We all communicate in our daily lives to express ourselves, but communicating effectively is a whole new story. When faced with the daunting task of job searching in a foreign land, I chose resilience and effective communication over another MBA. This decision laid a strong foundation for my growth, leading me to become the CEO of a strategic consulting company and a seasoned public speaker.
Communicating effectively is the single most important skill that will transform the career trajectory that you can have. A survey done by LinkedIn also confirmed the same.
I meet so many people both online and offline every single month, but most of them lack the confidence to speak with power. So, if you're shy and under-confident in communicating effectively, here are five things that you need to do right now:
5 things that you need to do right now
Maintain Eye Contact: Imagine if I were just looking here or there while talking to you. You would not be interested; you would feel that I lack confidence or have some insecurities. On the other hand, when I directly look at you, you can see the confidence radiate, and you can see that this person knows what he's talking about. Now, this does not mean that you need to stare at someone 100% of the time; no, that looks creepy. But what I'm talking about is maintaining eye contact directly with the person for at least 70 to 80% of the conversation.
Embrace Pauses: Taking a brief moment of silence is the most interesting thing you can do to hook people in and create the authority that you are confident in what you're speaking. When you slow down and take pauses, you have more emphasis on everything you're saying, making it sound more passionate and engaging. Yes, you might know a lot about the topic and you might be eager to respond but that 2 seconds of pause before speaking shows that you are more confident, effective, and mature.
Mind Your Posture: Imagine if I were just slouching; you would not feel the same level of confidence and interest. That is so important. When you move into a room, your posture should radiate confidence. Your body language speaks volumes. Maintain an upright posture to radiate confidence and interest in any interaction.
Utilize Volume Wisely: Many of us speak quietly, but when you're talking to a group of people, you need to bring energy into the room. Speak at a level two to three times higher than your current pitch. Keep changing your volume and tone throughout your conversation. For example, if you are saying something exciting, increase your pitch while if you are saying something touching and emotional, lower your tone and speak with pauses. Let the audience grasp the emotions. When you speak at a louder volume, you have a different level of energy in the conversations and speeches you're giving.
Open Body Language: Closed-off body language signals disinterest. It shows that you want to go somewhere else but are stuck in this particular conversation. The best thing you can do is to open up your body, use hand movements as a visual cue to explain things and align the words coming out of your mouth with the gestures you are using. I prepared a whole video on this topic, especially around open and closed body language - do check it out.
Effective communication is not just a skill; it's an art that can transform your career and personal interactions. By implementing the tips discussed above, from maintaining eye contact and open body language to using volume, pitch variation, and pauses, you can elevate your communication prowess to new heights. Remember, it's not just about the words you speak but also about the confidence and clarity with which you convey them. So, take on the challenge, practice consistently, and watch as your communication skills flourish, opening doors to new opportunities and deeper connections. Here's to speaking with power, passion, and purpose.