively
5) Presentation skill while appearing for an interview.
Ten Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills
We all have people with whom we have to work to get things done. Our ability to
communicate with clients, customers, subordinates, peers, and superiors can enhance our
effectiveness or sabotage us. Many times, our verbal skills make the difference. Here are 10
ways to increase your verbal efficacy at work:
1. Develop your voice – A high whiney voice is not perceived to be one of
authority. In fact, a high soft voice can make you sound like prey to an
aggressive co-worker who is out to make his/her career at the expense of
anyone else. Begin doing exercises to lower the pitch of your voice. Here
is one to start: Sing — but do it an octave lower on all your favorite
songs. Practice this and, after a period of time, your voice will begin to
lower.
2. Slow down – People will perceive you as nervous and unsure of yourself if
you talk fast. However, be careful not to slow down to the point where
people begin to finish your sentences just to help you finish.
3. Animate your voice – Avoid a monotone. Use dynamics. Your pitch
should raise and lower. Your volume should be soft and loud. Listen to
your local TV news anchor; take notes.
4. Enunciate your words – Speak clearly. Don’t mumble. If people are
always saying, “huh,” to you, you are mumbling.
 5. Use appropriate volume – Use a volume that is appropriate for the
setting. Speak more softly when you are alone and close. Speak louder
when you are speaking to larger groups or across larger spaces.
6. Pronounce your words correctly – People will judge your competency
through your vocabulary. If you aren’t sure how to say a word, don’t use
it.
7. Use the right words – If you’re not sure of the meaning of a word, don’t
use it. Start a program of learning a new word a day. Use it sometime in
your conversations during the day.
8. Make eye contact – I know a person who is very competent in her job.
However, when she speaks to individuals or groups, she does so with her
eyes shut. When she opens them periodically, she stares off in a direction
away from the listener. She is perceived as incompetent by those with
whom she consults. One technique to help with this is to consciously look
into one of the listener’s eyes and then move to the other. Going back
and forth between the two (and I hope they only have two) makes your
eyes appear to sparkle. Another trick is to imagine a letter “T” on the
listener’s face with the cross bar being an imaginary line across the eye
brows and the vertical line coming down the center of the nose. Keep
your eyes scanning that “T” zone.
9. Use gestures – Make your whole body talk. Use smaller gestures for
individuals and small groups. The gestures should get larger as the group
that one is addressing increases in size.
10.Don’t send mixed messages – Make your words, gestures, facial
expressions, tone, and message match. Disciplining an employee while
smiling sends a mixed message and, therefore, is ineffective. If you have
to deliver a negative message, make your words, facial expressions, and
tone match the message.
Improving your communication skills will improve your productivity.
are six tips for improving your communication style:

1. Knowing how to improve communication skills will come easier once you become
aware of your own communication style.

Each person has a unique way of communicating. Listen to your own speech. What sorts
of words do you use? Which sort of body language and what tone of voice are you using?

Now, think of someone who, in your opinion, is a good communicator. Compare your
style to theirs. You've just taken an important first step in how to improve
communication skills.

2. Now that you are aware of your own style, study the style of those around you. How
do the most important people in your life converse? How do they say things? Look for
approaches you can model and make your own.

3. Adjust to the other styles of communication. Don't think it is too late to change your
way of conversing because it's been years. You had to learn to communicate in the first
place and you can unlearn certain behaviors or change them. Sometimes we get stuck in
a communication rut.
A father once was having a hard time with his teenaged daughter. She was growing and
he thought she didn't tell him what was going on in her life. They were in a heated
discussion when he asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Her answer was that she had, but he was too busy lecturing her to hear her. He learned
that adjusting his style to his daughter would involve listening first before jumping right
into solving the problem.

4. To build rapport, during a conversation try and match the other person's movements,
posture and verbal style. Don't do everything they do, but mirror one or two things. For
example, if the person gives mostly short answers to questions, you follow suit.

Or, maybe they talk at a slower pace than you usually do-slow your speaking speed to
match theirs. This may sound simplistic but it is a very potent way to make someone feel
very relaxed and comfortable in your presence.

5. The way you communicate at home may not be the same as in a different
environment. Make sure you change your style to suit the different setting. Some
comments you might want to tell your best friend, in private.

Other things can be shared in a group setting. Learn how to improve communication
skills by altering your style for the appropriate setting. Many of us know someone who
offers far too much information in a group setting.

6. Don't criticize others for communicating differently. If we all communicated in the

same way, we'd soon be bored with each other.

Getting a good grasp of your communication style and finding ways to accommodate
other peoples' styles, is a good way to improve your communication skills.

better Communication with

Employees and Peers
If the thought of speaking in front of an audience sends you into a cold sweat,
then this Inc.com guide is for you. Communication experts and CEOs share their
strategies for smooth communications with employees, making winning
presentations to investors, writing and delivering speeches that get standing
ovations, and much more.

Top of Form

A Crash Course in Communication

Need a quick refresher on effective interpersonal interaction? Two

communication experts offer 12 steps to smoother conversations.

Lost in Translation
 Thanks to e-mail, BlackBerrys, and text messaging, the face-to-face encounter is
becoming a dying art. Here's why you should revive it.

The Power of Listening

How does an old-line manufacturer in a stagnant industry manage to grow 25% a

year for 10 years? By taking its employees seriously.

Do as I Say: Quick Tips for Masterful Communication

Tired of doing all the talking and not having your message get through to your
staff? Try these suggestions to improve your leadership communication skills.

Just Listen to Yourself

Tape yourself to better understand your communications style.

Powerful Questions Can Have a Powerful Effect

Questions can be one of the most effective communication tools available to us.
Do you use questions enough in your day-to-day interactions?

When Do You Lie? Strategies For More Authentic, Respectful

Communication

Lies come in all shapes, sizes and colors. (Ever heard of flat-out, teensy or white
lies?) This article focuses on when it's appropriate, if at all, to lie.

10 Tips for Communicating Change

Transition is inevitable, but exactly what you say and how you say it can make a
major impact on how change is handled in your company.

How to Motivate Employees

Kevin Plank, founder of Under Armour, says it is vital to maintain regular face-to-
face communication with employees even as a company expands.

The 4-1-1 On Constructive Criticism

Being critical is easy, and offering criticism seems easier still. Yet constructive
criticism - - the more refined and effective brand of critical feedback - - is like an
art.

Lost in the Translation

Tips on communicating with employees who don't speak English.

 How to Say You're Sorry

Apologizing is part of doing business. But do it wrong, and you'll really be sorry.

Tips on Becoming a Good Conversationalist

In this excerpt from How to Work a Room: The Ultimate Guide to Savvy
Socializing in Person and Online learn tips for becoming a talk target -- someone
with whom it is easy to make conversation.

10 Tips for Successful Networking

Keith Ferrazzi needs two PalmPilots to keep track of all his contacts, people like
Bill Clinton and Michael Milken. But there's far more to cracking the inner circle
of the power elite than just taking names.

Powerful Presentations

Small-business columnist Rhonda Abrams shares nine strategies for giving

powerful presentations.

Reinventing the PowerPoint

New tech tools to liven your tired old PowerPoint presentations--and give your
online marketing efforts a boost.

Perfecting Your Pitch

Check out these tips from entrepreneurs and business experts on creating pitches
that can help you raise capital.

More Power Than Point

PowerPoint (or "presentation software") has become the lingua franca of

American business. It's also become the problem with American business.

Best of the Net: Power Brokers

When it comes to presentation software, most users agree there's one clear
standard. We've found some Web-based resources to help you make your point.

Captivate Audiences with Powerful Presentations

Do you want your speeches to pack a punch? Professional speaker and speech
consultant Patricia Fripp offers ideas on humor, movement, and vocal techniques.
Short and Sweet: Mastering Quick Presentations

Called on to make a brief speech? Professional speaker and speech coach Patricia
Fripp offers tips for saying what you want, short and sweet.

Present Before You Propose

Improve your presentation by saving handouts until the end.

Finding the Perfect Pitch

Watch three rookies gear up for the investor presentation of a lifetime.

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Presenters

Entrepreneurs learn pretty quickly that making a verbal pitch to investors is very
different from submitting a written business plan. Here are seven good practices
gleaned from a venture-capital boot camp.

Elements of a Winning Pitch

A presentation to potential investors in your business -- to family, friends, or

angels -- should include most of these elements.

Meetings
Escape From Meeting Hell

It's time for another soul-sapping, oxygen-depriving, time-wasting, mind-

numbing company meeting. Or is it? We offer 15 clever solutions to the problems
with most meetings.

Meetings Go Virtual

Web conferencing and other collaboration technologies -- tools that help people
work with one another through their computers -- have become more available
and affordable. This is a boon for smaller companies whose only previous
collaboration option was to gather workers in a room with coffee, donuts and a
whiteboard.

Meetings 101: Was That a Good Meeting, or a Bad One?

Five simple factors that help ensure every meeting is a good meeting.

Tools for Boosting Communication Effectiveness

Tips on how to boost the effectiveness of communication in meetings, during

change initiatives, and in interviews.

Advice on Getting the Most Out of Meetings

 Keith Lamb shares some advice on getting the most out of your meetings.

Cure the Sick-Meeting Ills

Ineffective meetings may be wasting time and lowering morale. Two

communication experts offer seven strategies for dramatically improving your
meetings.

How to Manage Meetings More Effectively

A look at companies that hold unique meetings for developing products, building
camaraderie, generating ideas, and reviewing employees' needs and
achievements.

Speech Writing and Delivery

Writing and Organizing a Winning Speech

Public speaker and speech consultant Patricia Fripp suggests following one of two
basic outlines for your speech. She also offers speechwriting tips.

Polishing and Rehearsing for a Perfect Presentation

You've written a speech, but there's still work to do before delivering it. Patricia
Fripp gives six suggestions for making sure your speech hits home along with
several ideas on effective rehearsing.

Deliver a Stellar Speech

Powerful presentations happen when you check out the room in advance and
work to connect with the audience when talking. Patricia Fripp offers ideas for
ensuring that what you say is a smashing success.

No More Pre-Speech Jitters

From virtual reality therapy to positive visualization, we've got relaxation

techniques to help offset your fears of public speaking.

Free Speech

Preparing for a big speech? Resources on the Web can help.

The Written Word

Work through Writer's Block

Need help working through some written projects? Two communication experts
offer eight tips for clear and effective writing.

Writing Well on the Web

 Content is king. Here are easy ways to make your website more reader-friendly.

Polish Your Prose

Poor grammar and punctuation in proposals and reports could cost you business.

How to Blog

The trick, say experts and longtime bloggers, is restraint. "For marketers, it's
about being more authentic, which is so ironic," says one analyst.

How to Drive Traffic to Your Company's Blog

Driving traffic to your small business’ corporate blog takes equal parts old-
fashioned marketing and contemporary Web tools.

Troubleshooting
Are You Assertive or Aggressive?

Assertiveness is the skill that tops the list for success or failure in any workplace
situation. Learn how to be more assertive -- not aggressive -- and apply it to your
interactions.

Get Your Point Across without Being Rude

Is your communication style a little rough around the edges? Here are five
techniques for saying what you mean without making enemies in the process.

Communicating When People Leave You Speechless

Improved communication is a nice idea, but can it work in the real world? Take a
look at these real-life business issues and suggestions for better communication
that may lead to better business

Good communication skills are a necessity in your personal and business life. Some people are
naturally good communicators. For everyone else, communication is a skill that must be
nurtured. With a little time and effort, no one will ever know you weren't born with the gift of gab.
Follow these steps to improve your communication skills.
Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions
1. 1
Think before you speak. Plan your presentations and other addresses to groups
whenever possible, especially in business. Even if you don't know everything you
want to say, you should have a general idea. In more private conversations, take
 the time to be clear about the points you want to make before talking. Always be
honest in your communication.
2. 2
Be an active listener. Listening is often more important than speaking. To
improve your communication skills, pay attention to what others are saying
without getting distracted.
3. 3
Make good eye contact. Shifty eyes make you seem less than trustworthy in
business and personal life. If you are looking everywhere but in the eyes of your
audience, it will arouse suspicion. This doesn't mean you should initiate a staring
contest. Just make sure to put your audience at ease by holding the gaze at
times.
4. 4
Take it slow. Don't slur your words together or mumble. Enunciate. If you speak
too fast, then you'll lose your audience. Use words only if you are sure of their
meaning. Make yourself easily understood.
5. 5
Use appropriate volume and tone. Of course, you should speak louder when
addressing a group than you would in private conversations. Reflect emotion in
your voice. A monotone approach is never appropriate in any setting.
6. 6
Practice; it's the best way to improve your communication skills. The more you do
it, the easier it will get.

Read more: How to Improve Communication Skills | eHow.com

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