23 Things Effective Communicators Do At Work And Home

Do you know what sets a minority of effective communicators with others? It is the ability to understand the direction of conversion and the skill to convey their message in a clear and precise manner. Effective communicators are not merely talkers but great listeners too!

While some outstanding communication skills are innate, people who are not naturally endowed with these abilities may surely improve their communication skills through practice. When you enhance your communication skills, you can expect your life to become easier in many facets of life. Whether you’re ordering pizza delivery or phoning 911 for emergency assistance, both listening and communicating are vitally important.

You need to understand and adopt the best qualities of effective communicators to improve the quality of life in every aspect. Peruse these attributes to become a good communicator and, in the process, also learn how to communicate effectively at work and home.

Effective Communicators Showcase These Attributes

Whether you are hellbent on improving your communication at work or implementing changes for good communication in the workplace, the pointers in this section will highlight the attributes you must focus on. An effective communicator always displays these traits:

1. They Listen

“We have two ears and one mouth, and we should use them proportionally,” says Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking.

Excellent listening is an important skill in effective communication. ^[1]

To communicate well, you must be able to listen well. Taking in what people are saying permits you to respond appropriately. Great communicators don’t engage in one-sided discussions because then what’s the point?

They never try to come up with replies while others speak because they don’t want to lose sight of what is said. Effective communicators know exactly what fits by retaining every word in the dialogue when it comes time to speak.

2. They Can Relate to Others

People with good communication abilities develop a knowledge of their audience by listening closely. They may personalize their message for the precise listeners at hand, whether it’s a room full of people, a group of internet subscribers, or just one other person.

It’s critical to have some understanding of your audience since, without it, your words will fall flat.

3. They Simplify the Complex

Some messages are difficult to understand, perplexing, or completely chaotic. However, an effective communicator can take these signals and make them plain and real for his audience.

Here are good communication skills examples:

• Consider a teacher explaining a new topic to an algebra class. His lecture will fall flat if he can’t make the difficult intelligible. Great communicators make the material more consumable for more people by breaking it down or rephrasing it.
• Another great example is communication with airline executives. They are trained to be effective communicators and not confuse the clients with technical jargon while making a booking.

4. They Know When to Speak Up

Understanding when a discussion is necessary is always beneficial to effective communication. Consider the case of a slacker employee at work who cannot grasp an idea.

A manager who acknowledges the need for a talk will have more of an impact than one who brushes the matter under the rug without saying anything. They know when to speak up, when it will benefit them, and when it is best to remain silent.

5. They Are Available

They make themselves available whenever you want an expert communicator. They don’t leave you hanging by giving you answers.

They’re not the boyfriend who vanishes and doesn’t respond to texts for hours; they’re not the employer who doesn’t have time to explain duties. Good communicators facilitate comprehensive dialogues that satisfy all sides.

6. They Practice Confidence

An effective communicator is aware of his or her abilities. They don’t hide behind ambiguous terminology and talk plainly. Their confident demeanor gains the audience’s trust by demonstrating that they understand what they’re talking about.

7. They Are Specific

You’re not going to beat about the bush if you want to get your message through. Effective communication skills require a clear, concise message, and there is no ambiguity about what that point is.

Effective communicators offer specific directions or ask pointed questions, leaving no opportunity for misunderstanding. It’s better to provide it to the listener in a simple manner, without any confusion.

8. They Focus on Their Interactions

Eliminating distractions from conversations is a key component of speaking properly and politely. No one enjoys being in the middle of a discussion when the other side begins texting or pushing food in their face.

By removing these distractions from his environment, the effective communicator may concentrate completely on the message and audience.

9. They Ask Questions

A competent communicator makes extensive use of questions — ones that are rich with specifics – to understand the audience better. Answers, not assumptions, are used to fill up any gaps of misunderstanding.

Ask open-ended questions about their interests to get insight into their needs and wants. ^[2] Any information gathered via asking aids in better satisfying the audience and conveying the communicator’s message.

10. They Recognize Non-Verbal Cues

When talking to someone face to face, body language is equally as significant as the words uttered. Nonverbal indications such as posture, facial expression, and eye contact may assist an effective communicator in comprehending their audience and recognizing dissatisfaction, anxiousness, or enthusiasm.

It’s worth your time and effort to practice these skills and improve your communication abilities.

Take a look at these top 20 body language indicators to learn more.

11. They Make Eye Contact

Having regular eye contact with someone while having a conversation shows you care what they say. When looking at the floor or out the window, it gives the impression that you aren’t paying attention.

Take a look at this advice on how to make engaging eye contact.

12. They Are Engaging

To engage means to occupy the attention or efforts of a person or persons. This requires being outside of yourself to connect in both the give and take of communication holistically. When you do so, you occupy their attention.

If you are not ready to be fully engaging, wait before starting an important communication.

13. They Pause Before Reacting

You often read an email that just came in and have an instant reaction to reading it. And it is not a positive reaction. A less effective way of dealing and communicating is to send a scathing email back.

It is always better to wait a while before responding. This is true in verbal situations as well.

14. They Don’t Gossip

Gossip, aside from potentially being destructive, is noise. It is “information” unnecessary to conducting work, a big distraction, and a time-waster.

If you’re not sure how to deal with gossip at work, take a look at this article: 7 Things to Do in a Gossipy Work Environment.

15. They Praise Often and Acknowledge People

People who feel unappreciated make lousy listeners. They might find it not worth their time or that the speaker is not being forthright.

But when a person is valued and told so in no uncertain terms, they listen with eagerness. Authentic praise builds better antennae in the listener.

16. They Never Use Condescending or Vulgar Language

It doesn’t matter how thick-skinned a person is. Talking down to them or in a way that sounds abusive is the noise that prevents them from fully engaging with you.

Filter your mind and mouth, and you will notice those around you are more eager to hear what you have to say.

17. They Have a Good Work Ethic

Nobody pines for the opinions of slackers. Be responsible, work hard, and go the extra mile to help colleagues who need an extra hand.

Here’re some tips for you to have a good work ethic: How to Build a Reliable Work Ethic.

18. They Treat Others Fairly

If you don’t think you will get a fair deal, you likely discount what a schemer tells you. An effective communicator keeps judging people at bay.

Suspending judgment is also part of active listening. ^[3]

If people in your company perceive you as treating others without an even hand, someone will tune you out and pull down their antennae. But when they know you will treat them with the same honor you treat others, they want to hear what you say.

19. They Remain Calm Under Stress

This is one of the most difficult tactics to master, but it pays well.

We all have been amazed by EMTs, police officers, surgeons, and the like who can keep their cool in life-and-death situations. And if involved, we immediately follow their commands.

When you remain calm under stressful situations, others will too. This is another form of effective communication.

If you find it hard to handle stress, check out this advice: How to Stay Calm and Cool When You Are Extremely Stressful.

20. They Are Not Wasteful with Time

We all are born with a finite amount of time. So, it is little wonder that people dislike having theirs wasted (which is why so many office meetings are disagreeable).

Effective communicators know what needs to be said, they get to the point and leave room for others to ask questions.

21. They Seek to Understand the Situation and Clarify

Take time to be thoughtful and intentional. Before communicating at work, it’s essential to pause, understand the situation, clarify, and have empathy.

If you’re wondering how to communicate effectively at work, check in with yourself when personal matters may cloud your perceptions and judgments. Challenge the preconceived notions and know when to put personal feelings aside and keep the task on the forefront.

22. They Provide Objective and Observable Feedback

Everyone would rather avoid conflict if that was an option, but sometimes that’s not possible in life or the workplace. Effective communication means providing objective and observable feedback and receiving it in return.

This helps build trust in a team and strengthens other modes of effective communication like listening, asking, engaging, and reacting.

23. They Create Accountability

Effective communication at work is not a one-time event. You’ll need to monitor progress continuously and provide ongoing support. Don’t forget to acknowledge the progress of your peers, teams, or leaders!

Use the following questions to help you evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing communication at work:

• What opportunities do you see?
• How can you adjust?
• What decisions need to be made?
• What support can you provide?
• What do you need to do to ensure that the accurate message was received?

Bottom Line

Communication, like many other skills, is an art. One needs to put effort into becoming an effective communicator. By following the traits mentioned in this article, one can master the art of good and effective communication.

If you enjoyed reading this article and want to check other areas of life that you can maximize, you might find this article useful.

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