Connect with us

Success Advice

19 Tactics That Successful People Use To Communicate Effectively

Published

on

how successful people communicate effectively

No doubt you’ve had that feeling. The feeling of a creative breakthrough. You’re immediately charged with the energy of a new idea. Your skin literally itches, you want to share this with someone.

So you find someone to tell. You are about to birth this genius to the world, and then……crickets. Ouch. It’s not even anything they say. They nod, they mmhhm, they’re polite. But the lack of enthusiasm shows in their face. It’s almost as cold as a rejection.

Frustrating isn’t it? But what if there were ways to carry ideas from your mind to theirs, without any thoughts getting lost on the journey? Well, there are, it’s simply a matter of improving your communication skills.

Here are 19 communication tips that are known by movers and shakers the world over, from Steve Jobs to Oprah Winfrey:

1. Follow the 3 second rule

When someone stops talking and you’re worried about interrupting them, count to three before you jump in. Some people talk with extra-long pauses and it’s hard to build rapport, in this case the 3 second rule will stop you from coming across as rude or abrupt.  

 

2. Move and speak 30% slower

Quick and erratic movements and speech communicates uncertainty, nervousness, and a general inability to manage your energy. On the other hand slow and deliberate movements communicate power and a confidence that comes from experience.  

 

3. Relax your neck and shoulders

 We hold a lot of tension in our upper body, by letting your body communicate how comfortable you are, you allow the person you’re talking to to feel more comfortable.

“I remember Tyra Banks giving me encouraging advice during my first Victoria’s Secret commercial shoot. I was so nervous, and she told me to just relax and be confident – that made me feel very comfortable.” – Adriana Lima

4. Listen and Repeat

By paraphrasing what the other person has said you show that you’re really paying attention and absorbing their input.

 

5. Put your phone on silent

Although it’s very common for people to let their phones ring mid conversation, that doesn’t mean it should be done. Think of a conversation like two people dancing, every time a phone rings it’s like the DJ has changed the song abruptly and the rhythm of the interaction is interrupted.

 

6. Nod your head

Don’t just sit there stiff and staring blankly while the other person is talking. Nodding your head is a simple way to show that you’re still listening.

 

7. Point your body and feet towards the person you’re talking to

 When we want to leave a conversation, we unconsciously point our feet towards where we want to go. Show they have your undivided attention by pointing yourself in their direction.

 

8. Don’t touch your face

This is a nervous tick that most of us have, it subtly conveys uncertainty or even distrust.

 

9. Sit up straight

 What your 4th grade teacher used to screech at you actually has some merit. It’s good for your confidence, charisma, and even digestion—but again, make sure you are relaxed and not tense.

 

10. Assume the best of people

 People to a large extent mirror what you expect of them. Johann Goethe said “If we take man as he is, we make him worse. But if we take him as he should be, then we make him capable of becoming what he can be.”  

 

11. Stop thinking about your next brilliant sentence

When the other person is speaking, most people spend 90% of the time thinking about what to say next, and only 10% actually listening—don’t be most people.

12. Mirror and lead

When talking to someone with lower or higher energy than you, you want to match the tone, cadence, and tempo of their speech, then slowly lead them in the direction you want them to go.

 

 

13. Break eye contact to the side

 Looking down is another way you might be conveying discomfort, it can also suggest the end of a conversation.

 

14. Speak in human terms

Whenever trying to get an idea across you want to talk about it in terms of the benefits for the other person. For example, if you are telling them your idea for a book or product, explain how it could help someone like them before you talk about what you consider are interesting features.

 

15. Memorize quotes

 Quotes are an effective and memorable way to reinforce the points you’re making, just make sure to use them sporadically.

 

16. Know your ticks

Everyone has small ticks in interpersonal conversations, whether it’s rubbing your hands together or scratching your nose. Watching yourself on camera is a great way to identify and eliminate them.

 

17. Never text and talk

 If you need to text mid-conversation, say excuse me I just need to message X for X reason, and when you’ve sent the message, put the phone away.

“I like to talk to people. I’ve got one assistant, one Blackberry. That’s my overhead. I don’t text that much or email. I like to sit down face-to-face and have a conversation with you. I’m old-fashioned.” –  Mark Wahlberg

18. Emphasize with gestures

When you are making a point, it’s good to emphasize with gestures.

 

19. Show appreciation

Take every opportunity to tell someone that you appreciate them, whether it’s their work, their ideas, their influence on you—people will always enjoy it and even start returning the courtesy.

Communication is such a basic a skillset, that most of us don’t learn it unless we take a course on it. Follow these tips and you’ll start to see a big difference in the way you are communicating with people and how receptive they are to your ideas.

Which communication tip is your style? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

Image courtesy of Twenty20.com

Benjamin Fishel is co-creator of Project Monkey Mind where he helps young professionals and solopreneurs channel their passions, improve their mindset, and lead a world-changing life.

Advertisement
1 Comment

1 Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Success Advice

How Your Beliefs Can Supercharge or Sabotage Your Success

Your life is dictated by beliefs and biases that drive your thinking, behaviors, and decisions

Published

on

Your Beliefs Can Supercharge or Sabotage Your Success (1)
Image Credit: Midjourney

Pause for a moment and ponder two pandemic-era beliefs: First, closing schools will control the spread of a serious virus. Second, the consequences of such school closures—particularly social interruption and the prevention of immunity—are worse than becoming sick with the virus. (more…)

Continue Reading

Success Advice

How to Break the Cycles of Mediocrity and Manifest Your Greatness

There is no greatness without becoming and there is no becoming with authenticity

Published

on

Image Credit: Midjourney

In just a few weeks, we will be wrapping up 2023. Can you believe it? This year has been absolutely incredible for me.

I have seen amazing doors opened, new relationships formed and I am seeing dreams realized in my life. While this seems like the hallmarks of a great year, this has also been the most challenging year of my life. With all of the change happening in my life, I have been forced out of my comfort zone and challenged to grow in every area of my life.

I can truly say that I have made the most of my moments this year and I have used everything as a catalyst for maximizing my greatest potential.

As a revolutionary leader, I have the pleasure of consulting and advising leaders around the world to fulfill purpose, realize their greatest potential and make an impact.

I want to share some insights with you that will help you to break cycles of mediocrity and manifest your greatness

Everything legal must come through the matrix

I am sure that some of you are wondering why I am using the term matrix. However, what you have to understand is that I am trying to make a highly complex spiritual principle practical to understand.

Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, every life has an origin and I believe that origin is divine and begins with eternity. You are birthed from eternity and into time to fulfill a unique purpose and assignment in your lifetime and generation.

The matrix is simply the portal or vehicle that brings something out of the invisible realm and into tangible form. The problem with much of the teaching today is that it excludes the matrix. We are told to believe that success is instantaneous and overnight.

Nobody talks about how a dream progresses through stages beginning with visualization and ultimately culminating in manifestation. Without a matrix or portal then everything that you attempt to birth and build will be illegal.

The matrix not only makes you legal but it gives you the authority and power to function as the greatest expression of who you were created to be. 

Every matrix has an incubation process

While many people admire and respect me today, I remember a time when nobody knew who I was or the significance of my message. How did I get to where I am today? I got here through an incubation process.

In other words, everything that has been destined for your life is incubating and awaiting a set time of manifestation. The problem is that most people live their entire lives idle and never initiate the incubation process.

What do I meany by that? Most people are living reckless and very few people are living intentionally. I am amazed at the number of people I have conversations with that have no vision, goals or strategies for their lives. They show great promise and they have undeniable potential.

However, without development they will die with their dreams still in them.

Everything that has been destined for your life must be incubated and converted to become realities born to time. 

“Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blueprint and begin to build.” – Robert Collier

You must give expression to that which is not yet born to time

When you think about a matrix or a prophetic incubation process, you have to understand that potential is often unrealized and untapped. In other words, your potential is in raw form and your potential cannot serve you as long as it is untapped.

The thing that makes me valuable is that I have the ability to convert potential into power. I have done it in my own life and I have empowered leaders around the world to do the same. How do you convert potential into power?

First, it is important to note that you have to perceive potential. If you cannot perceive your potential then you can never cultivate your potential. In addition, you must take the time to cultivate your potential. We often get excited about our capabilities; however, we never expand our capacity in order to realize our greatest potential.

In other words, the strength of your potential is only discovered through your willingness to stretch. The more we are challenged the more we are empowered to expand our capacity for greatness. Most of all, you must begin to express your potential. The expression of potential is different for every person.

For example, the expression of my potential is best demonstrated through the thoughts, ideas, products, services, books, etc.

For another person the expression of potential may look like a screenplay, artwork, sports, scientific discoveries, medical breakthroughs, etc.

Regardless of the form of expression, I know that you will live empty and unfulfilled until you make the decision to express your potential. The expression of your potential gives voice to your dreams, life to your vision, significance to your moments and activates your true power.

You must manifest your greatness

As a revolutionary thinker and leader, my work has impacted people around the world. I am grateful that my life is a source of empowerment to so many people. However, before anyone could ever benefit from my life, I had to make a non-negotiable decision to become who I was born to be.

I wish I could tell you that this journey is easy and that you will get there overnight. However, in a world that celebrates us for doing we are often criticized for being. As a result, I wasted a lot of time trying to be who other people wanted me to be instead of being who I was born to be.

There is no greatness without becoming and there is no becoming with authenticity. It is through our bravery to be vulnerable that we ultimately manifest our greatness. We do not bless the world by being a duplicate. We bless the world when we honor our difference. When you honor your difference you honor your potential.

Ultimately, your difference is how you manifest your greatness.

When you present anything but your authentic self to the world, you are playing small and you are robbing the world of your significance. Manifesting your greatness requires you to master your gifts.

Continue Reading

Success Advice

Here’s a Young Man’s Antidote for the Uncertainty of the Modern World

Why do a lot of young guys lack confidence in today’s world? 

Published

on

How to boost your confidence
Image Credit: Midjourney

We all have been told that confidence is a key factor in achieving success and happiness in life. But what is it exactly? (more…)

Continue Reading

Success Advice

Toxic Leadership: 5 Ways to Identify a Bad Leader

if you have a leader who displays any of the toxic traits, it’s time to move on to greener pastures.

Published

on

Toxic leadership
Image Credit: Midjourney

Let’s be honest, we’ve all crossed paths with a toxic leader in our careers at some point. Unfortunately, while some toxic leaders don’t even bother to hide their behaviour, some know very well how to conceal their true selves behind a strong-built facade. The latter is the most dangerous of the two. (more…)

Continue Reading

Trending