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Your story matters. Family, friends, teachers, classmates, and potential employers want to hear and understand your unique experiences and special abilities. Communicating clearly and effectively is vital to building personal and professional relationships and pursuing educational and career goals. Students and job-seekers hoping to make a solid impression may ask, “How do I improve my communication skills?”
We are here to help. Essential Education is committed to helping you succeed in all aspects of life. Building strong communication skills can supercharge your success in several ways. Read on to gain simple, easy-to-apply tips to enhance communication and confidence. You will learn different forms of communication and tips to develop, practice, and upgrade these vital skills.
Top Ten Tips for Improving Communication
If you want to polish your communication skills, it’s important to note that communication is much more than what you say. Verbal, non-verbal, written correspondence and visual images convey distinct messages. Mastering each of these areas of communication will help you become an exceptional communicator. As you read through the following tips, consider how to apply each suggestion in your speech, body movements, the sentences you write, and the examples you use to express your ideas.
1. Learn how to listen (really listen)
One of the most important steps to becoming a great communicator is learning to be a good listener. Effective communication is not one-sided. The art of conversation has two players: the speaker and the listener. Successful speakers share thoughtful messages. Instead of thinking about what you’ll say when the speaker is finished, listen to what they have to say before formulating your response. Active listeners show authentic engagement with the speaker. Here are some helpful hints to develop your listening skills.
- Focus. Reassure the speaker you are listening by keeping eye contact, smiling when appropriate, nodding, or expressing brief verbal affirmations.
- Avoid distractions. Ringing phones, other people and places, or even your own wandering thoughts can give the impression that you are not fully engaged with what is being shared.
- Paraphrase. Try to repeat back or summarize what the other person said to let them know they were heard and that you understand their viewpoint.
- Be responsive. Comment based on what that person just shared to continue the conversation.
To learn more about listening, we recommend the book The Lost Art of Listening by Michael P. Nichols.
2. Engage your listeners.
When it’s your turn to speak, it’s important to bring others into the conversation by helping them feel invested in what you're saying. You can engage your listeners in a variety of ways. Show them how the topic relates to them and why what you have to share is relevant. Whether you’re communicating with an individual or a group, you can do this by saying their name, referencing relevant examples, or connecting the conversation to something of personal interest. You can also engage them with conversations designed to invite discussion and collaboration. An engaged listener will be excited to communicate with you and feel motivated to learn more.
3. Ask questions.
Good communicators ask questions! Questions show you are invested in the message and interested in learning more. Thoughtful questions are valuable communication tools in multiple areas of life. In personal relationships, questions allow conversations to go deeper and create stronger connections. In education, wise students know that asking questions helps them understand difficult concepts and build long-term memory. In work, asking questions makes sure teams operate smoothly and avoid miscommunication.
It’s also important to note that job interviews are not just for answering questions. Potential employers are equally interested in a candidate's questions when being considered for a new position. Asking questions shows curiosity, a top characteristic of critical thinkers and creative problem solvers. Not sure what questions to ask a potential employer? Here are some to consider.
4. Be clear.
Your message matters. State it clearly, knowing that sometimes simpler is better. Rarely does clarity require complex words or elaborate vocabulary. Clear communicators simply organize their thoughts. In other words, they think before they speak. Consider your words carefully in conversation and writing. Think through, read over and edit any correspondence to ensure you are sending the message you intended to send. From phone calls and chats to essays and emails, communicating clearly is a desired and admired skill.
5. Be concise.
It’s essential to find the balance between over-communicating and under-communicating. Using too many words and examples can overwhelm your audience, while too much explanation can lead to confusion. An excellent way to gauge your level of communication is to check in periodically to make your listeners understand you. This could require asking questions to check for understanding and providing less or more detail going forward.
6. Be aware of body language.
Even in silence, people communicate emotions without saying a word. Nonverbal communication is a powerful reflection of mood, attitude, and attention. Facial expressions, gestures, and physical reactions speak volumes and can have negative and positive implications. Solid communicators know that body language is just as, if not more important, than spoken language. While it’s not a perfect science, body language can be managed to project positivity. Consider these non-verbal communication suggestions.
- Start with a smile. A welcoming facial expression can go a long way.
- Pay attention to posture. If you’re slumped over or turned away, that can convey boredom or disinterest.
- Manage your manners. Holding a door, extending a firm handshake, and maintaining solid eye contact, reflect hospitality and respect.
- Manage distractions. Quality communication is distraction-free. When engaging in focused communication, silence electronics, avoid looking away, or fidget with nearby items, hair, or clothing. These actions may unintentionally show a lack of care or engagement.
- Know your “tells.” Pay attention to your go-to mannerisms and consider the message you may be sending. If you are unaware of your nonverbal cues, get some feedback from a close friend or family member. You may be doing off-putting things without even knowing it.
7. Know your audience.
Who you are speaking to should determine what and how your message is communicated. Rarely would you speak or respond to a friend or family member in the same way you would a coworker or supervisor. You would not use the same words or expressions in casual conversation as in a presentation or job interview. Consider your audience. People are different. Situations are different. So think about who you are talking to when you choose your words and actions. This could include the formality or informality of the conversation, the level of detail or personal information you provide, and the kind of humor or examples used to tell a story or share an idea. Use good judgment and adjust your message to fit your audience.
8. Manage your emotions.
Sometimes communication evokes emotion. Certain circumstances can result in feelings of excitement, fear, anger, frustration, or disappointment. It’s important to communicate how you’re feeling in a productive manner. Managing and expressing your emotions effectively will help you maintain strong relationships personally, academically, and professionally.
When you feel a strong emotion, it’s a good idea to pause before reacting. Communicating out of emotion is rarely helpful. Don’t be afraid to ask for some time to process before responding. Think about how you are feeling and why. When communicating your feelings, be careful not to place blame. Use “I feel” statements rather than accusatory statements. This technique will help you express your feelings without confusion or defensiveness. Check out Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg to learn more about communicating your emotions.
9. Practice patience.
Patience is a pivotal piece of quality communication. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the hurried pace of life and rush to make decisions, send communication, or suggest changes before you’re ready. Take a breath before responding to difficult questions or challenging situations. Take time to ensure you answer in a way that’s best for everyone and not simply a reactionary response. If you need more time to respond, it’s a good idea to communicate that intention to avoid frustration. Provide a time frame for your response or indicate that you await additional information before responding. Remember to reciprocate by extending patience to others and providing the time and space needed to communicate effectively.
10. Ask for help.
The best way to improve your communication skills is to be honest with others about what you are working on and ask for feedback. Once you ask for advice, you can have an open conversation about what’s working and what isn’t. This reflection will provide honest, actionable feedback to improve your skills. We all have communication strengths and weaknesses. Part of continued personal and professional development is strengthening your trouble spots. To ask for feedback, follow up with others after a communication you would like to improve. These conversations provide clarity and create a roadmap to improving your skills much faster, as you have specific things on which to focus. If you struggle with written communication, continue to practice and put yourself through the paces to improve that communication. If speaking to others is difficult, then work on that messaging aspect.
Improve your communication skills with online courses.
Taking classes can help you take your communication skills to the next level. Online courses like Work Essentials will teach you valuable employability skills with step-by-step lessons and real-life scenarios. Learning online will allow you to advance your abilities independently and at your own pace. Communication continues to top the list of skills employers want and need. Strong communicators become stand-out employees when they put these skills to work. Essential Education wants to be your partner in personal and professional development. Let us help you improve your communication skills and equip you with tools to thrive in study, work, and life.
Check out our coaching webinar, Learn Communication Skills for the Workplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How can I improve my communication skills?
Practice talking in front of a mirror to improve your body language and public speaking skills. Practice writing emails or social media posts using AI tools to correct spelling and grammar. Ask for help and feedback from friends and family, or seek expert advice from teachers or career professionals.
- If I want to practice communication skills, where can I do that?
You can practice communication skills just about anywhere! Casual gatherings, social media interactions, classroom activities, and everyday interactions provide opportunities to try new communication techniques and tools. Think of every conversation you have as personal practice and note what went well and what didn’t in every interaction. Identify and choose an area of communication you’d like to improve and focus on.
- What jobs require good communication skills?
Communication is a skill you can use for almost any job. Most jobs require solid communication skills, from interacting with customers and clients to collaborating with coworkers and managers. Sales, customer service, technical support, retail positions, and healthcare roles (plus many more!) need qualified communicators. Job candidates with these skills can quickly move from employable to employed!