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10 ways to be a better communicator.

Good communication skills don’t grow overnight, good communication take planning, preparation and consistent practice.

1.       Give a valuable takeaway.

Whether you’re giving a talk or participating, decide on one thing that will really deliver value-an actionable item that people can walk away with. This especially important when we have to speak up to critique or correct an idea that’s going around bacuse when you are not adding value,t’s no longer constructive criticism, it’s just dissenting.

2.       Be a good listener.

as the conversation goes on, listen and respond, incorporating your points into the response.

3.       Pick an opportune time to speak.

4.       Be the unifying voice.

By stepping in and first unifying all the best thoughts, you get people to calm down.

5.       Keep your responses succint.

Short, snappy answers that get right to the heart of the issue will help get your point across and be remembered in the process.

6.       Don’t be the person who needs to comment on everything.

7.       Cut the fluff.

You need to make the most of the small amount of time you are given to speak. This means you need to get straight to the point.

8.       Prepare ahead of time.

You are much more likely to provide a strong and memorable contribution if you take the time to sort out your points and practice them first.

9.       Smile.

10.   Validate, then share.

State your team member’s idea back to them to validate it, and then add your own perspective for a productive discourse. People are more open to your ideas when they feel as if theirs were honored.