FOUR STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

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Learning how to properly manage your stress can be extremely important when communicating. If you know how to quickly relieve stress and return to a calm state, you can prevent arguments from escalating.

Once you learn how to manage your stress, you will be able to move on to learn how to properly manage your emotions, think on your feet, and effectively communicate under pressure.

Effective communication is less about talking and more about listening. Listening well means not just understanding the words or the information being said, but also understanding the emotions the speaker is experiencing.

When you’re an engaged listener, not only will you better understand the other person, you’ll also make that person feel heard and understood, which can help build a stronger, deeper connection between you.

Examples include facial expressions, body movement and gestures, eye contact, posture, the tone of your voice, and even your muscle tension and breathingl

Being assertive means expressing your thoughts, feelings, and needs in an open and honest way, while standing up for yourself and respecting others.

Direct, assertive expression makes for clear communication and can help boost your self-esteem and decision-making.

Try to set aside judgment: You need to set aside your judgment and withhold blame and criticism in order to fully understand others' ideas, values, or opinions

Focus fully on the speaker: You need to stay focused in order to pick up the subtle nuances and important nonverbal cues in a conversation. If you find it hard to concentrate, try repeating their words over in your head—it’ll reinforce their message and help you stay focused.

Favor your right ear: Since the left side of the brain is connected to the right side of the body, favoring your right ear can help you better detect the emotional nuances of what someone is saying.

Provide feedback: Express what the speaker’s words mean to you. Ask questions to clarify certain points: "What do you mean when you say..." or "Is this what you mean?"

Show your interest in what's being said: Maintain a friendly disposition, acknowledge what is being said with small verbal comments like "yes" or "uh huh", and make sure your posture is open and inviting.

Take a moment to calm down: Remove yourself from the situation, and take a moment to do some breathing exercises or count to ten.

Recognize when you're becoming stressed: Your body will let you know if you’re stressed as you communicate, take that as a sign to go calm down before the situation escales.

Agree to disagree: If the situation is continuing to escalate and no conclusion seems to be in reach, sometimes the best thing to do is drop the subject.

Look for humor in the situation: When used appropriately, humor is a great way to relieve stress when communicating. When you or those around you start taking things too seriously, find a way to lighten the mood by sharing a joke or amusing story.

Bring your senses to the rescue: The best way to rapidly and reliably relieve stress is through the senses or movement. Stimulate your senses positively, whether it be by exerting physical force by using a stress ball or eating something sweet.

How to Work on This Strategy

Receive feedback positively: Accept compliments graciously, learn from your mistakes, and don't be afraid to ask for help when needed.

Learn when to say "no": Know your limits and don't let others take advantage of you. Look for alternatives so everyone feels good about the outcome.

Value yourself and your opinions: Don't be afraid to speak up just because you don't share the same opinion as someone else. Your voice is just as important as anyone elses.

Know your needs and wants: Learn what your needs and wants are and learn how to express them in a way that does not infringe on the rights of others.

Express negative thoughts in a positive way: It's okay to be angry, but it's important that you learn how to express that anger in a way that does not negatively affect others, like hitting a pillow or writing them down.

How to Work on This Strategy

Avoid negative body language: Use body language to convey positive feelings even when you're not actually experiencing them. It will make you feel more self-confident, as your body language subconsciously affects how you emote.

Look at nonverbal communication signals as a group: Don’t read too much into a single gesture or nonverbal cue. Consider all of the nonverbal signals you receive, from eye contact to tone of voice to body language.

Be aware of individual differences: People from different countries and cultures tend to use different nonverbal communication gestures, so it’s important to take age, culture, religion, gender, and emotional state into account when reading body language signals.

Use nonverbal signals that match up with your words: If you say one thing, but your body language says something else, your listener will feel confused or suspect that you’re being dishonest.

Adjust your nonverbal signals according to the context: The tone of your voice, for example, should be different when you’re addressing a child than when you’re addressing a group of adults. Similarly, take into account the emotional state and cultural background of the person you’re interacting with.

FOUR STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Nonverbal Communication

The way you look, listen, move, and react to another person tells them more about how you’re feeling than words alone ever can.

Engaged Listening

Asserting Yourself in a Respectful Way

Managing Stress in the Moment