Communication – it’s something we do every single day, whether that’s with colleagues, family or friends. Here at Girls in Charge HQ we think it’s important to understand the different types of ways you can communicate. Read on for some hints and tips on verbal, non-verbal and written communication.
Be Clear and Concise
In some cases, such as networking or giving an informal presentation to colleagues, it’s worth creating a small outline of what you want to say. This could be in your head or written down, and it means you won’t go off topic. The clearer you are in your communication, the more likely people are to fully take in what you’re saying.
Listening
When you are in the midst of conversations, make sure to fully listen to what someone is saying before formulating your own response. Have one conversation at a time, and give the person who is speaking to you complete attention.
Verbal Vs Non-Verbal Communication
Make sure you’re aware of both verbal and non-verbal communication (e.g. body language), as both elements are as important as each other. If you’re looking for more information about this, why don’t you read one of our previous articles, Body Language: An Introduction. Slowing down and taking up space (by leaning forward and not slouching) are some of our top tips.
Written Communication: Check and Check Again
If you’re writing an email or a message, in both work and social situations, give it a quick proofread before you hit send. Could anything you’re saying be perceived differently to what you’ve intended? One golden rule is to condense, and condense again when communicating through the written word.
If you would like to find out more about finetuning your communication skills, there’s still time to sign up to our free Communication and Negotiation Workshop on Wednesday the 6th of December.
This workshop aims to guide you through the steps required for effective communication: whether it be with your team or your boss; in person or virtually. In this workshop, you will:
- Explore your spoken and written communication.
- Analyse your communication and negotiation styles.
- Examine communication on different platforms.
Let us know in the comments or through our social media channels what your top tips for communication are!