How To Improve Communication Skills In 5 Simple Steps

Learning how to improve communication skills is a continuous affair. After all, you're only as good as your last performance. Unless you're the type of person who is satisfied with being second best at everything (and I trust that you aren't), then I'm sure that you will find use for this information one way or another. If you want to learn how to improve communication skills, then applythe 5 simple steps below. Step 1: Do Your Research. It's always important for you to do your research first. Find out what your intended audience likes and dislikes. Does this particular group belong to a certain age bracket? Is your audience young or old? Consider the demographics before you even work on what you want to communicate to them. After all, Einstein's theories - no matter how brilliant - are useless when explained to a bunch of toddlers. Step 2: Establish Rapport. Before you even get to the heart of the topic, I suggest you make a connection with the audience first. Ask them questions on what their expectations are, or any other questions related to what you're about to discuss. Find common ground and everything will go more smoothly. Step 3: Practice Your Art. If you want to know how to improve communication skills, then you must do what anyone who wants to develop his abilities does - practice! Whether you want to practice with an audience or with just a bunch of pillows doesn't matter, as long as you practice. Doing this at least gets you used to communicating with other people other than yourself. Besides, not practicing dulls your skills - no matter how impressive they already are. Step 4: Dress To Impress. Communication is not just oral; and it is not just written. Communication is also the way you present yourself to the people you're about to convey your ideas to. Dress shabbily to a bunch of business men and you can bet there'll be no support from them. Dress too ostentatiously in a seminar and you can bet no one will remember a thing you say. You must dress in a way that is appropriate for your topic and your audience. Step 5: Read Between The Lines. People don't always say what is in their heads, so you need to learn how to see through their reactions and their questions. When presenting, try to listen to what your audience is really trying to say instead of worrying whether or not you're making a good impression. Being able to read their body language can help you a lot in detecting how they are thinking and feeling at the moment. Interpreting body language is a whole new topic on its own; just search for "reading body language" in google and you'll find lots of information on the subject. By understanding what it is that they're really after, you'll be able to cater to their needs as well as improve your communication skills tenfold! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Lee