Five Elements of Good Communication

Five Elements of Good Communication

​Adapted from Weave: 5 Elements of Effective Communication Your Staff Can Implement Today (getweave.com)

​Communication is vital to your success

​There are five skills that once you learn them, you can be a better communicator. They are:

1. ​Stress management

2. ​Appropriate nonverbal communication (body language)

3. ​Engaged Listening

4. ​The capacity to effectively communicate with self-confidence

5. ​The ability to identify and understand the emotions of all communicators involved.

​You have to manage stress in the moment

​Letting stress take over will likely result in poor communications. Recognize when you are "stressing out" by looking for:

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1. ​Tight muscles

2. ​Clenched hands or jaw

3. Shallow breathing or breathing irregularly

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​How to fix it?

1. ​Take a time out, pause, take a few deep breaths

2. ​Relax your muscles, find a quiet place if possible

You have to be sending nonverbal cues that reinforce not contradict the message

When your body says one thing and your words say another, listeners think you are not being truthful. For example, when discussing a topic that requires openness and you are standing with your arms crossed indicating a closed or defensive message, communication suffers

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​Here's what you can do:

1. ​Avoid sending negative nonverbal communications

2. ​Concentrate on using open body language

3. ​Use bod language that emphasizes and enhances your message

You need to be an engaged listener to be a successful communicator

Communication requires engaged listening: therefore planning your next sentence, checking emails, or texting interferes with your focus. People usually cannot handle two things at the same time successfully.

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​Here's what you can do:

1. In discussions, concentrate on the here and now

2. ​Let the speaker know you are listening with small nonverbal gestures like nodding, or short verbal responses

3. ​Do not interrupt, or redirect back to you

4. ​Try favoring your right ear - it is connected to the left side of your brain which has your main emotion and comprehension centers

You need to display self-confidence with assertive expression

Self-confidence with assertive expression makes communication clear. Express opinions in an open and honest format.

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​Here's what you can do:

1. Expressing anger is OK as long as it is done in a positive and respectful what that helps communicate how you feel.

2. ​It is important to realize that others' emotions are as important as yours.

You need to understand all of the emotions related to a given conversation

Ineffective listening makes it impossible to identify the emotions of the individuals involved in any discussion.

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​Here's what you can do:

1. In discussions, pay attention to voice intonations, body language, facial expressions, eye contact and body movement. Breathing and muscle tension are indicators.

2. Remember that the other person is likely watching you in the same way

3. Be aware of your own emotions, take note of how you react. Be patient.

Always remember...

The goal of effective communication is not forcing your opinions on anyone else or winning an argument* it is about understanding others.

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​* BTW - you can't win an argument.