Effective Communication: 24 Keys to Great Communicators

Expressing yourself well and establishing an enriching dialogue is not always easy; these guidelines will help you.

Language and the ability to bond and share knowledge are fundamental aspects for coexistence and even for the mental and physical health of human beings.

Communicating is essential and allows us to interact with our peers and even with other animal species. In our daily life we do not fail to do so, since every act, or even its absence, is communicative.

But are we capable of communicating effectively? In this article we offer you a series of 24 keys of the great communicators when it comes to establishing effective communication.

Knowing how to express yourself and make yourself understood

Communicating involves the exchange of information between two or more subjects through the use of various codes through the use of various codes through which they can transmit.

But doing so effectively does not only imply that subject A sends a message to subject B. In order for communication to be effective, it is necessary to establish a climate of mutual understanding and respect in which the message is transmitted in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner, the content of the message being coherent with the attitude present in the communication.

It is essential that the act allows that both components can express themselves and be actively listened to, as well as to keep the languageIt is also necessary to maintain a language adjusted to the capacities of both subjects.

We are immersed in an increasingly individualistic society, which hinders the effectiveness of communication. People tend to express themselves continuously without leaving room for others to answer and without really listening to what the other person has to say, in addition to the frequent use of ambivalences and ambiguities that can give rise to different interpretations.

24 keys to effective communication

Below you will find a series of aspects to take into account in order to establish effective communication.

1. Maintain eye contact

The gaze is a fundamental element in the communicative act, as it is highly expressive. Holding it in a natural and unforced way is a sign of interest in what is being said to us or to our interlocutor. The listener feels more easily that he/she is being attended to and accepted as part of the communicative act. A look that avoids eye contact may imply lack of interest, lack of trust or even a lie in the communicative act.

2. Use a tone of voice appropriate to the context

The tone of voice is also an important element for effective communication. The appropriate tone will depend on the type of communication to be established, the content of the message or the situation in which it takes place. In general, it is recommended a tone of voice without deep ups and downs..

3. Let your body support your message

Gestural and postural communication say much more than most people seem to think. Depending on the nonverbal language we use, we can be supporting or even contradicting the verbal message, which can lead to different interpretations. Our posture and gestures must accompany the transmitted message and even enrich it. message transmitted and even enrich it.

4. Active listening

A common mistake that many people make today is that we tend to speak without listening to what the other person is saying, as if they were waiting to continue their conversation without the other's without the other's response being important. With this, the other person may feel neglected and in turn may cease to be interested in maintaining the communicative act.

5. Respect the other person's opinion

We can have a very specific position on a given topic, but this does not have to coincide with that of our interlocutors. If we want communication to be effective, it is necessary to be able to unconditionally accept the possibility of finding divergent positions and to respect them even if they do not agree with our interlocutors. respect them even if we do not share them, no matter how far from our own.We must respect them even if we do not share them, no matter how far from our own position they may be.

6. Clear message

It is important that our message is clear and concise, using understandable and unambiguous vocabulary. Otherwise, multiple interpretations may arise, which may hinder the objectives pursued in the communicative act.

7. Language adjusted to the interlocutor's reality

If we want to be efficient in our communication, it is necessary to take into account that not all our audience will have the same educational level. not all our audience will have the same level of education, knowledge, vocabulary or even ability to communicate.knowledge, vocabulary or even comprehension capacity. It is necessary to adjust the type of language used to the reality of the audience in question.

8. Use of empathy

Connecting and establishing a positive rapport with our interlocutor is fundamental if we want to establish a correct climate that facilitates mutual understanding and fluency in communication.

9. Do not use corseted messages

When it comes to communicating it is easy to use stereotypes and already known formulas.. Although formalism may be necessary on some occasions, in general the use of typified messages offers a cold and impersonal perspective of communication that diminishes real interest and leads the listener to be thinking about what is the purpose of the sender of the message.

We must also bear in mind that although it is good to have foreseen possible questions, we must be able to give our speech a certain spontaneity that makes it look authentic.

10. Take into account the context

It is not the same to be at a conference, a wedding or a funeral. The message must be adapted not only to the subject and his or her vital reality but also take into account the environment in which the communicative exchange takes place..

11. Act assertively

During the communicative exchange we must try not to subjugate the interlocutors and impose our will independently of their opinion, nor let ourselves be dragged by the other's opinion. We must be able to defend our position in a fair manner while respecting the opinion of others.

12. Coherence

If we want our communication to be effective, it is useful to focus on aspects that the other person can understand without having to interpret excessively and without the meaning of the message varying from one moment to the next. Coherence in discourse is essential.

13. Ask questions and paraphrase

The fact that our interlocutor perceives interest on our part is a relevant aspect when it comes to establishing effective communication. The fact of asking questions shows that we are listening and allows us to finish allows us to finish understanding or to make the other person understand the parts of the message the parts of the message that are not clear. Paraphrasing helps us to show that we are listening and at the same time allows us to organize the fundamental parts of the speech.

14. Respect turns of speech

An act of communication is established between two or more people. If we are talking about oral communication, it is necessary that all parties involved agree to respect the other's turn to speak without continually interrupting the other's message.

15. Anticipate possible answers

On many occasions those who receive the message will have doubts and questions, or different events may occur during the communicative act. Anticipate this possibility and have a plan of action or a possible response prepared will help to make the message more will help to provide the message with greater security and effectiveness.

16. Do not limit yourself to giving orders

Effective communication is carried out with respect and education with respect to the person receiving the communication. If the transmission of information is carried out in an authoritarian manner, it can be seen as punitive and generate rejection and reactance.

17. Emotional self-management

It is common that during communication Different sensations, emotions and feelings come to the surface.. While it is beneficial that they may come to the surface and may even improve effectiveness by increasing understanding between the interlocutors, we must not let them go to extremes and prevent us from exchanging information or impede the achievement of the communication objective.

18. Have an objective and make it clear in an honest way.

If we intend to have an efficient communication, it is essential to be clear about what is intended, as well as to be able to transmit it and argue in such a way that the communication can facilitate its achievement. It is highly recommended to be honest and authenticwithout trying to manipulate the other person.

19. The topics, one at a time

Starting with one topic and then moving on to others and then returning to the original may be effective on occasion, but if it is not well planned it usually tends to confuse the listener as to what the topic is about. It would be useful to to deal with topics in an orderly fashion in order to maintain the internal coherence of the discourse.

20. Avoid generalities and detours

A clear and concise message reaches the receiver sooner and can be more efficient than making long detours on a topic before getting to the real objective.

21. Try to approach communication in a positive way.

Regardless of the type of message being conveyed, communications that approach and elaborate concepts from a positive and constructive point of view tend to be much more efficient and well accepted. from a positive and constructive point of view.

22. Do not excessively lengthen the communication

Although making a long and elaborate speech can be attractive in order to communicate a large number of ideas, it must be taken into account that people have a certain attentional capacity and the longer the argument, the more likely it is that information will be lost along the way. Short speeches that make clear the different key arguments tend to be much more effective.

23. Motivate

Keeping people motivated is essential, and helps both to maintain interest in the exchange and to produce some kind of positive outcome. Giving space for our interlocutor to express their doubts, encouraging their expression and answering them can be highly motivating, as well as the focus given to the message.

24. Integrate and be open to adding or considering others' points of view.

It is important that no matter how much you intend to defend a certain idea, you take into account the points of view of others. In order to make one's own speech more efficient, it is advisable to spontaneously use some of the elements that other people have added and discuss them.

On the one hand, this makes it clear that that the contributions of others are taken into account.On the other hand, it can reinforce or qualify the message to be conveyed.