Do you want to level up your communication skills? What are some things you should keep in mind when it comes to oral communication? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Effective oral communication is one of the most important skills<\/a> you could develop. One rule of thumb to keep in mind is to use the same techniques whether you\u2019re talking with one person or a roomful of people\u2014maintain the same level of confidence, attention, and engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s how to improve your oral communication skills, according to author Jay Sullivan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Being a competent communicator will open many doors for you, both in a personal and a professional sense. Here are a few tips on how to improve your oral communication skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sullivan advises paying attention<\/a> to the speed, volume, and tone of your voice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speed: <\/strong>You\u2019ll more likely need to slow your pace rather than speed it up\u2014most people talk fast out of nervousness. (Sullivan does add that talking fast on purpose<\/em> can imply a sense of urgency.) Also, incorporate pauses to give your audience time to process what you just said. (Shortform note: What\u2019s so bad about talking fast? Not only does it make you appear less confident and unorganized, it also makes your audience work harder to understand you\u2014which goes against Sullivan\u2019s advice to focus on their needs. Work on your pace by recording yourself as you practice<\/a> your presentation. From there, you can gauge exactly how fast you\u2019re talking and make adjustments. A good rate to aim for is 150-160 words per minute<\/a>.)\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Volume: <\/strong>When speaking without a microphone, Sullivan recommends projecting your voice enough to reach the person farthest away from you. Deliberately varying your volume can keep people more engaged. Saying something loudly can emphasize a point; counterintuitively, lowering your voice on occasion can encourage them to lean in and listen more intently. (Shortform note: Remember that projecting<\/em> your voice is different from yelling<\/em><\/a>\u2014yelling uses your vocal cords, while projecting uses your diaphragm, or the muscle at the base of your chest. To practice using your diaphragm, try this exercise: Take a big breath in, feeling your abdomen expand, then force all the air out with a \u201cha.\u201d You should feel your diaphragm contract.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tone: <\/strong>Inject energy and positivity into your tone by delivering your message with a smile. Avoid sounding lifeless, which tends to happen when you read your notes in a monotone voice. However, Sullivan cautions that while varying your tone, you should avoid \u201cupspeak\u201d\u2014using a rising inflection at the end of a declarative sentence, making it sound like a question. This type of tone makes you sound tentative. (Shortform note: Sullivan says you should avoid upspeak, which is often derided as an undesirable practice, but others argue that it has a necessary function<\/a>: Contrary to the belief that it makes you sound tentative, it may actually encourage other people to listen actively and discourage them from interrupting.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every time you say something, make eye contact with members of the audience. However, Sullivan says your eyes shouldn\u2019t constantly dart around the room. The proper way to make eye contact when presenting to a group is to look at one person for as long as it takes to complete a sentence. Then, move on to another person. Give key decision-makers more attention, but don\u2019t ignore all the other people in the room\u2014you want to make your whole audience feel like you\u2019re connected to them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a one-on-one conversation, Sullivan advises gauging the other person\u2019s comfort level with eye contact; if they seem uncomfortable holding your gaze, drop your eyes from time to time while you\u2019re not talking, perhaps to jot down a note. (Shortform note: While Sullivan isn\u2019t specific, some communication experts recommend maintaining eye contact 50% of the time while speaking<\/a> and 70% while listening.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n The author says that your body language<\/a> should be open and neutral, whether you choose to stand or sit: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Standing: <\/strong>Stand with your feet directly under your hips with your weight evenly distributed and your hands apart\u2014this keeps you from fidgeting or crossing your arms, which makes you look closed off. It also leaves you free to use hand gestures to emphasize your points. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Seated at a table: <\/strong>Sit up straight and stay still (no swiveling), keeping your forearms on the table with your hands on either side of your notes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sullivan adds that your facial expression should convey that you want<\/em> to be there; even if you\u2019re delivering bad news and deem it inappropriate to smile, wear a sincere expression that shows you\u2019re ready and willing to provide support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Oral communication skills aren\u2019t just about talking\u2014listening<\/em> is equally important, because it enables you to understand the other person and gain their trust and respect. Listening is an important element of Sullivan\u2019s core message<\/a> of focusing on the other person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He recommends you treat a conversation not as an opportunity to grandstand but as a chance to learn more about the other person\u2019s needs. For example, if you\u2019re in a client meeting, keep asking questions until you uncover useful information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The type of questions you ask will depend on your objective: <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: Keep in mind that you may have to read between the lines when it comes to their answers\u2014people tend to respond differently based on their status<\/a> or level of power in relation to yours. Culture also plays a part: For example, Asian cultures tend to be disagreement-avoidant<\/a> because they believe that disagreeing can damage relationships.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re unsure about what the other person is trying to say, clarify using three steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When fielding questions from your audience, Sullivan warns against latching onto specific words and thinking of an answer before you hear the whole question. Once you know exactly what they\u2019re asking, restate the question or comment on what they said (\u201cThat\u2019s a great point\u201d) to buy time to come up with a response. Answer briefly without digressing, then move on to the next question. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: If you\u2019re nervous about fielding questions, you can ease your anxiety by being prepared<\/a> and considering what you would ask if you were in the audience\u2019s place. Questions usually revolve around three themes: 1) the downside for the audience, 2) how your message links to their other concerns, and 3) what your message means going forward.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the question is emotional rather than rational, Sullivan recommends the following strategy: First, acknowledge what the other person is feeling (“I understand your concerns”). Second, empathize with what they’re feeling (“I also had the same worries”). Lastly, answer briefly, perhaps offering other options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: Sullivan recommends showing empathy when you answer an emotional question. You can do this by tapping into skills that create empathy<\/a> that Bren\u00e9 Brown outlines in Dare to Lead<\/em><\/a>: 1) Take the other person\u2019s perspective (which echoes Sullivan\u2019s main premise), 2) be nonjudgmental, 3) understand how the other person feels and be able to articulate this understanding, and 4) manage your own<\/em> emotions so that you\u2019re neither suppressing nor exaggerating them.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Do you want to level up your communication skills? What are some things you should keep in mind when it comes to oral communication? Effective oral communication is one of the most important skills you could develop. One rule of thumb to keep in mind is to use the same techniques whether you\u2019re talking with one person or a roomful of people\u2014maintain the same level of confidence, attention, and engagement. Here’s how to improve your oral communication skills, according to author Jay Sullivan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":10099,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,34],"tags":[670],"class_list":["post-71093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-communication","tag-simply-said","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Improve Your Oral Communication Skills<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tip #1: Mind Your Voice<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tip #2: Use Eye Contact to Connect With Your Audience<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tip #3: Communicate Openness and Confidence With Your Body<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tip #4: Listen Well<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tip #5: Answer Questions With Ease<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n