An essential part of developing your leadership skills is improving your interpersonal communication skills. Communication is much more than just being able to speak. It requires building better interpersonal relationships by also being able to listen and comprehend what others say.
Communication and Listening Techniques
Listening requires pausing, and taking a moment to pay attention to what someone is telling you. While they are speaking, it is important to clear your mind and focus on what is being said. Avoid thinking about what your response should be while they are talking. Use the communication techniques of clarification and reflection to verify you properly understand what they said.
Clarification is asking the other person a question if you do not fully understand what was said. For instance, “What did you mean, when you said …? ” or, “I do not fully understand what you said. Could you please repeat it?” are common clarifying questions.
Reflection is a technique where you mirror or paraphrase what was just said in the form of a question. It lets the speaker know you are trying to understand what they are saying. Using reflective questions will help you better understand the meaning of spoken language.
In cases where you are the speaker, you can also use these techniques to ask other people questions to ensure they understood what you told them. Remember to pay attention to nonverbal cues, too, such as hand gestures, and maintain direct eye contact with the speaker and/or listener.
Communication and Encouragement
Use encouragement to make people feel like you are approachable. A kind word, praise for a job well done, or even a friendly and welcoming tone in your voice will help people feel more at ease. As a result, people will not hesitate to come to you when they have questions or need further clarification about something you have communicated, either verbally or through an email message.
By developing effective communication skills, your leadership skills will also improve. If you are looking for English training to further your communication skills, contact Computer Systems Institute today by calling 1-847-967-5030 to learn more about our available programs.
