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Five surefire techniques for effective communication

We all communicate every day. We talk with our neighbors, resolve disputes, write business letters, personal greetings and make the occasional speech. How well we communicate our ideas depends on the techniques for effective communication which we employ. Here are five proven techniques for effective communication to improve your communication skills.

The clarity with which you present your ideas is essential. Whether you’re writing an essay or having a verbal conversation with your neighbor, you must practice clarity. To this end, strive to increase your vocabulary. Let’s say you wish to compliment your neighbor on her new hair style. “That looks good”, is not quite clear. Your neighbor may even be insulted, thinking her old style must have been terrible to evoke your remark. “I love that subtle color. It looks great with your complexion!”, is much better. You’ve made it clear what it is you like and why.

When conveying a more complex message, use an organized and logical approach. Here’s an example of how to put this technique for effective communication to work for you. Let’s say you’re meeting with your boss to discuss a proposed project. You should not arrive at the meeting unprepared. Take the time to sit down and order your material in a written format. You wouldn’t begin with telling him how one of your objectives should be met. You first want to state the problem which justifies the project. Then you might go into a step-by-step itemization of the objectives, how each will be met and the time required to implement each objective. You might conclude with any open issues. Your boss will surely appreciate the clarity, organization and logic of your presentation.

It’s been said that brevity is the soul of wit. When you’re writing Aunt Mary, you might go on for pages, with all the latest family news. However, when you’ve got a list of questions to ask your physician, you want to be concise and to the point. Enough said!

Perhaps the most valuable technique for effective communications is to remember that it’s not all about you. This is one of the most common errors people make when communicating. They get so involved with their own point of view that the other person feels completely left out and stops listening or reading. If you’re chatting with your neighbor and the conversation consists of what you’re doing, thinking and feeling, your communication is one-sided and self-serving.

This leads us to the final point when you study techniques for effective communication. Always keep in mind that communication should result in an exchange of ideas where everyone learns. You, of course, wish to persuade the other party to your point of view. However, you must leave the door open to alternate perspectives. In this way, everyone benefits.

Present your information clearly, logically and in an organized format. When appropriate, be concise. Be willing to be open to other ideas. Use these techniques and see your communication skills improve dramatically.

From speech impediments to deafness, a growing number of people with disabilities are shunning the corporate world and starting their own companies.

After a battle with sinus cancer, Dawn Hampton was wary of re-entering the workforce. The eye patch and dental prosthesis she was forced to wear — the disease claimed an eye, cheekbone, and several teeth — left her self-conscious about her appearance and speech.

“I thought no one would hire me because of what I look like,” Hampton says.

So she decided to become an entrepreneur.

Hampton, who had worked in hairdressing, retail, and construction prior to her diagnosis, used her first-hand knowledge of insurance claims to launch Ph.D. Organizational Services, a Santa Barbara, Calif.-based firm that processes reimbursements for patients and physicians.

Concerned about corporate hiring practices and the potential for career advancement, Americans with speech impediments, hearing impairments, and other disabilities are opting to go into business for themselves. Read the rest of this entry »