Photo from the English Book In Georgia
Do you ever just feel completely out of the loop?
Recently, I’ve noticed verbal exchanges that I have had with people that were not properly being communicated and/or not being relayed to all parties involved. This got me thinking about the importance of communication.
Photo courtesey of Early Endeavors
We communicate everyday, all the time. It’s in every aspect of our lives; we have physical, verbal and digital (emphasis on the digital) communications. With all these different forms of communication, it’s no wonder we often have a blank or confused look on our faces when having in-person communication, and then it clicks! We mentally filter and categorize our conversations, while jumping from thought to thought.
I realized that I need to slow down, take a breath and have those pauses to process and really think about what is being said. Communication goes both ways. Not only should you be able to relay a message, you should make a conscious effort to listen to others.
Here is a list of communication life hacks I have compiled. (Adjust and tailor to your own behavior and interactions)
via la la lovely
Life Hacks for Communication:
Active listen, because communication is not only the words.
How do you respond if you aren’t listening to what is being said? Not only should you use your ears during a conversation, you should use your eyes. Pick up on physical cues and body language, let that be facial expressions or hand gestures. Those little details will help you assess the situation and let you know to comfort, support, just listen and/or contribute. Also, being physically engaged let’s others know that you are truly paying attention. Try making eye-contact, nodding your head and contributing to the conversation as this will help to make you a better communicator.
Be aware of yourself and your surroundings.
Awareness in the conversation just makes sense. You should be in the moment. Put down the phone, take off your headphones, look up and really be there. Also, think about where you are. Who’s around? Is this the proper time and place? Be aware of the volume and projection of your voice. Lastly, yourself. When approaching any conversation, whether it be with an old friend or stranger, keep in mind past interactions and the things you did well, but also what you would have done differently.
Be courteous and use conversation etiquette.
This is a little bit of a follow-up from the last suggestions. Make a conscious decision to listen when you should and respond when you should. Don’t be an interrupter! Let’s play by the ‘golden rule‘ treat people how YOU want to be treated. If you were telling someone important information or were in the middle of a story, wouldn’t you be irritated if someone interrupted or started ranting in the middle of your sentence?
Keep these tips in mind during your next exchange and someone will notice. Even if they don’t say anything, you will become the go-to for advice and support. Want to find out if you’re a good listener? Read this article from the Huffington post. Just because we hear, doesn’t mean we are listening.
Do you have any tips or things we should be aware of in our communication? Share them with us at the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
