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Getting a point across isn’t always easy. Sometimes, it could be not just what you say, but HOW you say it. Have you ever been in a situation where you said something, and it just didn’t come out right? Or, perhaps, you said something right, only to take a second look at it and think, “why the heck would I say that?” To become a better talker, you must be aware of other things that go into communication:

Body Language – this is a huge part of your personal, one-on-one or ever group communication!
Your audience – who are you talking to? If you’re looking at your feet during an interview, you’re probably not going to get the job.
Main point – say what you need to say, in as little words as you can. “Highly effective and quite efficient employees” isn’t any better than “good workers.”
Who’s around you? – don’t put confidential information out there if people are near you that need not hear what you’re about to say in private.

But face it – we’ve been talking since we were 18 months old. You’re already shaped into being the kind of communication device that you are, and if you’re bad at getting your point across, it’s not like you can just reset your brain and learn all over again. Here’s 10 tips on better communication:

1. Listen up!
You can’t give a response to something you only heard. An educated, well-thought-out answer will require you to fully understand the question. This is just as important in relationships, at school, in the workplace, and just about anywhere else!

2. Enunciate.
Perhaps you’re talking too quickly, or maybe you have a lisp that you’re aware of. That’s okay, because in both cases, you’re aware of what’s going on. Slow down, and pronounce your words! If you’re trying to tell someone about that meeting tomorrow at 4, and people are asking you, “meeting tomorrow for who?” you must have mumbled somewhere.

3. The magic words.
Although we were taught that “please” is the magic word, so are phrases like “thank you” and “I appreciate it” and “I’m sorry.” Those are the words that make things right to people.

4. Watch your posture.
If you’re standing slump, or if you’re extremely jittery, you’re taking away the attention of your companion on less important things. Poise yourself correctly. Not only will it make you look more professional, but you’ll also be in better position for your sounds to come out right!

Did you know that 80% of your communication is non-verbal? Body language can say a lot about you. We talk to people every day; we carefully choose how loud we want to say things, or what pitch we need to use to convey a certain point. In reality, however, people subconsciously know what you’re about before you even open your mouth.

Below are 6 more tips that you should consider.

1. Think before you speak.
If you’re unsure about what you want to say, it’s better to take 2 seconds to think than to fill them with a boring UMM or “Well, to be quite honest, I do believe that …” Those non-words will only take away from a conversation, or confuse people. Remember the KISS principle: Keep It Stupid Simple! Even if you get good at filling in awkward pauses with “buffer phrases,” they don’t contribute to your point at all, therefore you should eliminate them.

2. Honesty is key.
I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of movies and/or have read many books where a lie gets exposed and someone gets in trouble for it. It’s happened to most of us, too! Some people get around lying by telling half-truths. They’re not exactly lies, but they aren’t honest, either. Being straight-up with someone will get you a long way, especially if you become known as someone who doesn’t “beat around the bush.” Say what you’ve got to say, and if they can’t deal with it, oh well! In case you have to break the bad news to someone, see 7.

3. People want comfort.
No one likes feeling uncomfortable, so try treating your conversations like a small-scale relationship: make people feel comfortable. If someone’s confiding in you about a private matter, offer them help. Within appropriate time limits, make the conversation as long as you can if it’s needed. If you need to go, say, “I’m sorry but I have to go right now, I know this is really important so let me call you back at ____.”

4. Practice your vocal characteristics.
This is something they talk a lot about in theater classes and stage production, but it goes for daily communication as well: there are certain characteristics of your voice that you may control. Those include:
- Audibility; can people hear you?
- Dialect; do you have an accent?
- Rate; how fast do you speak?
- Pitch; can you control how low or high your voice is?
- Inflection; how pleasantly does your pitch change when you talk?
- Habits; do you drop sounds (for example, nap’nin instead of happening)?
- Clarity; this goes with pronunciation in #2.
Even if you can’t control these YET, they’re important to be aware of when you speak so you can work on your downfalls for the betterment of your speech.

5. Big decision? Ignore the emotions.
Although it may seem that big decisions like planning a family trip are exciting, there are times when it’s important to stick to facts. It might seem that, for example, planning a funeral can be one of the most devastating things that someone ever does, yet there are things to address that are matter-of-fact things. Who will pay the bills? Who shall be invited? Where will the event take place? Don’t get too carried away with your feelings.
6. Know when to end an argument.
Sometimes they call it being “the bigger person,” but most of the times it’s just the right thing to do. Most people don’t know when to stop talking. It doesn’t make you any more of a pushover to end an argument. You don’t need to “win” every fight, because doing so in some cases might have negative consequences. Knowing when to shut up is a lot more important than knowing when to open your mouth.

If you ask an average Joe, “what is communication?” most people will tell you it’s something about speaking. It’s actually about way more than that. Being aware of your communication skills, habits, good things and bad shortcomings will make you a more efficient professional, no matter what career you’re involved in. Good luck!