Effective Communication

6 Secrets To Better Conversation Skills

Conversation is an important skill in almost everysituation. Whether it's on the job, with spouse orchildren, in a social setting or everyday life,conversation is important.It's the way we communicate with others and often is thenthe way we are seen or perceived by others.

Honing your conversation skills will allow you to feel more at ease when conversing with others and will help you say what you really want to convey.

• Think about your tone, it should be pleasing, not tooloud or too soft.If you are talking too loudly you might be considered anunpleasant conversationalist and who will want to talk toyou?If you are speaking too softly and people have to strain tohear you, they might get tired of trying to listen.
• Think about some things you might need or want to saybefore you are at that job interview or party.It will be helpful to think this through and even practiceout loud. You will come across as being confident andintelligent.
• Don't feel you need to dominate a conversation.Even if you are quite charming it won't be long beforeothers are weary of hearing the same voice.There used to be a rule about conversation in certainAfrican tribes. When a person rose to speak they wererequired to stand on one foot while speaking. As soon asthe other foot touched the ground, their turn was over.Keep this in mind.
• How will you handle unpleasant conversations?What will you do if you are criticized or if someonedisagrees with you? Think of ways to face thesesituations before they happen.If you can remain calm and fairly pleasant during the toughtalks you will improve your conversation skills. You willalso earn a reputation as someone who can easily be talkedto.
• Think of your last embarrassing conversation.How did you do? Could there be improvement? If the answeris "yes" begin by figuring out why the conversationwas embarrassing.Let's say someone asked you when you are planning to havechildren. Even though this may not be anyone's business howdo you want to respond?You do have choices. You can be funny, charming, rude orelusive. Again, plan ahead for some of these questions anddecide how you want to react.
• One of the most important parts of communication islistening. It's a gift and a skill, one that you candevelop if it doesn't come easily for you.

There once was a woman who thought she had a hearingproblem, even her friends told her she couldn't hear.Often she would ask them to repeat parts of a conversation.Finally after several months she made an appointment withan audiologist.

The doctor decided to forego the newest technology and use his favorite, less techno approach. He held his pocketwatch up and asked the woman if she could hear the ticking.She could so the doctor got up and walked behind the womanand asked if she could still hear the watch ticking. She could with no problem.

The doctor continued this test by moving further andfurther away from the woman and each time she could hear the ticking of the watch. After the doctor finished the testing he told the woman that her hearing was fine but she needed some help with her listening.

Don't forget to listen because it is essential for good conversation skills!

Like the woman in this story...You can change your life and now is the time to start.Exceptional communication skills can be learned...

posted by Indira Bandari @ 5:56 PM