Tips for Positive Interpersonal Communication
Source: ConvergenceCoaching, LLC Inspired Ideas
The following includes excerpts, reproduced with permission, from a blog post by Michelle Baca.
How you are perceived by people when answering questions and sharing your expertise hinges on the following three key aspects of your communication style:
1. Word Choice
Words and phrases to avoid include:
- “Obviously” (Especially when said with an air of superiority)
- “Of course” (When said as if what has been shared is common knowledge)
- “It's really not that hard to understand.” (When said in a frustrated voice and possibly injecting some head shaking)
- “What do you mean?” (When said with slanted eyebrows and a perplexed look that says “You are not formulating a logical question.”)
Words and phrases to use include:
- “That's a great question.”
- “I'm glad you asked.”
- “Good point, let me elaborate on that for you.”
2. Tone of Voice
Improve your ability to build trust, understanding, and rapport with others by consciously choosing to use a tone of voice that demonstrates:
- Compassion
- Genuine concern for the education of others
- Patience
- Willingness to see things from other points of view
- Willingness to reflect on how it felt before you knew what you know now
- Gratitude for the opportunity to share your knowledge with others
3. Body Language
Behaviors to avoid:
- Looking at the clock, your watch, or your phone
- Multitasking (checking e-mail or organizing your files while you talk)
- Crossing your arms
- Rolling your eyes or making faces that indicate irritation with what the other person is saying
Behaviors to adopt:
- Consistent eye contact
- Relaxed posture
- Facing your body towards the other person
- Nodding your head to indicate understanding
- Smiling
For the complete post, read “Are You Really Impressing Anyone?”
From Convergence Coaching, LLC Inspired Ideas, http://blog.convergencecoaching.com, March 14, 2012.