The language and the ability to bond and share knowledge are fundamental aspects for coexistence and even for the mental and physical health of the human being. Communicating is essential and allows us to interact with our peers and even with other animal species. In our daily life we do not stop doing it, since every act or even its absence is communicative. But we must ask ourselves: are we capable of communicating effectively? In this article we offer you a series of 24 keys of the great communicators when establishing an effective communication . Know 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 which they can transmit. But doing it effectively does not only mean that a subject A issues a message to a subject B. For communication to be effective, it is necessary to establish a climate of understanding and mutual respect in which both parties in which the message is transmitted in a clear, concise and unambiguous, the content of the message being coherent with the attitude present in the communication. It is essential that the act allows both components to express themselves and be listened to actively , as well as 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 space for others to answer and without really listening to what the other has to say, in addition to making frequent the use of ambivalences and ambiguities that can give rise to different interpretations. 18 keys for effective communication Below you can 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 act of communication, as it is highly expressive. Holding it in a natural and unforced way is a sign of interest in what we are saying or towards our interlocutor. The listener feels more easily that he is being attended to and accepted as part of the communicative act. A look that avoids eye contact can imply lack of interest, confidence or even lying in the act of communication. 2. Use a tone of voice appropriate to the context The tone of voice is also an important element to achieve effective communication. The appropriate tone will depend on the type of communication that is established, the content of the message or the situation in which it is. In general, a tone of voice without deep ups and downs is recommended . 3. That your body supports your message The gestural and postural communication say much more than most people seem to think. According to the nonverbal language that we use, we can be supporting or even contradicting the verbal message, with which they can give themselves to different interpretations. Our posture and gestures should accompany the message transmitted and even enrich it. 4. Listen actively A common mistake that many people make today is that we tend to speak without listening to what the other says, as if they were waiting to continue their conversation without the other's response having importance. With this the other may feel unattended and in turn may cease the interest in maintaining the communicative act. 5. Respect the other's opinion We can have a very specific position regarding a specific topic, but this does not have to coincide with that of our interlocutors. If we want a communication to be effective it is necessary to be able to unconditionally accept the possibility of finding divergent positions and respect them even though we do not share them , however far from their own they may be. 6. Clear message It is important that our message is clear and concise, using an understandable vocabulary that is not ambiguous. Otherwise, it can lead to multiple interpretations that hinder the objectives pursued in the communicative act. 7. Language adjusted to the reality of the interlocutor If we want to be efficient in our communication, it is necessary to bear in mind that not all of our audience will have the same educational level , 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 essential if we want to establish a correct climate that facilitates mutual understanding and fluency in communication. 9. Do not use corseted messages When communicating it is easy to pull stereotypes and formulas already known . While formalism may be necessary on some occasions, the use of standardized messages usually offers a cold and impersonal perspective of communication that diminishes real interest and leads the listener to think about the purpose of the message sender. We must also bear in mind that although it is good to have possible questions, we must be able to give our discourse a certain spontaneity that makes it look authentic. 10. Consider the context It is not the same to be in a conference, at a wedding or at a funeral. The message must adapt not only to the subject and its vital reality, but also to take into account the environment in which the communicative exchange takes place . 11. Act with assertiveness During the communicative exchange we must try not to subjugate the interlocutors and impose our will regardless of their opinion, nor let ourselves be dragged by others. We must be able to defend our position completely respecting the opinion of the other. 12. Coherence If we want our communication to be effective, it is useful to focus on aspects that the other can understand without having to interpret excessively and without the meaning of the message varying from one moment to another. The coherence in the speech is essential. 13. Question and paraphrase That our interlocutor perceives interest on our part is a relevant aspect when establishing an effective communication. The fact of asking demonstrates that we are listening to him and allows us to finish understanding or making the other understand the parts of the message that are not clear. To paraphrase serves to make us see that we are listening while allowing to organize the fundamental parts of the discourse. 14. Respect the turns of the word An act of communication is established between two or more people. If we are talking about an oral communication, it is necessary that all those involved commit themselves to respect each other's speaking turn without continuously 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. Anticipating this possibility and having prepared an action plan or some possible response will help to provide the message with greater security and effectiveness. 16. Do not just give 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 authoritative manner, it can be seen as punitive and generate rejection and reactance. 17. Emotional self-management It is common for different feelings, emotions and feelings to surface during communication . While it is beneficial that they can come to light and can even improve effectiveness by increasing understanding between the interlocutors, we should not let them go to the extreme and prevent us from exchanging information or preventing the achievement of the communication objective. 18. Have an objective and make it clear honestly As stated on best college coursework writing help uk, if we pretend to have an efficient communication, it is fundamental to be clear about what is intended with it, as well as to be able to transmit it and argue so that communication can facilitate its achievement. It is highly recommended to be honest and authentic, without trying to manipulate the other.
