How to master verbal communication? 11 practical tips

Recommendations to learn how to better apply verbal communication to your daily life.

Verbal communication has been the great aptitude of the human being, since it is the basis for practically all the culture and thought of our species.It has been the basis for practically all the culture and thought of our species.

Verbal communication is not only the act of speaking, that is, orally emitting words. The act of writing is also verbal communication, since writing also conveys specific information. However, poor verbal skills can significantly impair our ability to convey the message we want our audience to understand.

That is why it is very important to learn how to master verbal communication, something we will see in this article, in addition to briefly explaining what exactly this type of communication is and how it differs from non-verbal communication.

What is verbal communication?

Verbal communication is understood as the act of transmitting information by means of words, which can be issued orally or in writing.. In other words, and contrary to what many people believe, verbal communication, in addition to being the act of speaking, is to inform in written form, using meaningful words and phrases.

Normally, when talking about communication, a clear distinction is made between verbal and non-verbal, as if they were oil and water. But the truth is that both types of human communication need each other, since it is not possible to deliver a message in a fully effective and unequivocal way relying only on verbal communication.

When we talk to someone we always look at their facial gestures, hand movements, tone of voice... These aspects of non-verbal communication can indicate whether what the person is saying is in accordance with what they really think. For example, if the person tells us that he/she is very calm and, however, is constantly moving his/her legs, he/she is transmitting nervousness.

What must be emphasized is that verbal communication is a very useful tool for the human species which, if not properly mastered, can lead to misunderstandings.. If you do not have good verbal skills, the message you are trying to send will not be well understood by the audience, whether they are listeners or readers. Thus, this audience will not understand the message and will not know how to ask the right questions.

How can verbal communication be mastered?

There are several strategies that can be implemented to master verbal communication. Below is a list of all of them with clear examples.

1. Start off on the right foot

On many occasions, especially when it is a first meeting with another person, how the first few minutes of the conversation go will have a profound impact on the relationship in the future..

First impressions have a very significant impact on how you view others, and the way you speak is a key aspect. During the first contact you should be friendly and try to use a calm tone.

Regardless of the context in which the conversation is taking place, we should try to talk about more neutral and generic topics, in order to give way to those issues on which there may be more polarized opinions. to those issues in which there may be a greater polarization of opinions..

2. Prepare the topic

In order to master verbal communication, whether oral or written, it is necessary to have a broad mastery of the topic to be discussed.. It is very important to do some research before starting a conversation or writing a text.

Whether it is an informal conversation with friends or an end-of-course presentation, it is very important to prepare for the topic you are going to talk about.

It is not just a matter of showing that you know what you are talking about.. If, for example, you are going to discuss a specific topic and try to convince others of your position, the use of facts that you know helps to strengthen your opinion.

3. Choose the right words

To make it easier for the audience to understand, you should try to say or write the most appropriate words for the level and type of listeners or readers to whom the speech is addressed..

For example, when writing a document on psychology, if it is aimed at a non-specialized audience, you should avoid the use of technical terms or, if they are mentioned, describe exactly what they are.

On the contrary, if the same document is addressed to psychologists and related professionals, in this case it will not be necessary to describe each term used, since it will be understood that the target audience is already familiar with them.

By choosing the appropriate words, you will be able to capture in the mind of the receiver an image very similar to the one we have imagined ourselves in our own minds.. In case the language is vague or too abstract for the situation we are talking about, the meaning of what we are trying to say will be carried away by the wind.

Also, the use of words that are too rare makes the conversation or the text in question become somewhat heavy and not very dynamic.

4. Speak clearly

Speak clearly, that is, vocalize the phonemes appropriately and use a suitable volume for the space you are in, in case you are speaking orally.

If you speak too softly, the other person will not understand anything and may interpret that you are not sure of what you are saying. may interpret that we are not sure of what we are talking about or we are afraid that someone is listening to us, which may be interpreted as if we are not sure of what we are talking about or are afraid that someone is listening to us.This can be interpreted as if we are telling a secret.

On the other hand, if you speak at too high a volume, it can be interpreted as a sign that you are angry or that you want to convey some kind of negative feeling about the message you are delivering.

5. Use an appropriate tone

To use an appropriate tone, you must first be aware of what tone you are using. This may seem difficult, since everyone speaks and reads from their own perspective and evaluates the tones of others based on their own. However, once you have managed to identify your tone, it will take some patience and time, it will take a little patience and time to work on improving it..

If you are writing a text, a good way to know the tone of your document is simply to read it aloud before handing it over to the appropriate person. By reading the words aloud it is possible to find out what is the tone transmitted and if it is necessary to make any modifications.

The words used, in and of themselves, may be appropriate for the topic being discussed and the intended audience; however, there are certain constructions that may be interpreted as sarcasm, pedantry or excessive formality, there are certain constructions that may be interpreted as sarcasm, pedantry or excessive formality..

6. Look into the eyes

Although this point would be more related to non-verbal communication, it is important to mention, since it is a support to communicate effectively. It serves as a support to effectively communicate what we are trying to say through words..

Looking into the eyes of the person you are talking to helps to create a certain connection, which is essential for both parties to be aware of what the other is saying.

But be careful not to stare too hard. This can be interpreted in many ways and none of them is comfortable for the interlocutor.

7. Concentrate on the audience

In case you are speaking orally, pay attention to the other person and concentrate on what he/she is saying..

It is possible that, as you speak, questions may come to mind to clarify certain points previously discussed in the conversation, however, you should make an effort to avoid thinking about them while the other person is speaking.

Thinking about what questions will be asked may cause us to run the risk of not paying attention to the person and, by chance, he/she is answering them. and, by chance, he or she is answering the question we are going to ask.

When we ask it, the person will tell us that he or she has already told us and may feel a little annoyed that we are not paying attention to him or her.

8. Avoid distractions

It may happen that, while talking to another person, there is background noise. This should be avoided, or try to ignore this stimulus and focus on what the person you are talking to is saying.

If you are unable to control this distractor, you can invite the other speaker to go somewhere where there is less noise or where there are not so many distractions.The speaker will be able to say something more or less important.

9. Avoid focusing too much on one point

Whether you are having a conversation or writing a document, you may focus more on some topics than others. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however, you should give adequate prominence to those points that deserve it, not more than necessary.not more than necessary.

You should also take into account points that may be superficial but still give meaning to the conversation or text as a whole.

This is why you should avoid focusing too much on a single point, since in that case you run the risk of appearing too heavy or only having understood a very small part of the whole topic that has been dealt with.

10. Encourage the participation of others

A quite common situation, which would be within the verbal communication of oral type, is that in the same conversation not only two people participate, but more. In this type of situation it usually happens that, despite the fact that there are several members in the group, only two or, at most, three are the ones who are having the real conversation.

A good way to demonstrate strong verbal skills, as well as to strengthen the bonds between the conversationalists, is to encourage the participation of the others.is to encourage the participation of others. In addition to not feeling ignored, they may say something that enriches the conversation, but which they have not dared to say before due to lack of assertiveness.

11. Summarize

After having spoken at length about a topic or, in case the conversation or the text in question is coming to an end, it is always a good idea to summarize the main points made during the conversation..

In this way it is possible to review what has not been entirely clear, and if necessary, to insist on it.

On the other hand, a demonstration is made of the attention capacity that has been put into practice throughout the conversation or in the elaboration of the written text.

Bibliographical references:

• Serra, M. (2013) Psychology of communication and language. Barcelona: Edicions i Publicacions de la Universitat de Barcelona.
• Carroll, D.W. (2006). Psychology of language. Madrid: Thomson
• Miller, G. (1985) Lenguaje y habla. Madrid: Alianza editorial
• Cortès-Colomé, M. (2016). Psicología de la comunicación lingüística. Madrid: Síntesis.