How to Improve Communication

Take a breath at the end of each phrase whether you need to or not.

Develop your pitch by practicing humming.

Moderate your volume

Moderate your pace - If you speak too quickly, people can’t keep up. If you speak too slowly, people will lose interest.

Take a deep breath, and while you exhale, count to 10 (or recite the months or days of the week). Try gradually increasing your volume as you count, using your abdominal muscles—not your throat—for volume. Don’t let your larynx tense up.

Try not to get stuck in one place. Use all the space that’s available to you. If your space is confined (say a meeting room or even presenting at a table) use stronger body language to convey your message.

Mistakes are all right. Recovering from mistakes makes you appear more human.

Smile, ask questions that require more than a yes/no answer, and really listen. Maintain eye contact and keep as friendly and polite as possible.

Practice active listening skills.

Try to omit the word “but” from your conversation when disagreeing as this word often puts people on the defensive. Instead, try substituting the word “and”, it has less of an antagonistic effect.