Talk the Talk

Word Count: 438

Summary: 5 practical ways to improve your communication skills.

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Talk the Talk

Do you know why toddlers throw temper tantrums? They are
angry, they are frustrated, they want something, but they
have a limited ability to verbally express themselves.

On the flipside, the most influential leaders in business
and politics are successful because they know exactly what
to say, how to say it and when to say it. They have an
uncanny ability to paint a picture and persuade people to
buy into their vision.

Unfortunately, most people are more like a toddler than
they are a leader. Miscommunication runs rampant in our
relationships and work environment. We know what we are
thinking, but we aren't able to put those thoughts into
words. We can't find the words that fit the emotion we are
experiencing or the idea we want to convey. So we, as
adults throw our own version of a temper tantrum using the
silent treatment, insults or resentment. Most of us can't
find the right words, because our communication skills are
too limited.

Here are 5 ways to improve your communication skills:

1. Read more. Fiction, biographies, magazines, newspapers,
just about anything. You will be able to pick up new words
and see them naturally used in context.

2. Speak slower. Give your mind time to search for the
appropriate word and use it at the right time. Have you
ever had the experience where you were babbling on and on
not quite saying what you mean, only later to have the right
words come to you? The words will come to you when create
the space for that to happen.

3. Learn a new word everyday. There are calendars,
websites, and newsletters that have word-a-day programs.
Pick up a new word every morning and commit to use it
several times throughout your day.

4. Learn of the power of distinctions. Distinctions are
subtitles of language, that when used correctly give your
words more punch. There is a distinction between power and
strength, between respond and react, and between fulfilled
and satisfied. The differences are subtle, but they do
exist. Using the right word in the right situation will
have an impact on how your message is received.

5. Study great communicators. Use the tape player in your
car to create a university on wheels. Listen to some of
the books on tape put out by business leaders and public
speakers. Notice their word choices, their sentence
structures, their use of humor. Emulate their style as you
begin to create your own.

It is not difficult to become a better communicator. Take
advantage of the many resources available to help you in
that quest.