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16 Practical Tips To Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

Nathan Mixon
June 9, 2024

How to improve public speaking.

Hey there, fellow public speaker! Ready to level up your public speaking game? Trying to become a better speaker? Whether you’re aiming for that big promotion, nailing that TEDx talk, or just looking to impress at your next social gathering, mastering the art of public speaking is key. It’s not just about talking; the best speakers focus on connecting, inspiring, and leaving a lasting impression.

Public speaking isn’t just a skill; it’s a superpower that can transform how you communicate and connect with others. Whether you’re addressing a small group or a packed auditorium, the ability to articulate your ideas with confidence and charisma can open doors and create opportunities you never thought possible. So, if you’re ready to learn how to improve public speaking, buckle up and get ready for an exciting journey of growth and self-discovery!

In this guide, we’re diving deep into the question of how to improve public speaking and arm you with practical public speaking skills, tips, and techniques to boost your confidence and captivate any audience. From shaking off those pre-speech jitters to crafting compelling messages and delivering them with flair, we here at The Speaker Lab have got you covered. So, grab your favorite mug of coffee (or tea, if you’re like me – no judgment here), kick back, and let’s get into ways to improve your public speaking and advance your career as a better public speaker.

Overcoming Anxiety and Building Confidence

We get it, speaking in public can be scary. As many of you probably know, in public speaking anxiety is a common fear that can significantly impact performance. The thought of standing in front of a live audience, being the center of attention, and delivering a coherent message can trigger feelings of nervousness and self-doubt, even if you’re confident in the value of your message. However, there are effective techniques for managing anxiety and building confidence, allowing speakers to deliver engaging presentations with poise and clarity.

It’s important to acknowledge that public speaking anxiety is a natural response to the perceived threat of judgment or scrutiny from others. It’s normal to feel nervous before a big speech. This fear can manifest in physical symptoms and physiological reactions such as making your palms sweat (you thought Eminem was lying?), increasing your heartbeat, and giving you a shaky voice, all of which can undermine your performance as a good public speaker. By recognizing and accepting this feeling as a common experience, speakers can begin to address it with constructive strategies.

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3 Techniques for Managing Anxiety and Building Confidence

1. deep breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques.

One of the most immediate ways to calm nerves before speaking is through deep breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques. By focusing on slow, deep breaths, speakers can activate the body’s relaxation response, reducing feelings of tension and stress. Incorporating mindfulness practices, such as grounding oneself in the present moment and observing thoughts without judgment, can further alleviate anxiety, steady your trembling hands, and enhance focus.

2. Visualization and Positive Affirmations

Visualization involves mentally rehearsing a successful speaking scenario, envisioning oneself delivering a confident and engaging presentation. By visualizing positive outcomes, speakers can reinforce their belief in their ability to perform well. Additionally, incorporating positive affirmations—such as “I am confident and capable”—can help to reframe negative self-talk and cultivate a more empowering mindset (even if you think it’s corny).

3. Gradual Exposure to Public Speaking

Like any skill, public speaking flourishes with practice. Beginning with practice sessions and small group settings provides a safe environment for speakers to hone their abilities and build confidence gradually. As speakers become more comfortable, they can progress to larger audiences or more challenging speaking engagements. Toastmasters clubs, community events, and volunteer opportunities offer valuable platforms for gaining experience and refining presentation skills. Practicing public speaking is so important when it comes to building more confidence.

Additionally, participating in workshops, seminars, or conferences provides exposure to diverse audiences and topics, further enhancing speaking proficiency. By embracing opportunities to speak in various settings, individuals can conquer their fear of public speaking and cultivate greater self-assurance over time. Not only does this help you address your anxiety as you hone your public speaking skills, but it also provides opportunities to receive constructive feedback from any other seasoned public speaker who may be in attendance.

By implementing these techniques for managing anxiety and working to gain confidence, speakers can overcome the common fear of public speaking and unlock their full potential as effective communicators. With practice and perseverance, they can cultivate the skills and mindset needed to deliver compelling presentations with confidence and impact.

Mastering Body Language and Nonverbal Communication

Body language plays a crucial role in public speaking, influencing how speakers are perceived by their audience and conveying confidence, credibility, and engagement. By mastering body language and nonverbal communication skills, speakers can enhance their presence on stage and deliver more impactful presentations.

Effective communication is about more than just words—it’s also about how those words are delivered. Research suggests that a significant portion of communication is nonverbal, with body language accounting for a substantial part of the message conveyed – the way you stand, sit, walk, and hold your arms and hands all have an impact on how you and your message is received.

When speakers lack confidence and look uncomfortable, they lose much of their sense of authority or expertise. But when speakers project confidence and authenticity through their body language, they establish rapport with their audience and capture their attention more effectively.

3 Public Speaking Tips for Improving Body Language

1. maintain good posture.

Good posture serves as the cornerstone of confident body language. When individuals stand tall, with shoulders back and heads held high, they project an image of strength and assurance. This posture not only exudes professionalism and authority but also facilitates better breath support and vocal projection, very important aspects of public speaking. Slouching or hunching over can undermine confidence and diminish credibility. By prioritizing good posture, speakers establish a strong foundation for effective communication, captivating their audience with a commanding presence.

2. Make Eye Contact

Eye contact is another powerful tool for connecting with the audience and establishing credibility. By maintaining eye contact with individual audience members, speakers create a sense of intimacy and engagement. It’s essential to scan the room and make eye contact with different sections of the audience, ensuring that everyone feels included and valued.

If the idea of looking straight into an individual audience member’s eyes seems daunting, a helpful trick for making eye contact without focusing on specific individuals is to look at the general area around their eyes or eyebrows. This gives the appearance of eye contact without the pressure of locking eyes with someone directly. You can also just scan the audience, moving your gaze across different sections of the room, which creates the impression of engagement with the entire audience without singling out individuals. Just remember to maintain a natural pace and avoid fixating on any particular spot for too long to ensure a balanced connection with your audience.

3. Use Gestures and Facial Expressions

Gestures and facial expressions can help to reinforce verbal messages and convey enthusiasm and conviction. Using hand gestures to emphasize key points and illustrate concepts adds dynamism to the presentation and keeps the audience engaged. Similarly, facial expressions convey emotions and sincerity, allowing speakers to express empathy, excitement, or concern as appropriate. Let the audience have a clear understanding of your emotions as you speak – this will help them empathize more with your message.

By incorporating these tips for improving body language into their presentations, speakers can enhance their ability to connect with their audience and deliver messages with clarity and impact. With practice and mindfulness, speakers can harness the power of body language to captivate their audience and leave a lasting impression.

Enhancing Vocal Delivery and Articulation

Vocal delivery is a cornerstone of effective public speaking, as it plays a crucial role in capturing audience attention and conveying authority. Speakers who master vocal delivery techniques can engage their audience more effectively and leave a lasting impression.

The way a message is delivered is just as important as the message itself. Vocal delivery encompasses elements such as tone, pitch, volume, and rhythm, all of which contribute to the overall impact of a presentation. A strong vocal delivery commands attention, instills confidence in the speaker, and enhances the audience’s understanding and retention of key points.

3 Techniques for Improving Vocal Delivery

1. practice vocal warm-up exercises.

Just as athletes engage in warm-up routines to prime their bodies for peak performance, speakers can similarly enhance their vocal prowess through targeted exercises. Vocal warm-ups serve as the foundation for clear and commanding speech delivery. Humming exercises, for instance, gently engage the vocal cords while promoting resonance and clarity in speech. Lip trills, where speakers produce a vibrating sound by blowing air through slightly pursed lips, aid in relaxing the vocal apparatus and improving breath control. Tongue twisters serve as playful yet effective tools for sharpening articulation and enunciation.

By using these vocal warm-up exercises, speakers can cultivate a strong and dynamic voice that captivates and inspires their listeners.

2. Pay Attention to Pace and Rhythm

Think of your speech pace like a roller coaster ride: you want to keep your audience on their toes, not lulling them into boredom. Varying your speed and rhythm adds excitement and keeps listeners engaged throughout your talk. Don’t be afraid to hit the brakes with well-placed pauses—they create suspense, give your audience time to digest important information, and make your key points pop. By really mastering the art of pacing, you’ll keep your audience hanging on your every word from start to finish.

3. Focus on Articulation and Pronunciation

In public speaking, the efficacy of communication is intricately tied to the speaker’s ability to articulate and pronounce words clearly. Each consonant and vowel carries significance, especially within the context of essential terms central to the speaker’s discourse. Through consistent practice of exercises like tongue twisters and deliberate focus on the intricate movements of the mouth, speakers can refine their articulation. This diligent attention to detail ensures that their ideas are not only effectively conveyed but also readily understood by their audience’s attention.

By incorporating these techniques into their vocal delivery, speakers can enhance their ability to captivate and persuade their audience. With practice and mindfulness, speakers can develop a vocal delivery style that commands attention, conveys authority, and leaves a lasting impact on their audience.

Structuring and Delivering Engaging Speeches

Effective speech structure is essential for delivering a compelling message that resonates with your audience. A well-structured speech not only captures attention but also enhances comprehension and retention of key ideas.

The structure of a speech serves as its foundation, guiding the flow of information and ensuring coherence and clarity. A well-structured speech enables the speaker to communicate their message effectively, maintain audience engagement, and leave a lasting impression. Without a clear structure, the audience may struggle to follow your train of thought – the last thing you want is an audience that is confused or lost.

3 Tips for Structuring Speeches

1. start with a strong opening.

Picture this: you’re gearing up for a speech, right? Well, the opening is like the big entrance – it’s your chance to grab everyone’s attention and set the vibe for what’s to come. So, how do you do it? With a killer hook. Throw out a mind-bending question, hit the audience with a jaw-dropping stat, or reel them in with a story that’ll have them on the edge of their seats. Trust me, a strong opening is like the spark that ignites the whole speech, keeping your audience hooked and hungry for more.

2. Organize Content Logically

When crafting your speech, think of it as building a roadmap for your audience. Start with a warm introduction to welcome them into your world of ideas. Then, lead them through the main points of your talk, each one seamlessly flowing into the next like stepping stones across a stream. Make sure your points are organized logically, so your audience can easily follow along without getting lost in the shuffle. Remember, clarity is key!

Finally, wrap up with a solid conclusion that ties everything together, leaving your listeners with a clear understanding of your message. If your audience is walking out of your talk knowing (and hopefully remembering) exactly what the main points were that you were trying to get across, then mission accomplished.

3. Incorporate Storytelling and Anecdotes

Think of stories and anecdotes as the secret sauce that adds flavor to your speech. Sprinkle them throughout your presentation to create moments that stick in your audience’s minds long after your talk is over. Whether it’s a personal anecdote, a compelling case study, or a relatable story, these narrative gems bring your ideas to life and forge a deeper connection with your audience. By weaving personal stories into your speech, you transform abstract concepts into tangible experiences with a direct connection that resonate with your listeners on a human level in their everyday life.

Another important way to make your audience feel comfortable is to use personal experience. Personal anecdotes and stories that can help nail down important points make for a better speech. The best speakers use examples from their lives or the life of another person to help make their point for relatable. You want your audience members to be pushed out of their comfort zone but also to be able to relate to what you’re saying as it might happen in one’s daily life.

By following these tips for structuring and delivering engaging speeches, speakers can effectively communicate their message, captivate their audience, and leave a lasting impact. A well-structured speech not only informs and educates but also inspires and motivates, leaving the audience with a sense of clarity and purpose.

Refining Message Content and Delivery

Crafting a message that truly connects with your audience demands meticulous attention to both content and delivery. By honing these aspects, speakers can captivate their audience and ensure their message is communicated with clarity and resonance.

2 Strategies for Refining Message Content

1. conduct audience analysis.

Before stepping onto the stage, take the time to lean into your audience’s interests, preferences, and needs. Do some in-depth audience analysis, examining their demographics, knowledge level, and pressing concerns. Tailoring your message and making a point to identify areas of concern or importance to resonate with their specific interests and challenges not only builds rapport but also enhances credibility, ensuring your message hits home with maximum impact. Give your speech a personal touch for your audience by doing the research beforehand.

2. Use Persuasive Language and Rhetorical Devices

Incorporating persuasive language and rhetorical devices when making speeches elevates the impact of your message by shaping audience perception and eliciting emotional responses. Integrate storytelling, vivid imagery, metaphors, and analogies to convey intricate concepts in a captivating and relatable manner. By appealing to both the audience’s emotions and logic, speakers can effectively sway their perspective and inspire them to take meaningful action.

2 Strategies for Refining Delivery

1. practice emphasizing key points.

Delivery is paramount in molding an audience’s perception and sustaining its engagement. Prioritize practicing your speech delivery beforehand (a lot), focusing on pacing, intonation, and emphasizing key points. Strategic pauses permit the audience to absorb information and contemplate essential ideas. By diversifying tone and volume, speakers can uphold audience interest while conveying enthusiasm and conviction.

Try practicing in front of a mirror with a timer and then maybe with a friend or a spouse or a parent – anyone willing to listen to your speech. That can help you become comfortable with the cadence and pace of your speaking.

2. Focus on Pacing and Intonation

It’s crucial to keep an eye on pacing and intonation to keep your audience engaged and ensure your message comes across effectively. Tailor the speed of your delivery to match the complexity of your content and the audience’s grasp of the topic. Intonation adds depth to your speech by conveying emotions, highlighting key points, and infusing your delivery with energy and dynamism. By mastering these elements, you can create a captivating and impactful presentation that resonates with your audience.

By implementing these strategies for refining message content and delivery, speakers can maximize the impact of their speeches and effectively engage their audience. By tailoring the message to the audience’s interests and needs and delivering it with confidence and conviction, speakers can inspire, inform, and motivate their audience to action.

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Developing effective public speaking skills is a journey that requires dedication, practice, and continuous improvement. Throughout this guide, we’ve explored key strategies for enhancing your public speaking abilities, from overcoming anxiety to refining message content.

By acknowledging and addressing common fears and anxieties associated with public speaking, you can build confidence and resilience. Techniques such as deep breathing exercises, visualization, and gradual exposure can help you manage nerves and perform at your best. Practicing in smaller groups and settings can help you release some nervous energy, receive constructive criticism and honest feedback, and get some more public speaking tips .

Mastering body language and nonverbal communication is essential for conveying confidence and engaging your audience. By maintaining good posture, making eye contact, and using gestures and facial expressions effectively, you can establish rapport and credibility with your audience.

Enhancing vocal delivery and articulation is another critical aspect of effective public speaking. By practicing vocal warm-up exercises, paying attention to pace and rhythm, and focusing on articulation and pronunciation, you can ensure clear communication and captivate your audience’s attention.

Structuring and delivering engaging speeches requires careful planning and organization. Starting with a strong opening, organizing content logically, and incorporating storytelling and anecdotes can make your speech memorable and impactful.

Finally, refining message content and delivery involves conducting audience analysis, using persuasive language and rhetorical devices, and practicing emphasizing key points. By tailoring your message to the audience’s interests and needs and delivering it with confidence and conviction, you can inspire, inform, and motivate your audience to action.

As you continue on your public speaking journey, remember to embrace opportunities for growth and practice regularly. With dedication and perseverance, you can cultivate valuable public speaking skills that will serve you well in both your personal and professional endeavors.

So, seize every opportunity to speak publicly, embrace the challenges, and strive for improvement. With each speech you deliver, you’ll become more confident, articulate, and influential. Embrace public speaking as a valuable skill for personal and professional success, and let your voice be heard.

Last Updated: June 4, 2024

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21 Most Effective Ways to Improve Your English Speaking Skills

English is the world’s lingua franca , a common language that people with different native languages use to communicate with one another.

In fact, 96 countries use English to varying degrees.

That means the more fluent you are in English, the more interesting, exciting and insightful (thoughtful) conversations you’ll have.

And, for the most part, you can boost your English speaking skills without having a classroom partner or taking stressful lessons.

In this article, we’ll take you through 21 of the best ways to improve your English speaking skills. We’re sure you’ll find at least one tip here that you haven’t tried before!

1. Learn new words and phrases every day

2. improve your pronunciation using authentic english audio and videos, 3. improvise conversations, 4. use tongue twisters, 5. learn the natural flow of english, 6. shadow english speech, 7. think in english, 8. retell a story in english, 9. use english pronunciation apps, 10. participate in public speaking events, 11. go to language cafes, 12. use formal or informal english appropriately, 13. be clear and to the point, 14. ask questions, 15. use filler phrases, 16. don’t be afraid to repeat yourself, 17. watch your body language, 18. improve your speaking by writing, 19. make friends online, 20. brush up on your cultural references and political knowledge, 21. visit an english-speaking country, and one more thing....

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Before you learn things like improving your English pronunciation and accent , you’ll want to have a good grasp of the words and phrases used in daily conversations .

After all, it’s easier to figure out which aspects of your pronunciation can be improved if you know which words you need to practice saying aloud.

Also, you can commit to learning more words every day as you practice your speaking skills. This allows you to kill two birds with one stone (achieve two goals by doing one thing).

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Set a goal for the number of new words you want to learn daily. For example, you can learn three new words or 10 every day. Even if you only have time to learn one new word per day, that will still be 365 new words a year (assuming you commit to your goal every day). You can take note of your target number using your phone, or share it with a learning partner who can help you check your progress.
Subscribe to an online dictionary’s “Word of the Day” section. Not sure which words you want to learn right now? You can look up English dictionaries online with the “Word of the Day” feature. Just sign up for their free subscription via email, and you can get these words delivered to your inbox every day.
Pick up new words all around you. Go to an English-speaking area, and listen discreetly (in a way you won’t be noticed) to native conversations. Write down any words or phrases you don’t understand, and look them up later using your dictionary. Do the same with the English songs you hear on the radio. By learning new words in context, you’ll be able to remember them more easily and grow your vocabulary more quickly.
Learn words in phrases. For example, you refer to drinks as a glass of wine , a pint of beer , a cup of tea , a pot of coffee , etc. Again, learning words in context works much better for recall.
Learn related words. For example, the moon has four phases every month: crescent , gibbous , waxing and waning . It’s more efficient to learn all four words at the same time.

Even if you know a lot of words, you won’t be understood if you don’t pronounce them correctly. That’s wasting the time spent remembering words, right?

So, you need to hear or watch English words and phrases as they’re pronounced by native speakers. Some places where you can do this are:

Online dictionaries. You’ll notice that these dictionaries often have little speaker symbols next to the new words (like this ). Some of them, like the Cambridge Dictionary , even have different audio for U.S. and U.K. pronunciations. Just click the speaker symbol, listen carefully and imitate the way the audio pronounces the word.
YouTube. Sometimes, when you search for the pronunciation of a certain word online, the results will show YouTube videos . They often repeat the word slowly several times, which makes it easier for you to follow along.
Podcasts. Podcasts like English Pronunciation Pod and American English Pronunciation can teach you the many aspects of American English pronunciation.

If you’re having trouble pronouncing whole words, you may want to work on pronouncing individual letters first.

For example, when pronouncing English vowels , prepare your mouth for speaking by making the sounds of the vowels A , E , I , O and U .

Make a shape with your mouth as you make these sounds. Exaggerate the sounds and shapes—that is, make them very large and very obvious.

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By practicing these basic sounds, it’ll be easier to hear the difference between, for example, a cat and a cut . (A cat can give you a cut, but a cut can never give you a cat! That’s just silly.)

For consonants, pronunciation practice is a bit trickier, and will require an entire post on its own. Luckily, we have a handy guide that covers how to pronounce consonants in English !

Improvisation (or just improv ) means making things up in the moment.

Here are a few improvisation ideas you can do on your own:

Choose an ordinary object (like a pen) and make up a story about it. Talk about how important it is to you, how it helped you find your long-lost sister or how it saved your life. Be as creative as you want!
Choose a letter of the alphabet and speak as long as you can while starting every sentence with this letter. Or start with the letter A and go through the alphabet as you speak. It’s much harder than it sounds!
Speak for two minutes. Set a timer to run for two minutes. Choose a random topic from places like Conversation Starters or prompts (ideas) at Writing Exercises . Then, speak about that topic for the full two minutes without giving yourself time to think about it. The first minute might be hard, but by the second minute, you’ll start to speak more confidently and comfortably. Try this as many times as it takes to get comfortable within the first minute.

Practicing improv is a good way to get more comfortable speaking with others, since it teaches you to speak without preparation.

Tongue twisters are phrases and sentences that are difficult to say quickly. They’re designed to help you see how fast you can say them before your tongue gets confused.

But saying them slowly works, too! It’s an excellent way to work on your pronunciation and how clearly you speak. You can choose one of these English tongue twisters , making sure to correctly and clearly say every word.

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Once you’re comfortable saying the words slowly, try to say them faster, gradually increasing your speed with each new repetition. Even if you get some words wrong (and believe me, even native English speakers struggle with tongue twisters sometimes), you’ll at least have a good laugh about it!

Being able to say individual words correctly is great, but the secret to speaking English fluently lies in the flow of your sentences.

Whenever you read a piece of poetry, listen to a melodic song or watch a hilarious sitcom, pay attention to:

Linking. Notice how native speakers link words together. This refers to joining two sounds, making a sound disappear or changing a sound to make it flow better.
I + am = I’m
he + will = he’ll
they + have = they’ve
do + not = don’t
Stress. There are stressed syllables in a word and stressed words in a sentence .
Rhythm. The rhythm is the overall result of stress, contractions and linking. It’s the ups and downs, or the musical features of English. You can also think of it as the speed and “sound” of your speaking.

Finding your perfect speaking rhythm can go a long way toward boosting your fluency. A good speaking pace is comfortable (both for you and the listener), keeps you focused and gives you enough time to think through what you want to say.

Here’s how you can improve the flow of your spoken English:

Find a short paragraph, or even just a sentence at your reading level. You can find lots of short reading passages for different levels here . You can also open your favorite English book to a random page and choose a paragraph or two.
Get a recorder or video camera. If your phone doesn’t already have a recorder installed, you can download this for iOS or this for Android.
Say the paragraph or sentence slowly, then again faster, and again.
Once you reach a speed that doesn’t feel comfortable or is too fast, slow down.
Repeat this a number of times, making sure to record what you say every time.

Listen to the recordings. How do they sound? You should’ve felt a difference when you were speaking, too. Speaking slowly helps you work on pronunciation and enunciation (how clearly you say things). Speaking fast helps you work on your fluency, since you’re not worrying about every single word you say.

Shadowing English basically involves listening to how a native speaker says something and copying it.

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Here are some ideas on how to shadow English:

Pick your favorite video with subtitles. Make sure it’s something you enjoy watching. This is important for the next step.
Listen to it many times. Listen to the video once. Then, read the subtitles to get a good grasp of the general content and flow.
Imitate the narrator sentence by sentence. Play. Listen. Pause. Speak. Record (optional). Copy the speech pattern as best as you can.

With enough shadowing, you’ll naturally get closer to sounding like a native speaker. Just make sure to pick videos with the same English accent!

You can find plenty of English videos with quality subtitles on the language learning platform FluentU .

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

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When you’re learning English, and you’re having a conversation with a native speaker, your natural tendency is to take what they say, translate it into your native language in your head, mentally create a response in your native language then translate that response back into English.

As you can imagine, this takes a lot of time. It also makes conversations feel slow or even frustrating (something that causes stress) for the person you’re talking to.

On the other hand, if you practice thinking in English , it takes less time to come up with responses and engage in conversations. You don’t have to take that extra step of translating to and from your native language.

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A good way to start thinking in English is to keep a diary for writing down your daily thoughts in English. It doesn’t have to be perfect—you just want to practice getting your thoughts out in English as often as you can.

For example, you can start with a familiar story from your culture. Your translation needs to convey (communicate) not only the meaning of the words you use, but as much cultural nuance (small differences in meaning) as you can pack into it. You can also choose a short story or fairy tale that mostly uses words you can understand.

Then, you can record your retelling or ask a native English speaker to listen to you and give you their thoughts.

Sometimes, you have words in your language that don’t easily translate into English, and that’s okay! You can try to explain it in another way, like how an untranslatable word would feel to a native English speaker, for example.

If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s an app to help you perfect your English pronunciation, the answer is “Yes.” There’s a lot of them , in fact.

For example, ELSA Speak (available on iOS and Android ) uses speech recognition technology to help you correct the way you say words in English. The lessons are arranged according to topic (e.g., travel, business, etc.). If you’re taking proficiency exams like the IELTS, this app can come in handy, too!

Big universities, theaters and cultural societies often organize events like open debates , spoken word readings and improvised storytelling gatherings. These are places where you can come and mingle with like-minded people and practice speaking English.

Many cities host TED Talks where you can register, participate and share your innovative (something that’s new or original) ideas. Check the events page of your local university to see if there are any of these opportunities available. It might be a nerve-racking experience, but it would be great for your English!

But what if you don’t feel confident speaking in English? Don’t worry, all language learners deal with this at some point! One of the best ways to overcome the lack of confidence is to get out there and practice.

The best way to do this is to try speaking in English with strangers. The following video has tips on avoiding mistakes when starting a conversation in English.

If public speaking terrifies you, you can opt for language cafes instead. These are cafes that create a friendly and relaxing atmosphere for people who want to practice and exchange languages.

You can usually find language cafes through local universities or the Meetup groups in your local area. If nothing else, they’re a great place to find friends you can share your personal interests with.

Depending on the context, you may have to use either formal or informal English . But how do you know which one to use?

Often, it’s a good idea to listen to how your conversation partner is talking, notice your situation and environment and try to match the type of English being used.

For example, if you’re in the office or at school talking to a boss or professor, it’s safe to use formal English. If you’re talking over coffee with a friend in a cozy cafe, you’re free to throw around all the slang you know.

If you’re only learning “regular” English, don’t worry. Most of the time, standard English works perfectly well as a communication tool, no matter who you’re speaking to. Context is key!

Imagine hearing both of these sentences out of the blue (suddenly). The first thing you’ll probably think of is, “What on earth is this person talking about? What do ‘elucidate’ and ‘dihydrogen monoxide’ mean?”

Even if you know what those words mean, you’ll probably still think that they could’ve just said “Can you please explain to me what this means?” or “Drink lots of water every day!”

You may be tempted to throw around impressive-sounding words in everyday conversations. But, unless there’s no other way to express what you really mean, you’ll want to use the simplest words possible. Not only will you be better understood, but you’re also less likely to come across as pretentious (someone who acts like they’re better than they really are).

But how do you know which words are the “simplest” for English speakers? Again, that’s where regularly listening to authentic conversations comes in. The more you listen to regular conversations by native speakers, the more you’ll pick up patterns regarding the words they use to make themselves understood.

Communication works both ways. To make sure your listener is engaged (interested in what you have to say) and understands you, ask questions.

The questions can be about anything you want to know more of. If it’s your first time meeting someone, “What’s your name?” is always a good conversation starter. You can also use other ways to introduce yourself in English .

Ask questions whenever the other person stops and there’s something you want to know more about. For example, if you see your friend with a good-looking car, you can say something like “Wow, that’s a nice car! What make and model is it?” The “compliment + question” formula works like a charm!

Whenever you don’t understand what the other person says, just say it back to the speaker in your own words. This will give them a chance to correct whatever you didn’t understand, or confirm that you heard right.

You can use these phrases before the information:

I want to make sure I got that right, …
So let me get this straight, …
If I’m understanding you correctly, …
Just to make sure I’ve got it right, you mean…
Are you saying that… ?
When you said… Did you mean… ?
I am not quite sure I am following. Did you say…

If you’re worried that this makes you look “slow” or rude (has no manners), don’t fret! Most people will be perfectly understanding of the fact that English isn’t your first language. They’d rather repeat themselves than have any misunderstandings.

Filler phrases are phrases that act like placeholders in a sentence. They fill in silences so that your speech isn’t interrupted, and give you a little time to think of what to say.

Some examples of filler phrases are:

To be honest…

You’ll hear these words a lot when you’re talking to native English speakers. To have a better grasp of what they mean and how to use them, you’ll want to—you’ve guessed it—practice them regularly.

But, as with any good thing, don’t overuse them! Too many filler phrases are just as bad as too many pauses. As a general rule of thumb, try not to use more than one filler phrase for every couple of sentences you speak.

Because you’re still practicing English, you may not always be sure if people really understand what you mean.

In that case, just ask! Most of the time, you can make sure someone understands what you said by asking them to repeat what you said.

For example, the next time you give instructions, directions or information in English, follow it up with one of these phrases:

I want to make sure you got that. Would you mind repeating it?
I’m not sure if I said that right. Can you please repeat it?
Can you please run that by me, so I know you got it?
I’d like to be sure I’m expressing myself clearly. Could you please tell me what I’ve just said, so I know we’re on the same page?

There’s an English saying that goes like this: “Actions speak louder than words.”

The way you sit, the way you hold your hands and even where you look—all of these can add to or change the meaning of the words you say. The most important thing is to relax.

Not all body language and gestures mean the same thing in different cultures, however. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re speaking in English:

Avoid certain hand gestures. Showing just the middle finger with the rest of the fingers folded down is considered an offensive gesture. In the U.K., making a V sign with your index and middle finger is also considered rude. (In the U.S., it’s just a sign that means “peace.”)
Do use your hands when you’re speaking, though. Your hands can show so many emotions. Slamming a fist (where your fingers are curled into your hands like a boxer’s) into an open hand shows determination. Slamming an open palm or a fist into a table can show anger. Keeping your hands closed and folded on your chest makes you seem cold and uninterested.
Fingers can speak, too. For example, you can make an “okay” sign by keeping your last three fingers open, and making an “O” with your index finger and thumb.
Crossed legs can mean different things. If you cross your legs toward the person you’re speaking to, this shows you’re listening to them. If you cross your legs away, it can show you’re not interested or are distracted.

Take note of the situation and mood of the speaker when they make certain gestures. Watching others’ body language in person can help you better understand what they mean.

You can also do this exercise:

Sit or stand in front of a mirror and speak.
Pretend you’re having a conversation with your reflection. What are your hands doing? What does your posture say?
Move around, try different things and see how they change the meaning of the words you’re speaking.

This may seem like a strange tip in a post on how to improve your English speaking skills. After all, what does writing have to do with speaking?

Plenty, in fact. When you know the most natural way to express something in English on paper, that can also translate to how you express yourself in spoken conversations.

Practice writing in English . Take time to collect your thoughts. Try writing a blog in English to hone your writing skills.

Take a look at the steps below and start blogging!

Choose a platform. WordPress is a good option for blogging. You can set up an account, then choose a theme and a domain (e.g., imlearningenglish.wordpress.com). Other content management systems like Wix , Ghost and Squarespace are also useful. If you only want to write and aren’t too comfortable with overly technical setups, check out Medium .
Choose a topic. You can write about whatever you like, of course. But since you want to practice more and more, you should choose a topic that you’re passionate (interested in or knowledgeable) about.
Set a schedule and stick to it. Decide how often you’ll be writing—daily, twice a week or once every other week. Be realistic, but committed.
Write away! Staring at a blank page can be intimidating (scary). To get started, set a timer for one to two minutes. Think of your topic for that day, then start writing without stopping until the timer goes off. Don’t worry about vocabulary, sentence structure or spelling for now. The point is to express yourself without having to think too much about what you want to say—which is how most conversations go!

Do you feel shy about meeting people in person?

Luckily, you don’t have to leave home to find people to talk to. You can always go to language exchange sites like:

italki. italki works like a tutoring site where you can find native English speakers to teach you their language. (Read our italki review here .)
Polyglot Club . A polyglot is someone who can speak multiple languages. As you can guess from the name, the website consists of a community of people dedicated to learning languages.
HelloTalk. On HelloTalk, you can connect with English speakers via voice, text or video chat. (Read our HelloTalk review here .)
Tandem. Similar to HelloTalk, Tandem allows you to contact English speakers from halfway around the world. It has more of a social media feel, though. (Read our Tandem review here .)

Native English speakers love to throw around cultural references in conversation. Cultural references are usually ideas, sayings or jokes related to popular media. For example, the meme (pronounced “meem”) “Brace yourselves, winter is coming” is a reference to a quote by the character Ned Stark from the TV series “Game of Thrones.”

There are so many possible cultural references that it’s hard to keep all of them straight, even if you’re a big pop culture fan! However, you can “get” (understand) most of them by watching lots of English TV shows and movies .

Aside from pop culture, you’ll also want to read about the politics, values and norms of the English-speaking country you’re interested in. That way, you can avoid saying something insensitive or politically incorrect. You can read all about these in newspapers and magazines , where you can also pick up idioms , phrases and other expressions you’ll use over and over again.

If you can afford a plane ticket and accommodations, you can always travel to an English-speaking country. Traveling gives you a chance to see and feel the culture—the food, the drinks, the shops, etc. You can practice chatting with native speakers, testing out your accent and seeing how well people understand you.

So, off you go! Choose your preferred method to improve your English speaking skills above. Expand your vocabulary, correct your pronunciation and boost your English speaking with the tips that feel right for you. Don’t forget to practice as much as possible!

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

learn-english-with-subtitled-television-show-clips

FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

For example, when you tap on the word "searching," you see this:

learn-conversational-english-with-interactive-captioned-dialogue

FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.

The best part? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You have a truly personalized experience.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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10 Effective Ways You Can Improve Your Communication Skills

Want to become not only a powerful communicator, but an effective one? Here are the 10 most effective communication skills to help you improve!

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They say that communication is the most important factor in any work or romantic relationship… and they’re right!

Communication problems account for 65% of divorces in America.

But don’t fret.

What Are Communication Skills?

Communication skills help us share our ideas, thoughts, and feelings with others. Great communicators are able to give and receive different forms of information via verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and body language signs. Communication skills help us relay instructions, messages, new ideas, or emotions.

Why Are Communication Skills Important?

Whether it be verbal, nonverbal, or physical, we communicate with people every day!

Communication skills help us clearly relay our thoughts and ideas to others.

In 1952, Scott Cutlip introduced the 7 C’s of communication to help people create more sound points of interest while talking with another person.

These 7 C’s include

The 7 C's of communication is presented. It includes clarity, conciseness, concreteness, correctness, coherent, completeness, and courtesy.

Clarity : What is your purpose in communicating with this person?
Conciseness : Keep it short and stick to the point.
Concreteness : Create a vivid picture of what you’re speaking about with facts and imagery.
Correctness : Is what you’re saying error-free, and does it fit your audience’s level of comprehension?
Coherence : Your topic and points are easily understood and logical.
Completeness : Your audience has all the information that you spoke of and can act upon it.
Courtesy : Practice open, honest, and friendly conversation.

With the 7 C’s , you can ensure that your audience can listen easily to your words and employ them directly and peacefully. With that, you’ll become a credible and reliable source of information simply because you can communicate it for the masses to comprehend.

Also, keeping the conversation creative helps listeners to keep the spark alive and devise a colorful picture of what you’re saying in their head, which will keep them from finding excuses to leave the conversation.

Just know that the more you effectively communicate, the better you become at it and the more people will listen and adhere to what you’re saying!

Types of Communication Skills

By now, you’re probably wondering, What are some different types of communication skills that I can use to make people listen!?

We’ll briefly cover the key types of communication from a Drexel University study so that you get the main points:

Types of Communication which include visual, written, listening, verbal, and non-verbal communication.

Visual Communication : Physical or mental imagery that conveys your main points and explanations
Written Communication: Using various forms of written communication to inform in a clear and concise manner
Listening: Actively hearing words and phrases to connect points and comprehend the overall message
Verbal Communication: Speaking your words or message directly to your audience
Nonverbal Communication: Using your body to relay your point (e.g., facial expressions, pointing, eye contact, etc.)

These communication terms may seem familiar to you, but are you sure about how to use them?

If not, here’s how!

Visual Communication

Visual communication is said to be the easiest form of communication because our brains automatically create images of words and sounds that we hear.

Between social media, ads, television, and our phones, our society has transformed into pictures with short and witty captions. These images convey a specific message that we want viewers to comprehend without thinking about it.

As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” and that’s because of the various interpretations that we can conjure just by seeing some shapes, lines, and colors.

Written Communication

Remember being in school passing notes to your friends so that the teacher wouldn’t hear you? That was probably one of your first forms of written communication , and, as you can see, it works!

If you’re in the workforce, did you know that 73% of employers seek workers with top-notch written communication skills?

Why? Because memos, social media posts, and those pesky emails you send every day are a part of business and help us to effectively communicate by slowing down and expressing ourselves concisely without the hassle of being interrupted.

Also, think about it: How cool is it that written communication saves you from having to speak?!

This is a major help, especially for introverts , in getting your point across without having to say a single word.

Attentive listening tends to be one of the most important types of communication because, according to a listening study , a whopping 40% of communication involves listening!

40% of all communication happens through listening.

Without listening to the words that are spoken, you literally lose out on almost half of what was communicated; therefore, you can’t effectively engage in the conversation with the person speaking unless you’re hearing them.

Thankfully, there are four types of listening that we engage in daily.

Peruse the list of effective listening styles and determine which kind of listener you are:

Full Listening: Paying close attention to the words and tones of the speaker
Therapeutic Listening: Allowing close friends and loved ones to express themselves
Deep Listening: Focusing on learning the speaker’s core points and perspectives
Critical Listening: Using reasoning, facts, and logic to analyze a message

Luckily, these listening styles can be developed and enhanced with practice and consistent communication.

Verbal Communication

You can be speaking to a coworker via Zoom or hanging out with your friends discussing the latest in the celebrity world. Either way, you’re engaging in verbal communication .

Being verbal is a great form of communication that allows others to hear and connect the points you’re trying to make via your words.

Sure, some people, like Kanye West, are said to be “full of themselves” when they speak and could use a moment to simply zip it, but where’s the fun in that?

Like Kanye, many people use complexity and intonations (cadence, tone, pitch) to connect their surface words to their core message, which helps the audience understand their point.

Interestingly, while face to face, you can’t help but also take into consideration your audience’s nonverbal communication.

Speaking of which…

Nonverbal Communication

Have you ever received the “death stare” from someone? You knew exactly what that meant, and that, my friends, is a form of nonverbal communication .

Simply put, nonverbal communication consists of using any part of your body—except your voice—to get your audience’s attention and the results that you desire .

You’ve most likely engaged in these nonverbal cues before:

hand gestures
eye contact

According to a Darioly and Mast study , “Nonverbal plays an important role in interpersonal communication in general and accounts for a majority (about 65 to 90%) of the meaning conveyed in social interaction.”

However, a recent study made a valid point that if this is true, it’s because people aren’t paying attention to the words or are simply not listening.

This is exactly why knowing the different styles of nonverbal cues is necessary, and why nonverbal communication will never go out of style.

Top 10 Effective Communication Skills

To become a better communicator, you have to have the tools and skills to create the right message for the right audience, right?

Here are the top 10 communication skills that will enhance the way you speak and listen.

1. Clear Signaling

“Communication—the human connection—is the key to personal and career success.” – Paul J. Meyer

In the realm of communication skills, clear signaling is the art of relaying your words directly and concisely to your listener .

It seems like an easy skill, doesn’t it?

However, it can be misconstrued based on interpretation, which leads to s ignal amplification bias .

Based on a study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , signal amplification bias is also believing that a communication cue is worth more than its surface intention.

For example, many people aren’t sure others like them because they’re playing cool and undersignaling. In other words, many people are afraid others don’t like them. If you enjoy working with someone, tell them!

Signal amplification bias also stems from the misconception that you provided enough information to your listener when in fact you did not.

You can tell this bias is in effect when you hear statements like

“It should have been obvious.”
“This goes without saying.”
“I shouldn’t have to tell you this.”

Overcoming the bias requires initiating straightforward clear signaling.

If you like working with someone, tell them.
If someone did a great job on a project, tell them.
If someone is making you uncomfortable, tell them!

Bottom line: Be honest with your intentions.

2. Highlight Uniqueness

Uniqueness is the quality of being remarkable, special, or one-of-a-kind, and everyone has a special communicative trait that sets them apart from others.

Whether it’s the inflection of your voice, an entertaining stature and body posture, or incredible clarity while speaking, you can improve your communication traits by highlighting your unique communication skills either verbally, physically, or nonverbally.

You can even show appreciation for others! Try highlighting other people’s uniqueness:

Compliment them on their unique style of clothing.
Send a message of appreciation about their orderliness or creativity.
Show appreciation for their specific personality traits .

3. Reading Faces

Reading faces is a vital communication skill that allows you to understand a person’s feelings through their face instead of their voice . In fact, humans have 7 universal microexpressions, or facial expressions, that signal different emotions.

The 7 different microexpressions are

In accordance, the facial feedback hypothesis states that one’s facial expressions are directly related to their emotional and behavioral experience toward others and themselves.

A study was conducted to test this hypothesis with humor. The results show us that under the right conditions, people feel free to express their emotions through their face, which influences their emotional and physical demeanor.

In short, changing your facial expression can literally influence the way you think and feel—and the message you’re getting across!

This communication skill of reading faces is so powerful that facial reading training is available for people who want to increase their know-how of guessing how people feel based on their emotional facial expressions.

4. Still-Face Experiment

If you’re like Rihanna and have been consistently told that you have RBF, then you’ll want to pay attention to this communication skill.

Have you ever heard of the still-face experiment ? In a nutshell, it was a study done to show how stressful behaviors affect facial expressions and, thus, the emotional development of infants and children.

By the end of the experiment, it showcased that if you are still and emotionless in the face, it becomes challenging for people to communicate with you simply because they can’t tell if you’re paying attention or not.

If you have RBF or “Still Face,” there’s hope for you yet!

There are some solutions that you can use to gauge a deeper understanding of what is being communicated so that you can have some movement in those stale muscles.

Check them out:

Listen with empathy and verbally respond.
Help people to label their feelings so that you can physically empathize.
Recognize the speaker’s main point to connect on a deeper level.

You may get mad—heck, you may even chuckle at what’s being said—but the point is to stray from the Still Face and engage in facial reactions to show attentive listening and improved communication.

But if you’re REALLY struggling to fix that RBF, there may be hope. Check out our guide here: Resting Bitch Face: How to Fix Your RBF Forever (With Science) .

Let’s move on to the next skill.

5. Facial Absorption

Facial absorption is the face-to-face communication skill of taking in information and using your face to show your reaction . That’s it!

Here’s the secret sauce to enacting this communication skill with other people: eye contact !

When you are focused on the person’s face while they are speaking, there is a chance that your mirror neurons will copy the speaker’s face and make you react in the same way.

Facial absorption automatically shows coherent listening and courtesy, even if you don’t catch every single word that floods out of their mouth.

And the best part?

Facial absorption comes automatically. All you need to do is really pay attention to the other person during a conversation.

Here’s another tip: Use facial absorption during your next meeting, as it is one of the most impactful communication skills in the workplace .

6. Use Powerful Words

Words are very powerful, depending on how we say them and the specific words that we say.

In fact, using powerful words is one of the most valuable communication skills in the workplace because of the digital world we live in that simply requires us to look down and use our thumbs.

Social and corporate jargon can be a serious hindrance to effective communication, which is why words used should be powerful and easy to understand.

Here are some that you can try out:

transparent
challenging

You also use powerful words to increase your influence toward others and reveal the same communicative traits in others that you have within yourself, which is referred to as spontaneous trait transference .

We’ll put it this way: The way you describe others is the way people will see you —that’s the transference. And the fact that it happens instantly is what makes it spontaneous!

In the workplace, examples of this can be seen when your boss gives you a compliment or when you hear someone gossiping about another person.

They can be positive or negative, but the point is to use strong words to convey your message with positive assertion and tact and improve your oral communication skills .

7. Embodied Cognition

You know when you go to the doctor’s office for a checkup and you see them set up the tools to give you a shot? Your body starts to tense and your heart starts to race a bit, doesn’t it?

There’s a reason for that, and it’s called embodied cognition .

It’s the latest sexy topic in social psychology, theorized as behavior emerging from the real-time interaction between our nervous system and our environment, which persuades our mind to think a certain way.

So what does this have to do with communication?

Through strategic messaging, certain sounds, imagery, or voice inflections can make your body react, which may convince your mind to think a particular thought.

Other examples can be as simple as seeing a chair and thinking, I should sit , or, even if you aren’t hungry, smelling food and having the thought of eating pop into your mind.

Embodied cognition has been described as “ internal suggestive communication. ” It’s simply saying that the body can influence the mind as much as the mind can influence the body .

For example, there used to be a student who told her team, “Let’s not be a sinking ship” or “Let’s not rip the bandaid off,” until she noticed that her team members visibly winced when she said it. Even though she said NOT, the metaphor was still physically painful. Be careful with your words and err on the side of positive.

You can even hang up photos around your cubicle in the workplace and listen to audiobooks of your favorite public speakers to persuade your mind.

8. Sharing Feedback

Sharing feedback is responding to a message or activity .

No one likes to feel like they are wasting their time speaking, which is why sharing feedback is a HUGE communication skill that proves you paid attention.

It’s also one of the safest and most effective oral communication skills and business communication skills to create an engaging dialogue about the topic at hand.

A 2017 study gives a list of the different types of feedback . Check to see if you’ve engaged in any of them:

Informal Feedback : Basic verbal or nonverbal responses on performance or statements
Formal Feedback: A structured assessment where people give direct critique or criticism to the speaker
Summative Feedback: A detailed summary of the topic along with positive comments and solutions for enhancing shortcomings

Appropriate feedback is an important interpersonal skill because it contributes to development and confidence in receiving critique from people you know—and don’t know—while building your confidence in communication.

Action Step: Grab a “feedback buddy” and work on playing out imaginary scenarios, such as a job interview or giving a TED talk , while giving critiques and comments to each other.

9. Positive Body Language

Body language includes all communication through a physical channel and is a powerful form of communication—more powerful than words!

Why? Because the body does not lie!

Social anthropologist Edward T. Hall (1959) maintained that there are more than 700,000 forms of body language , and during a typical conversation, 65% of social meanings are portrayed directly through body language .

Yet in different parts of the world, this number and body language will vary.

Let’s break down what each body part could indicate while communicating (at least in Western cultures):

Head: A subtle nod can mean agreement, while shaking the head no (even if someone says yes) can mean disagreement. How do you spot these subtle differences? Learn more about head behavior .
Face: The face can give away subtle hints of anger, happiness, sadness, or even contempt! Cues can manifest in bared teeth or pursed lips. Learn more about facial expressions .
Eyes: Depending on where the eyes are looking, a person can be feeling intimate or bored! How do you tell? Learn more about the eyes here .
Mouth : Licking the lips draws attention through tongue movement. It also leaves the lips noticeably shinier and more attractive. What other mouth cues are there? Learn about mouth cues here .
Hands: Greetings, farewell, or threat. Hiding your hands can signal a threat. Open palms, on the other hand, signal sincerity. Learn all the hand gestures you need to know: 60 Hand Gestures You Should Be Using .
Legs/Feet: How do you know where someone wants to go? Simply look at their feet. Learn why in this article: 20 Leg Body Language Cues To Help You Analyze ANY Situation .

Learning how to improve communication skills by being sensitive to body language allows you to become aware of whether who you’re talking to is entertained or bored out of their spiritless mind.

It can help you spot contradictions between what is said and what is meant while also helping you to become more cognizant of your body language to determine what message you’re sending out to your audience.

And if you really want to master body language? Read our mega guide: The Ultimate Guide to Body Language .

10. Storytelling

Want to know how to improve communication skills at work , at home, or in society? Try the oldest form of communication that’s still used in many cultures around the world: storytelling !

Storytelling is a form of communication that creates colorful imagery backed by detailed words to both help your listeners understand your core message and keep them mentally entertained.

It’s also a solid way to increase your verbal communication skills and one of the greatest active listening exercises for your audience.

Storytelling entails

using visual cues, such as pictures or objects
practicing rephrasing if someone doesn’t get your message
increasing nonverbal cues with bodily movement and gestures

If you want to learn more about how to improve communication skills through storytelling, read our amazing article: How to Tell a Great Story: Learn Science of Storytelling .

Communication Really IS Key!

Why are communication skills important? Because they’re what we use to survive. You can choose to wave a hand, make a face, or speak your mind. In any case, you have to use vital communication skills to effectively get your message across.

And I know—some of these theories may be new to you, but practicing new interpersonal communication skills and nonverbal communication skills is a sound form of communication training !

Check out this guide: 9 Conflict Resolution Tips to Win An Argument Like a Jedi

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12 thoughts on “10 effective ways you can improve your communication skills”.

Thanks Vanessa

Thank YOU for reading!

Danielle | Science of People Team

Micro-Expression: I have a few friends that I can read but other times it feels like a struggle. One “friend” in particular usually displays the disgust expression, hence I do not spend a lot of time with her. We are friends when I see her, but out of site out of mind…until now. What can I do to tune into the micro-expressions with others?

Great question. Some people have what is called a facial punctuator meaning they display a certain expression (surprise, contempt, disgust) as a way to emphasize a point or idea. Keep in mind that this does not necessarily mean that that this person feels this specific emotion more often, but instead, it’s part of their baseline. It may take a little getting used to!

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10 TED talks to sharpen your communication skills

Effective communication is paramount to great leadership. But it’s more nuanced and complicated than just learning how to give a great speech. If you want to inspire others through your words, you must learn how to not only speak effectively, but also listen effectively. Communication is a two-way street, after all.

We’ve rounded up 10 TED Talks that offer wisdom and advice for leaders who are serious about improving their communication skills. From practical tips like leaving bullet points out of slides, to learning the importance of vulnerability in conversations, these talks offer a mini-course on more effective communication. That should lead to deeper understanding on both sides for leaders and teams.

1. 10 ways to have a better conversation

Speaker: Celeste Headlee

Celeste Headlee draws upon decades of interview experience as a radio host to deliver 10 powerful rules for having better conversations. Notably, she implores listeners to recall all the past advice they’ve been given – like “smile and nod to show you’re paying attention” – and throw it out the window. Instead, she offers the rules that all great interviewers live by. Even if you only master one of them, she says, you’ll be on your way to becoming a better communicator.

2. Talk nerdy to me

Speaker: Melissa Marshall

When Melissa Marshall was invited to teach a communications class for engineering students at Penn State, she was intimidated, as she shares in this TED Talk. But her intimidation quickly turned into a strong desire to help those science-minded students clearly communicate their big ideas to non-scientists. Her tips are applicable to anyone who needs to simplify their messages without dumbing them down, to more effectively share wisdom with larger audiences. One memorable and witty tip: Drop the bullet points. “Bullets kill,” says Marshall.

3. How great leaders inspire action

Speaker: Simon Sinek

Business leaders are already familiar with Simon Sinek, author of bestsellers “ Start With Why ” and “ Leaders Eat Last .” This TED Talk has been viewed nearly 40 million times, so you may have already seen it. However, like a good business book that you turn to time and time again, this talk deserves multiple viewings. In it, Sinek explains the concept of the golden circle, in which leaders understand and communicate the “why” behind their mission before ever explaining what they will do, or how they'll do it. Sinek says leaders must adopt this way of communicating vision if they want to truly inspire others to action.

4. The secret structure of great talks

Speaker: Nancy Duarte

Nancy Duarte is an expert in persuasive presentations. While studying the best speeches throughout history, she made an incredible discovery: They all follow the exact same pattern. By repeatedly contrasting the way things are with the way they could be, speakers who follow this pattern create a powerful call to action for listeners. Master this technique, and you’ll have an effective tool in overcoming resistance to change – something any transformational leader could use.

5. How to build (and rebuild) trust

Speaker: Frances Frei

Trust is necessary in communication. After all, how can you expect people to listen to what you are saying if they don’t trust you? In this TED Talk, Harvard Business School professor Frances Frei explains the three components of trust: authenticity, rigor in logic, and empathy. If you think you’re having a trust issue, look at your empathy first and foremost. Frei says that’s the most common area where trust breaks down. But if you have a “wobble” in any of the three areas, trust falls apart – and communication becomes more difficult.

[ Enter our June book giveaway for a chance to win one of 10 must-reads on emotional intelligence for leaders. See the list of books here . ]

The importance of good speech: 5 tips to be more articulate

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What does articulation mean?

6 benefits of becoming more articulate, 5 tips for improving articulation, why is good speech so important, moving forward.

Being able to effectively express your needs, goals, and feelings is a skill that can have a big impact on every part of your life. If you’ve ever struggled to share an idea with your coworkers or convey feelings to your loved ones, you know how important good communication is.

Getting your point across without articulate speech can be frustrating. Filler words can distract from your point and lead you to try to explain yourself three or four times. Fortunately, you can learn how to speak articulately with a little time and effort.

Becoming more articulate with your words will serve you well in every interaction, from the office to holiday dinner with your family. We’re here to teach you how to be more articulate an d tell you about the benefits of being a stronger speaker.

When we define articulateness, we mean someone who uses the right words, at the right pace, so others can understand what they're trying to communicate. That means both that the listener can understand the actual words that they're saying, and that the words represent the meaning in the clearest way possible.

Not sure of the difference? Have you ever listened to a college professor, lawyer, or maybe minister who spoke very clearly — you heard all the words that they were saying — but you had no idea of what they meant? Perhaps there were so many words and their connection wasn't obvious.

People who use big words and many caveats and modifiers might be technically correct, but they won't necessarily be articulate.

To some degree, articulateness is in the ear of the beholder. Think carefully before you start assessing whether someone is articulate or not. Context matters.

An articulate speaker is comfortable with their own voice and can speak coherently to the intended audience.

They can slow their words down when they need to and use proper grammar and pronunciation. Rather than always speaking in the same tone, their speaking skills lead them to enunciate and emphasize differently depending on the topic, setting, and audience.

That said, did you know that articulation isn't only about our words? Great speakers go beyond what comes from their mouths. Our body language skills also need to be in tune with our words to be most effective. Even though it can be difficult to make eye contact and use the correct hand movements, these nonverbal cues contribute to how articulate we are.

Syncing your body language and speaking skills can take time. As you set your goals, you can start by identifying your strengths and weaknesses.

There’s a reason why public figures go through media training. Being well-spoken and articulate can bring lots of benefits besides knowing proper grammar.

Here are six benefits of becoming more articulate. Notice how these benefits aren’t just for your workplace but also your personal life.

Being articulate helps you appear more understanding and competent.
Articulation skills can make you more comfortable in any environment where you have to talk to people.
You’ll find you have greater confidence when you explain your thoughts and stand up for yourself .
Being articulate can help others see you as a leader .
Asking for feedback (or giving it) will be less challenging if you are able to communicate more clearly and succinctly.
You’ll stand out compared to your other friends and colleagues, which can be great for career opportunities.

Group-of-people-working-together-how-to-be-more-articulate

There are a wide variety of strategies for improving how eloquently you speak. Some people need to focus on getting past a fear of public speaking , while others need to pace themselves better while speaking.

No matter what is blocking you from being articulate with your speech, here are five tips for how to improve articulation.

1. Record yourself speaking

It’s awkward and cringe-worthy to listen to a recording of your own voice. But when you listen back to yourself, you’ll be able to identify your bad habits. Do you only speak in long sentences? Are you using too many filler words? You might find that you need to use pauses, slow it down, or vary your sentence length.

After listening to yourself, you can focus on improving specific areas of your speech. Rather than wasting time improving on things you already do well, you can hone in on exactly what’s giving you trouble.

2. Think about your final sound

Your final sound is how you finish your sentences and speech. It’s your closer and what you leave your listeners with. To become more articulate, try completing your thought without mumbling or trailing off.

Think about pitch variation and how you can emphasize certain words to drive home what you’re saying. Begin to think about pronouncing each syllable in your words. This will help you use them properly and ensure that everyone understands what you’re saying.

Woman-Gesticulating-Recording-Podcast-how-to-be-more-articulate

3. Be confident in yourself

To be a better speaker, you need to believe in what you’re saying. When we’re confident in ourselves, our words come out more smoothly. Even if you’re asking a question about something that confuses you, make sure to ask it with confidence.

Sometimes it can be daunting to put yourself out there and speak up. However, it’s better to use your words rather than be confused and regret it later.

4. Watch how others do it

If you’re looking for inspiring examples of articulation, you have plenty of options to choose from. You can read books to help you study proper grammar. Or you can listen to podcasts and listen to the hosts’ speech patterns. Try to think about how they create their sentences.

If you’re looking for help with your body language skills and want to see how public figures do it, try watching TEDTalks. Taking time to stop and study examples helps you know what you’re working towards achieving.

5. Be mindful of your speed

Speaking shouldn’t be a race. When you rush through your words for no reason, you’re more prone to mistakes. That said, you don’t want to speak too slowly and lose your listeners’ attention either.

Try to identify when it’s important to talk faster versus slower. Speaking faster can show passion and excitement, while speaking slower is often deliberate and serious. Start to make a conscious effort to have an appropriate speed of speech and remember to pace yourself.

A supportive person can be helpful as you strive to become more articulate. For example, a BetterUp coach can remind you that becoming an articulate speaker will help fill your professional and personal life with clear, concise conversations. They can help you stay on track and make a real impact on your personal growth.

Woman-talking-in-conference-how-to-be-more-articulate

Having good speech is important for every aspect of your life. Skills like articulation never go out of style, but they can still be hard to come by. Being articulate can truly make you stand out personally and professionally.

Articulation has endless benefits for your career. For example, speaking well can help you give better presentations at work. It can also help you create more connections with colleagues and clients .

Besides helping you professionally, being a great speaker helps your personal life. It can boost your self-esteem and help you better communicate with those around you.

For example, if you’re talking to someone about how they’ve hurt you emotionally, articulation will help you communicate your sadness, anger, or frustration in a way that is heard. You want to be vulnerable while also taking time to listen to the other person. Being articulate in situations like this will help you resolve conflict , solve problems, and support others.

Office-workers-talking-how-to-be-more-articulate

As you do your be st to learn how to be more articulate, re member that you’re harnessing one of your most valuable tools: your own voice. Be proud of how you sound and what you have to say.

Learning to be an articulate speaker isn’t always easy. It’ll take time and some mishaps along the way. Make sure that you appreciate the small wins and use them to empower you to keep getting better.

Pay special attention to the first time you had a conversation where you made eye contact the entire time, or when you learned a new word and used it well. It’s all a learning curve, but remember that you’re strengthening a skill that will serve you well for the rest of your life.

Ready to find a coach to help you through this journey? At BetterUp , we have coaches who are communication specialists (they can also help you through the ups and downs of life that sometimes show up in our speech and self-presentation . When you can articulate your thoughts, ideas, and feelings, you'll be that much closer to feeling in control of your own potential.

Elevate your communication skills

Unlock the power of clear and persuasive communication. Our coaches can guide you to build strong relationships and succeed in both personal and professional life.

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

Empathic listening: what it is and how to use it

Tell a story they can't ignore these 10 tips will teach you how, talk less, listen more: 6 reasons it pays to learn the art, goal-setting theory: why it’s important, and how to use it at work, the significance of written communication in the workplace, how to be more persuasive: 6 tips for convincing others, make the connection: 10 effective ways to connect with people, how to become more assertive at work and in life (your ultimate guide), get flexible. adapting to changes will take you to the top, 8 tip to improve your public speaking skills, is being ego driven damaging your career being purpose-driven is better, getting a new manager how to (stop panicking and) make the most of it, your work performance will sky-rocket with these 13 tips, why it's good to have a bff at work and how to find one, inspire others and support their growth. 10 ways to make it happen, why creativity isn't just for creatives and how to find it anywhere, love them or hate them, meetings promote social learning and growth, how remote work will redefine future careers, according to gen z, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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Improve your practice.

Enhance your soft skills with a range of award-winning courses.

How to Improve your Communication Skills, with Key Resources

October 22, 2021 - Sophie Thompson

“Communication – the human connection – is the key to personal and career success.” – Paul J. Meyer.

Is the ability to communicate successfully something that is a natural part of human personality or something you can learn? Many believe it is a mixture of both.

Some of the greatest communications in history do seem to have been “born” speakers, and their tone, delivery and words leave an indelible stamp. Take for instance Martin Luther King Jr. His messages and phrases are still used today, in a multitude of ways. Especially “I have a dream” and his belief that people should “not be judged on the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.” He certainly had a charismatic character!

However, there are many business leaders, entertainers, politicians and well know orators who describe themselves as naturally shy. So, there’s plenty of evidence that you can develop effective, confident and successful speaking and writing abilities. Especially if you’re truly invested in what you want to say.

Everyone needs to communicate well to establish healthy relationships with loved ones, bosses, interview panels, colleagues and business contacts, to name but a few ‘audiences’.

Whatever your job, you will need to deliver information, with clarity and confidence. According to global professional development company Dale Carnegie – in the organisation’s video about improving communications skills – your wages depend on it!

The firm says that 85% of your financial success in life comes from your personality, and your skills in communication, negotiation and leadership. Leaving only 15% of your career achievements rooted in technical knowledge.

Effective communication skills are important to many aspects of your life and career, including:

Being hired for a new job
Working with clients and customers
Working with teams, both internal and external
Leading people
Establishing relationships
Securing new business at networking events

This is why this article brings together various methods and ideas for how to improve your communications skills.

Understand the fundamentals of communication

“Communication is a skill that you can learn. It’s like riding a bicycle or typing. If you’re willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life.” – Brian Tracy.

A great place to start in developing communications skills is to constantly consider, ‘What am I trying to achieve?’ before writing anything, or preparing for presentations, interviews and meetings.

All communication has a purpose. It could be to educate, inform, warn, entertain, influence or persuade for example. Sometimes more than one purpose is involved.

Focusing on the result you want to achieve can help you to frame and deliver what you say more effectively. You can also evaluate the outcome against your initial aim, to find ways to develop better communications skills.

Learn to listen to verbal and non-verbal communications

Developing a better ability to listen is not simply learning to stay quiet when someone speaks or reading documentation more thoroughly!

Active listening needs to be practised and improved. It involves engaging with a speaker, in an emotionally intelligent way.

For instance, being aware of your own responses and reactions, so you can stay calmer and more focused in situations of conflict or debate. Also, consider what’s behind the words you’re hearing. This can mean studying the speaker’s body language and giving thought to their views, motives, interests and preferences.

Good listening also involves encouraging people to supply you with more information or clarity, by using open-ended questions and prompts for instance.

Why is active listening so important?

William Ury, an author and one of the world’s best-known and respected experts on negotiation skills, argues that “listening is the essential, and often overlooked, half of communication.”

His TED talk video called ‘The power of listening’ develops this view.

Primarily, the advantages of improving listening skills include:

A better understanding of the speaker. As William Ury says: “How can you possibly change someone else’s mind if you don’t know where their mind is?”
Creates connection – including rapport and a level of trust.
Makes it more likely the speaker will be more receptive to what you have to say.
It costs nothing and you could learn a lot!

Add structure, context and non-verbal cues to your communication

Of course, it’s hard to actively listen when you come across a waffler, rambler or tech-speak geek. This is why the best communicators keep their purpose sharply in mind and deliver their ‘messages’ in as few words as possible.

As well as being succinct, there are other ways to enhance the success of your communication, including strategic use of visual aids. However, don’t let the visual material speak for you, as the impact of your words could get diluted if your audience gets too distracted.

One of the most commonly used ways to frame a presentation (or even a short speech) has been handed down from ancient Greek philosopher and scientist, Aristotle. It involves three steps:

Tell them what you are going to talk about.
Explain what you just said.

Also, keep in mind that even the most polished and well-presented speech needs to include a degree of flexibility, leaving space to respond to your audience, and invite discussion, questions and feedback.

You can also improve your communication by remembering that words – and even visual aids – can all be underpinned by your body language. Good non-verbal techniques to connect with your audience and hold their attention include natural smiles, plenty of eye contact and an open posture.

This is true of whether it’s one potential customer, an interview panel or a room full of your peers. Equally universal is the need to personalise what you say as much as possible.

For example, frequently (but seamlessly) addressing people by name in written or verbal communication and using ‘you’ ‘we’ and ‘I’ for example.

Use contemporary methods for improvement

“Although we live in an information technology age, we often find ourselves in failure to communicate situations.” – Johnny Tan.

Technology provides important communication improvement tools – more on this later.

However, it’s a double-edged sword according to world-renown communications expert Antoni Lacinai in his TED Talk video called ‘6 communication truths that everyone should know.’

Antoni Lacinai has spent over 25 years studying human communication and psychology, and his mission is to reclaim and enhance ‘analogue’ skills in an ever more digital world. He argues this takes time, effort and willpower.

Especially as digital communications have added to our impatience, and we lose concentration quickly (particularly younger audiences). According to Antoni Lacinai average attention spans have dropped from 20 to 3.5 minutes in a matter of a few years!

This makes it even more important to constantly fine-tune and refresh the way you communicate. Including, (ironically) making the best use of technology, such as growing your familiarity with software and web-based platforms that support information sharing.

Much depends on the nature of your job. So, for instance, if you are an entrepreneur, this could include getting a firmer handle on the different demographics and values of separate social media platforms.

Also, you could grow your ability to use options such as Slack and Zoom to continuously improve communication efficiency. They offer a way to record discussions, so you can evaluate if you could have done things better, clearer and in a more engaging way.

These are also digital communications tools you can learn to adapt to tailor information to specific audiences, and managers can use them to measure speaker success and viewer engagement.

This sort of communication improvement is vital as workforces are now highly dispersed. Research shows that if you use communications properly, to connected office-bound and remote staff, your productivity will increase by 20-25%. Also, 97% of employees feel their daily tasks depend on effective communications.

Use traditional methods for improvement

Beyond technology, you can also improve the success of your communication using more traditional methods, including participating in training courses in public speaking and writing for business.

Even something as readily accessible as reading more – and watching more news and documentary programmes – can help. This will expand your vocabulary, appreciation of language, and awareness of other people’s motivations and behaviours.

Also, use observational research. Focus on the communications activities of others, and study how they engage with their audience and achieve their purpose. You could also get a coach or mentor, to help you hone your skills.

Another free way to improve as a communicator is to use online resources to study the biggest mistakes people make, such as this article by a public speaking consultancy.

There is an important rider to this. It is natural to be nervous and to make mistakes, especially when presenting to multiple people. Accept that as something that happens to even the most experienced communicators and don’t let it derail you from your purpose.

However, if you want to see some really cringy public speaking mistakes, this series of videos includes some toe-curling examples!

Invest in understanding your audience properly

“The best speakers in the world are the best storytellers. They have a gift to not only tell a great story but also share a lot of the details that many others wouldn’t.” – Larry Hagner.

To meet any of the purposes of communication, you must quickly establish a strong connection with your audience. Engaging them both intellectually but also at an emotional level. This is the basis of the much-used phrased that you need to win ‘hearts and minds’.

That is why traits of the best communicators are empathy, respect and warmth, alongside displaying competence. These attributes enable you to talk to people – not at them. Staying constantly alert to their responses.

For example, if it is a meeting and their eyes start to glaze and drift off, you can pause, or ask them a friendly question, then move on to something you feel is more engaging and relevant. In written communication, it could be choosing words, phrases and additional information to explain things in a way your audience will better understand and appreciate.

You can also use ‘storytelling’ techniques to frame when you say or write; making it personal, relatable and inclusive of good illustrations to drive points home.

The series of videos in this article show storytelling in action among successful TED talk speakers.

Showing empathy, respect and warmth makes people feel important and engages them more thoroughly. It is only possible if you consider the nature of your audience.

That means taking note of what their expectations, interests, motivations and behaviours may be. Also, what level of ability and understanding does your audience have?

If you invest time in considering all this, you are more likely to communicate at a sufficiently technical level, at a pace that matches your audience and using content most likely to achieve the result you want.

“When the trust account is high, communication is easy, instant, and effective.” – Stephen R. Covey.

Work on timing, appropriateness and versatility

Great comedians, like all great communicators, understand timing. They also gain a sense of their audience as quickly as possible, to dictate their content and the pace of their delivery.

Whether you are speaking in a project meeting, job interview or room with hundreds of people, the pace and fluidity of your communications matters. As it does in exchanges of written information.

The basis of this is gaining a good understanding of your audience (see above) but also not being too prescriptive and rigid. Leave room for responses, questions and feedback.

Being versatile as a communicator involves adapting to real-time responses. Such as, repeating things when you sense confusion, or emphasising points if you find something that enlivens and fully engages your audience.

You may even find a particularly relaxed and responsive audience makes humour appropriate. Though this must be measured and tasteful of course! You’re trying to win their hearts and minds, but if you can get a few laughs too, it’s a bonus that helps you build your audience connection.

Focusing on appropriateness and timing also revolves around the system you use to deliver information.

Did you know that over 205.6 billion emails are sent worldwide, every day? Of, those, only a third are opened .

It’s the perfect example of why you should decide the most effective way to communicate, to match your audience’s needs and expectations, and your purpose.

Such as, using the telephone or an in-person discussion to communicate, and then following it up with an email, to achieve a better result.

The best communicators are life-long learners

To come full circle then, personality is important, but you can certainly develop successful communications skills. In fact, even if it comes naturally, you must invest time in understanding your audience and purpose, and in choosing your words with care. This is why becoming a successful communicator is a journey, not a destination.

“Communication works for those who work at it.” – John Powell

Key resources to improve your communication skills

1. online courses.

Improving Communication Skills – You’ll learn how to develop trust, the best method of communication for negotiation, when to cooperate and when to compete, how to create persuasive messages, and more.
Essential Public Speaking – Learn all the fundamentals of public speaking, from building rapport to asking the right questions. You can then practice these techniques with interactive practice exercises.
Business Communications – Sharpen your writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills to help you succeed in the business world. You will learn strategies for honing your communication style, improving clarity, conciseness and impact.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills at Work – Improve your communication skills at work and learn how to navigate positive collaboration in the modern workplace.
Communication Styles for Stronger Social Skills – How to adapt your communication styles to improve your relationship and influence with the people around you.

2. YouTube tutorials

5 ways to improve your communication skills – actionable insights form five different communication leaders, each addressing a different way to improve your skills.
7 tips to improve communication skills – design art style of explaining ways to improve your speaking and communication skills.
Think fast, talk smart: communication techniques – Matt Abrahams, lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School, explains techniques that will help you speak spontaneously with greater confidence and clarity, regardless of content and context.
4 steps to improve Your communication skills – If you’re someone who struggles to talk to people, because it feels forced, unnatural, and the conversation doesn’t really go anywhere, then this video is for you.
TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking – this book explains how powerful public speaking is achieved and equips you to give it your best shot. There is no set formula; no two talks should be the same. The goal is for you to give the talk that only you can give.
How to Win Friends and Influence People – a classic book on how to make people like you, change people to your way of thinking, negotiate without causing resentment and more topics are covered.
The Art of Public Speaking – this book covers classical and contemporary speaking theory, including practical applications relating to public speaking.

4. Blogs about communication

MindTools – learn about a wide range of communication skills, from giving feedback to negotiating with a customer, in detailed, well thought out articles.
VirtualSpeech – in-depth articles on how to improve communication skills and how virtual reality and be used to practice these skills.
SkillsYouNeed – detailed articles with plenty of examples and exercises to ensure you are learning actively.

5. Quiz – what is your communication style?

Communication style quiz

Improve communication skills

With plenty of practice, you’ll notice significant improvements in how you speak and communicate with others:

Your confidence around other people will grow
People will pay more attention to what you’re saying
You’ll be able to explain complex ideas and processes more clearly
You’ll find it easier to communicate with people around the world in different cultures and with different ethnic backgrounds

8 Ways You Can Improve Your Communication Skills

Your guide to establishing better communication habits for success in the workplace.

Mary Sharp Emerson

A leader’s ability to communicate clearly and effectively with employees, within teams, and across the organization is one of the foundations of a successful business.

And in today’s complex and quickly evolving business environment, with hundreds of different communication tools, fully or partially remote teams, and even multicultural teams spanning multiple time zones, effective communication has never been more important — or more challenging.

Thus, the ability to communicate might be a manager’s most critical skill.

The good news is that these skills can be learned and even mastered.

These eight tips can help you maximize your communication skills for the success of your organization and your career.

1. Be clear and concise

Communication is primarily about word choice. And when it comes to word choice, less is more.

The key to powerful and persuasive communication — whether written or spoken — is clarity and, when possible, brevity.

Before engaging in any form of communication, define your goals and your audience.

Outlining carefully and explicitly what you want to convey and why will help ensure that you include all necessary information. It will also help you eliminate irrelevant details.

Avoid unnecessary words and overly flowery language, which can distract from your message.

And while repetition may be necessary in some cases, be sure to use it carefully and sparingly. Repeating your message can ensure that your audience receives it, but too much repetition can cause them to tune you out entirely.

2. Prepare ahead of time

Know what you are going to say and how you are going to say before you begin any type of communication.

However, being prepared means more than just practicing a presentation.

Preparation also involves thinking about the entirety of the communication, from start to finish. Research the information you may need to support your message. Consider how you will respond to questions and criticisms. Try to anticipate the unexpected.

Before a performance review, for instance, prepare a list of concrete examples of your employee’s behavior to support your evaluation.

Before engaging in a salary or promotion negotiation, know exactly what you want. Be ready to discuss ranges and potential compromises; know what you are willing to accept and what you aren’t. And have on hand specific details to support your case, such as relevant salaries for your position and your location (but be sure that your research is based on publicly available information, not company gossip or anecdotal evidence).

Before entering into any conversation, brainstorm potential questions, requests for additional information or clarification, and disagreements so you are ready to address them calmly and clearly.

3. Be mindful of nonverbal communication

Our facial expressions, gestures, and body language can, and often do, say more than our words.

Nonverbal cues can have between 65 and 93 percent more impact than the spoken word. And we are more likely to believe the nonverbal signals over spoken words if the two are in disagreement.

Leaders must be especially adept at reading nonverbal cues.

Employees who may be unwilling to voice disagreements or concerns, for instance, may show their discomfort through crossed arms or an unwillingness to make eye contact. If you are aware of others’ body language, you may be able to adjust your communication tactics appropriately.

At the same time, leaders must also be able to control their own nonverbal communications.

Your nonverbal cues must, at all times, support your message. At best, conflicting verbal and nonverbal communication can cause confusion. At worst, it can undermine your message and your team’s confidence in you, your organization, and even in themselves.

4. Watch your tone

How you say something can be just as important as what you say. As with other nonverbal cues, your tone can add power and emphasis to your message, or it can undermine it entirely.

Tone can be an especially important factor in workplace disagreements and conflict. A well-chosen word with a positive connotation creates good will and trust. A poorly chosen word with unclear or negative connotations can quickly lead to misunderstanding.

When speaking, tone includes volume, projection, and intonation as well as word choice. In real time, it can be challenging to control tone to ensure that it matches your intent. But being mindful of your tone will enable you to alter it appropriately if a communication seems to be going in the wrong direction.

Tone can be easier to control when writing. Be sure to read your communication once, even twice, while thinking about tone as well as message. You may even want to read it out loud or ask a trusted colleague to read it over, if doing so does not breach confidentiality.

And when engaging in a heated dialogue over email or other written medium, don’t be too hasty in your replies.

If at all possible, write out your response but then wait for a day or two to send it. In many cases, re-reading your message after your emotions have cooled allows you to moderate your tone in a way that is less likely to escalate the conflict.

Browse our Communication programs.

5. Practice active listening

Communication nearly always involves two or more individuals.

Therefore, listening is just as important as speaking when it comes to communicating successfully. But listening can be more challenging than we realize.

In her blog post Mastering the Basics of Communication , communication expert Marjorie North notes that we only hear about half of what the other person says during any given conversation.

The goal of active listening is to ensure that you hear not just the words the person is saying, but the entire message. Some tips for active listening include:

Giving the speaker your full and undivided attention
Clearing your mind of distractions, judgements, and counter-arguments.
Avoiding the temptation to interrupt with your own thoughts.
Showing open, positive body language to keep your mind focused and to show the speaker that you are really listening
Rephrase or paraphrase what you’ve heard when making your reply
Ask open ended questions designed to elicit additional information

6. Build your emotional intelligence

Communication is built upon a foundation of emotional intelligence. Simply put, you cannot communicate effectively with others until you can assess and understand your own feelings.

“If you’re aware of your own emotions and the behaviors they trigger, you can begin to manage these emotions and behaviors,” says Margaret Andrews in her post, How to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence .

Leaders with a high level of emotional intelligence will naturally find it easier to engage in active listening, maintain appropriate tone, and use positive body language, for example.

Understanding and managing your own emotions is only part of emotional intelligence. The other part — equally important for effective communication — is empathy for others.

Empathizing with an employee can, for example, make a difficult conversation easier.

You may still have to deliver bad news, but (actively) listening to their perspective and showing that you understand their feelings can go a long way toward smoothing hurt feelings or avoiding misunderstandings.

7. Develop a workplace communication strategy

Today’s workplace is a constant flow of information across a wide variety of formats. Every single communication must be understood in the context of that larger flow of information.

Even the most effective communicator may find it difficult to get their message across without a workplace communication strategy.

A communication strategy is the framework within which your business conveys and receives information. It can — and should — outline how and what you communicate to customers and clients, stakeholders, and managers and employees.

Starting most broadly, your strategy should incorporate who gets what message and when. This ensures that everyone receives the correct information at the right time.

It can be as detailed as how you communicate, including defining the type of tools you use for which information. For example, you may define when it’s appropriate to use a group chat for the entire team or organization or when a meeting should have been summarized in an email instead.

Creating basic guidelines like this can streamline the flow of information. It will help ensure that everyone gets the details they need and that important knowledge isn’t overwhelmed by extraneous minutia.

8. Create a positive organizational culture

The corporate culture in which you are communicating also plays a vital role in effective communication.

In a positive work environment — one founded on transparency, trust, empathy, and open dialogue — communication in general will be easier and more effective.

Employees will be more receptive to hearing their manager’s message if they trust that manager. And managers will find it easier to create buy-in and even offer constructive criticism if they encourage their employees to speak up, offer suggestions, and even offer constructive criticisms of their own.

“The most dangerous organization is a silent one,” says Lorne Rubis in a blog post, Six Tips for Building a Better Workplace Culture . Communication, in both directions, can only be effective in a culture that is built on trust and a foundation of psychological safety.

Authoritative managers who refuse to share information, aren’t open to suggestions, and refuse to admit mistakes and accept criticism are likely to find their suggestions and criticisms met with defensiveness or even ignored altogether.

Without that foundation of trust and transparency, even the smallest communication can be misconstrued and lead to misunderstandings and unnecessary conflict.

Communicating with co-workers and employees is always going to present challenges. There will always be misunderstandings and miscommunications that must be resolved and unfortunately, corporate messages aren’t always what we want to hear, especially during difficult times.

But building and mastering effective communication skills will make your job easier as a leader, even during difficult conversations. Taking the time to build these skills will certainly be time well-spent.

Want to build your skills? Find the program that’s right for you.

Browse all Professional & Executive Development programs.

About the Author

Digital Content Producer

Emerson is a Digital Content Producer at Harvard DCE. She is a graduate of Brandeis University and Yale University and started her career as an international affairs analyst. She is an avid triathlete and has completed three Ironman triathlons, as well as the Boston Marathon.

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Professional Skills

Jan 17, 2024
14 min read

How to Improve Your Communication Skills (Tips & Examples)

Less “blah, blah, blah”, more “aha”.

Siôn Phillpott

Career & Entrepreneurship Expert

Reviewed by Chris Leitch

Communication is a key skill in the workplace. Companies can fail or succeed based on how effectively their people can convey vision or interpret direction, with something as simple as a poorly written email having the potential to cause major damage within that company’s culture. Conversely, a powerful, well-delivered speech can inspire and motivate an entire organization.

Not everybody is a strong communicator, though. While some people seemingly have a natural way with words, many have to develop this ability from scratch. Regardless of where you fit in on this spectrum, it’s crucial to recognize the importance of communication and to possess good speaking and listening skills.

So, whether you’re a jobseeker, a new hire unsure on how to talk to the boss , or the head of the whole organization, there is always something to be learned. This is how to improve your communication skills, one small step at a time…

What are communication skills?

Communication skills are a group of soft skills that allow us to interact positively and efficiently with one another. We use communication, which can roughly be divided into the categories of verbal and nonverbal, to exchange ideas, accurately pass on information, express our needs and experiences, and ultimately connect with those around us.

Types of communication skills

Though we often associate communication with talking, there are several ways in which we can convey and exchange information. Let’s look at the six main forms of communication:

Verbal communication , or using spoken words to pass on a message to another person.
Written communication , which is used a lot in the workplace, from email exchanges and instant messages to reports, briefs and beyond.
Active listening . As a listener, you carry half of the responsibility for a successful conversation!
Nonverbal communication , as in body language, facial expressions and eye contact, which play a vital role in conveying information.
Visual communication . This refers to utilizing visual elements, like graphics and fonts, to share information.
Empathy , as it allows you to better “read the room” and get in the listener’s shoes, which is essential for communicating effectively.

Why are they important?

Effective communication between yourself and your clients or colleagues is imperative for carrying out your work efficiently. When you can clearly explain what you expect from others, as well as what your own needs, questions or limits are, you can prevent errors from happening that would require time and money to remedy.

Good communication is also essential in building trust and forming positive relationships with those around you. The more you can communicate calmly and with respect with fellow team members, the better; it will keep misunderstandings to a minimum and hopefully de-escalate situations before they become too disruptive.

How to improve your communication skills

Here are 15 ways in which you can become a more efficient and confident communicator in the workplace and beyond.

1. Understand body language

Body language , or nonverbal communication, is a subtle art that has the potential to say an awful lot and can be applied in any number of situations.

As a leader, for example, standing up straight and adopting a proper posture when addressing a room full of people suggests that you are confident and comfortable in your responsibility; all good orators understand that how you say something is just as important as what you say.

It’s just as important in a one-on-one situation, too. When you’re at a job interview or an appraisal, always maintain eye contact when you’re speaking to someone. Looking out of the window or at the floor suggests that you either don’t really believe what you’re saying or that you’re not interested.

Don’t just pay attention to how your own body language is coming across, either — try to read the other person’s. Somebody might be telling you that they agree with you out loud, but if they’re fidgeting or avoiding eye contact, it suggests that they actually might not.

Human beings subconsciously rely on nonverbal communication in their interactions, so never forget to read — and speak — between the lines.

2. Encourage interaction

From experience, sitting through a two-hour PowerPoint presentation on benefits realization management without falling asleep is a challenge. Seriously. Good communication is a two-way street, so make sure people get involved — nobody likes to be talked at for two hours straight on the world’s most boring topic, after all.

In the context of a group, ask questions (even if they’re hypothetical). Bring up interesting points that make people think, and physically utilize your audience members to keep everyone on their toes. Blaming the subject matter for being too bland is not an excuse — it’s your responsibility to communicate things in an effective and engaging way.

The same principles apply in a one-on-one situation as well. Drive the conversation by digging deeper into what the other person is telling you, while always seeking to clarify any instructions. If you’ve been given a task, don’t hesitate to send a follow-up email, either, clearing up any potential confusion and miscommunication over what exactly it is you’re meant to be doing.

3. Speak “extemporaneously”

It might look unpronounceable, but extemporaneous communication is highly effective.

Practiced primarily by lawyers when speaking in court, it is essentially the art of using minimal bullet point notes to keep your speech on track, without remembering or rehearsing word for word what you’re going to say.

Although this might sound like a strange approach (the conventional wisdom is that preparation is everything, after all), speaking in this manner allows you the flexibility and freedom to judge your audience’s reaction and engage in any points of debate as they happen. This results in a far more interesting and engaging discussion, and it makes the audience an active participant without them even realizing.

Be careful, though. If you’re not 100% comfortable with what you’re talking about, the potential for things to go wrong is very real; the last thing you want is for your mind to go blank without any notes to rely on!

4. Know your audience

In any situation, in any role, knowing who you are communicating with is key to understanding how to get your point across or ascertain the information you need.

Within a company, this may require time so that you can get to know individual team members and how they operate; some employees might respond well to criticism, for examples, but others might work better when encouraged.

On a broader scale, it’s usually enough to apply some degree of common sense. For example, if you’re writing an email to your boss, you should keep things courteous, professional and focused on work; when you then go to pick up the office post from the mail room, though, it’s perfectly fine to talk about the Minor League with Trevor the mail guy.

These might be two completely different styles of communication, but they’re relevant to the respective audience; they both also result in the cultivation and development of two different types of workplace relationships.

Always tailor your approach accordingly and understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to communication.

There is a wise, old saying — often propagated in military environments — that you have two eyes, two ears but only one mouth, and that you should apply their usage in that ratio. Put more plainly: to be an effective communicator, you should listen far more than you speak.

This is because it’s easier to create solutions when you’re more aware of the issues. This doesn’t mean listening passively, either; people can spot when you’re giving off the illusion of taking things on board.

Actually truly listen to what you’re being told and react to it accordingly; don’t disrespect their confidence by reeling off a formulaic response or batting their concerns away.

Finally, don’t be a terrible conversationalist. There’s nothing more annoying than talking to someone who constantly interrupts you or talks over you; this is a fundamental connection flaw on their part and demonstrates why it’s so important that you don’t make the same mistake. Always remember: without someone to listen, there is no communication.

6. Get to the point

We’ve all been there, waiting patiently for a simple answer to a simple question that soon morphs into the full-blown life story of the other party. While the more polite and tolerable among us may kindly nod and smile through gritted teeth, this approach isn’t conducive to a professional environment: instead, everyone needs to be straight to the point.

This doesn’t mean that conversation should be discouraged; it just means that communication is more effective when things are short, clear and concise. Waffling on for 10 minutes can make people switch off, or the most significant points to take away can get lost in the mire. By focusing only on what is important, nothing can get lost in translation.

Don’t be too vague, though; the idea is to be brief yet specific — not just short for the sake of it. Read over your emails before you send them to ensure you have the balance right, while in your verbal encounters focus on being coherent and succinct.

7. Avoid distractions

Nothing kills the art of conversation quite like pulling your phone out and reading a message (or, worse, scrolling through Facebook). Even if the offending party tells you that they’re still listening, everything about their behavior tells you that they’re not; whether it’s in a meeting, an appraisal or even on a date, it’s never acceptable, and you shouldn’t do it.

If you’re in the middle of something and you receive an important phone call, be polite and courteous and inform the other person that you have to take the call — otherwise, ignore it and call back later or quickly answer and let that person know you’re with someone and you’ll call back.

Everybody is busy and people feel that they need to multitask in order to manage their workloads, but reading emails when someone is trying to tell you something comes down to basic courtesy. Even for a couple of minutes, put everything else on hold and focus on the person (or people) that are in front of you.

8. Observe others

Whenever you’re trying to improve any skill, be it golf, cooking or communication, a useful approach is to study the experts in that field. Learning about how they do things and imitating or taking inspiration from their behavior and routines can sometimes offer an insight into what makes them so successful.

If you regularly speak to large groups of people, for example, study footage of renowned orators such as Barack Obama, Steve Jobs and Oprah Winfrey. You don’t have to start wearing a black turtleneck or adopting every single hand gesture, but you can get an idea of why their presence is so magnetic, such as the emphasis on posture, tone and delivery.

You can even learn a thing or two from stand-up comedians; the jokes might not be appropriate, but the air of confidence and the impeccable sense of timing they convey can be translated into any form of public speaking .

Don’t ignore sources of inspiration that are closer to home, too. Are there any particular individuals that you feel completely at ease talking to? People who take on board what you say while getting their own message across respectfully and effectively? Utilize them. Take the best components of their approaches and employ them to your own.

9. Record yourself

This is a practical technique that can directly improve your communication skills, even if it may cause you to cringe at the sound of your own voice.

It’s extremely helpful, though, as it’s almost guaranteed that you will notice certain mannerisms or habits that you don’t realize when you’re actually speaking — and which nobody else will mention to you.

For example, if you say “um” or “you know” (as a lot of people tend to do) at the start of every sentence, this can be quite annoying to listeners; it’s only when you hear it for yourself that you can critique and improve how you come across.

Of course, make sure you have the other person’s awareness and permission first, and make it clear why exactly you are recording; when they find out, they may offer their own tips — or even follow your lead and do the same to develop their own skills.

10. Read more books

Reading more books or even listening to podcasts and audiobooks frequently can be a great way to add new words and expressions to your vocabulary, which in turn will allow you to express yourself more accurately and concisely.

Not only that, but the activity will expose you to new ideas and broaden your knowledge, too, which can enable you to simultaneously improve your cultural awareness and ability to interact with people from various backgrounds and with various interests.

Plus, reading can slow cognitive decline and even lower stress levels , which also benefits you professionally!

11. Mind your tone

Here’s one thing we wish more people accepted to be true: your tone of voice matters just as much as what you say.

Indeed, good communicators pay attention not only to their words but also to how they’re relaying them. It doesn’t matter if your intentions are great, if you speak curtly to a colleague or don’t even turn to look at them when engaging in face-to-face conversation, the information you’re passing on to them is bound to be “tinted” by the emotional impact your actions have on them.

If your aim is to be regarded as someone who has a way with words, you must start paying attention to the way you deliver them.

12. Take public speaking classes

If you’ve ever spoken to someone who’s taken public speaking classes, chances are that they’ll have talked your ear off about it. (Which is proof the classes do work!)

Toastmasters clubs, for example, incorporate various activities into their group meetups, such as the infamous “ah counter” , to help people develop better communication skills. If you don’t know what that is, it’s when you count all your long pauses, overused words and filler sounds — such as “um” and “ah” — so you start paying more attention to them and, over time, eliminate them from your speech.

13. Develop your empathy

Though some wouldn’t think it, empathy can indeed be said to be a type of communication skill. The reason is because this soft skill allows us to relate to the people around us, which is fundamental when we’re trying to transmit and receive information.

If a colleague is stressed, unwell or otherwise struggling, empathy can help you tailor your message as well as time its delivery in a way that will maximize the chances of arriving at a common understanding.

Likewise, it can help you establish and maintain good relationships with those on your team, which also enhances teamwork and collaboration.

14. Build your confidence

If you look at inspirational speakers, they have one thing in common: they sound wholeheartedly sure of what they’re saying, speaking with conviction. After all, you can’t convince someone to pay attention to what you’re saying unless you yourself first and foremost believe in its significance.

Some of the tips we listed already, like taking public speaking classes, reading more books and observing speakers you look up to can really help you develop communication skills which are enviable. The more you practice and expose yourself to different communication methods, the more confidence you’ll gain as a speaker, presenter and professional.

15. Be yourself

Which brings us to our final bit of advice: authenticity.

Part of developing effective communication skills is developing or amplifying your own unique voice. Don’t be afraid to share your experiences and incorporate opinions and personal insights into your conversations: these things can add valuable additional information to what you’re already saying, making your words more memorable and impactful.

Of course, it takes a certain level of practice (and confidence!) to get comfortable with being honest and vulnerable in your exchanges with others. But, like any skill, it’s very much doable if you dedicate yourself to it!

Final thoughts

As you can see, there are plenty of activities you can engage in to improve your communication skills. It’s worth taking the time, too, as employers highly value people who can both convey information and take it on board.

Being a strong and effective communicator won’t just benefit you at work, either; it will have a positive effect on every facet of your personal and professional life, and even when communicating while remote working .

Do you have any other tips or ideas to help improve your communication skills? Let us know in the comments section below!

Originally published on February 22, 2018. Updated by Electra Michaelidou.

Soft Skills

Communication Skills

How to improve communication skills

Ivan Andreev

Demand Generation & Capture Strategist, Valamis

March 3, 2022 · updated June 25, 2024

11 minute read

After reading this guide, you will understand how to improve your communication skills, and help others do the same.

Communication is a skill, and like all skills, you can get better at it through practice.

You will be able to effectively employ these techniques in your workplace, which will improve interpersonal relationships, allow for better problem solving, and ultimately lead to better business outcomes.

Why is good communication so important at work?

The importance of listening
Improving non-verbal communication
Improving verbal communication
Improving written communication
Improving visual communication
Recommended resources: books and online courses

It might be tempting to think that, as long as you do your job well, being a good communicator isn’t very important. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth!

Every aspect of your job depends on communication, and how well you can communicate directly correlates with how well you can do your job.

This has become even more relevant with the increase in remote work – bad communication skills have been highlighted by the increased use of messaging rather than face-to-face workplace communication.

If you’re in a client-facing role, your communication with them will make or break the relationship.

Think of the various aspects of that work that requires good communication:

pitching your company to the client,
building a trusting personal relationship with them,
understanding what they want and clearly communicating that to the relevant teams,
receiving feedback,
communicating about updates or delays,
and many more.

If you are unable to do this, then the client will lose trust and could seek another company that is better at communication.

If you’re in a management role or would like to be in the future, communication is key.

According to LinkedIn research , communication skills are the number one most desired soft skill that employers want.

Leading is all about being able to deliver your message well, explain concepts, give constructive feedback , mentor your team, and solve problems. How well you can communicate will be crucial to all of those actions.

Even in roles where you are mostly dealing with your own team, your communication skills will help you achieve success in your role.

Good communication will result in being able to explain problems, build solutions, form positive relationships with your department, and effectively collaborate on workflow.

Career development plan template

This template helps employees and leaders plan together for career growth: set goals, assess skills, and make a plan.

5 Ways to improve your communication skills

1. the importance of listening.

We cannot touch on the importance of communication without highlighting that a massive aspect of it is what you do when you’re not talking.

Being a good listener is the most crucial part of communication .

We’re not just talking about hearing the words that a person is saying; rather you should be tuned in to their non-verbal communication also.

Is the person avoiding eye contact?
Is their posture open or closed?
Are they fidgeting with their hands?

All of these actions convey a lot of information.

How to be a good listener:

When you are listening, give your full attention to the speaker.
Set your phone face down.
Turn away from your computer screen.
Look at their non-verbal signals, and listen to their words.
Use clarification questions to follow up on key points and then sum up your understanding to them, so they can clear up any miscommunication immediately.

By following the advice above, you demonstrate your engagement in the conversation, confirming to the person that you have heard, and understood, them completely.

2. Improving non-verbal communication

To begin improving your non-verbal communication, first, you must begin by paying attention to it.

As you go through your day, observe how you use the various types of non-verbal communication that we mentioned in our article about types of communication .

Observe yourself:

Do you make consistent eye contact?
How do you position yourself when speaking to people?
Does it change based on who you are talking to?
How do people react to you?

Observe others:

Are there certain people who make you feel heard?
What do they do that makes you feel like that?
Is there someone who is unpleasant to communicate with?
What actions do they do that make you not enjoy talking to them?

Think about the positives and negatives that you observe.

If there is someone who you find to be a particularly good – or bad – person to talk to, pinpoint why they make you feel that way.

Pay attention to the non-verbal signals that they are giving off.

You can mimic the positives, and be aware of the negatives.

How to be better at non-verbal communication:

Don’t fidget! This is rule number one. Be still, and calm. This communicates that you are in control, confident and a force to be reckoned with.
Use eye contact intelligently. Focus in on people when you want to drive home a point. Look people in the eye both when you are listening to them and when you are speaking.
Be confident in your use of space. Don’t minimize yourself, instead relax into your space. It’s important that you do this intelligently! Don’t prevent other people from sitting comfortably.
Strive to be non-reactive during stressful situations. Keep your emotions level and respond calmly.

Simply being more aware of non-verbal communication, and the power that it has will help you be better at using it proactively and positively.

If you observe that you tend to avoid eye contact during stressful negotiations, then you can make sure to put an emphasis on making consistent eye contact when speaking in the next meeting.

3. Improving verbal communication

To improve your verbal communication, you’ll need to get better at both what you say and how you say it.

It doesn’t matter how clear your message is if you are patronizing or rude when you say it.

As we recommend for non-verbal communication, begin by observing yourself and others in conversation.

Are there times when they react more negatively than others, and can you pinpoint why?
Are there colleagues who you particularly enjoy conversing with?
Observe how communication happens in your work environment, and pay attention to which aspects are positive and negative.

Next, begin to think about the content of your verbal communications.

We all know someone who takes ages to get to the point of the story, and how frustrating that can be, or someone who never gets to the point at all.

Before you speak, know what you want to communicate.

Begin with your stated purpose (‘I think we need to increase ad spending 10%’)
Move on to your reasoning (‘The upcoming holiday season is a prime time to target our customers more effectively’)
Review possible outcomes (‘We could increase sales between 20 and 30%’).

While this advice is best suited for more formal presentations, this is effective in informal settings as well.

Knowing what you want to say and having the facts to back it up will make you seem more professional, knowledgeable and decisive.

Use pitch to help captivate your audience

A lower pitch tends to communicate gravitas and experience. Take longer, deeper breaths and speak from your diaphragm to lower your voice.
Strategically use silence to capture, and keep attention. Pause and hook the viewer’s attention before dropping your pitch, your big reveal or your thesis sentence.
Use a range of cadence, speed and style. You don’t want to speak in a monotone, you’ll bore your audience and they won’t be engaged in the content of your communication.

4. Improving written communication

In written communication, the first step to improve is to make sure that your spelling and grammar are perfect.

There are plenty of online tools that can help you with this. You simply paste your writing into the app and then you get valuable feedback on spelling, grammar, and even the content.

Now, this is not a perfect solution, AI is smart but can make mistakes, but it works very well for a quick check, especially if you are not the world’s strongest writer.

Read more about the written type of communication .

Take the time to re-read everything that you write

Is your tone appropriate to the setting?
Are there any mistakes, items not linked properly, or missing points?
Have you covered the subject in enough depth?
We often overestimate how much other people know about our specialist subjects, it might be necessary to write in more detail. At the same time, don’t write a novel!

Formatting is key

Format everything, from a Slack message to a full presentation, to make sure that you are creating a readable text.
Use bullet points and paragraphs to break up your message.
Highlight your points in bold if you have a lot of text.
Underline anything that you think is crucial.

More tips for improving your written communication:

State your assumptions. This will help avoid miscommunications. Start by saying ‘I assume you have heard about the new policy change, effective June 1. Because of this, we will be adjusting x, y and z.’
Read often. From messages to novels, read often and when you do, think about what you like (or dislike) about what you’re reading. Emulate what you like, and work to avoid what you dislike.
Use framing to get your point across. Think about it from the recipient’s point of view, and what’s in it for them, and then frame the message to highlight that.
Read your writing out loud to check for mistakes. Use this time to review grammar, tone, fact-check and to make sure that you have covered everything you wanted to in the communication.
When possible, use clear examples and avoid using too much jargon.

5. Improving visual communication

An important aspect of using visual communication is to only use it when necessary.

A presentation stuffed full of visual aids that do not add to the content is messy, unprofessional and will distract from the overall message.

You want to be judicious about what you include, and why you are including it. Make sure that you are using the proper chart to show the data in the clearest way, or are including only the sketches that will add to the audience’s understanding of the ideas for a new logo.

Not all of us are graphic designers, but there are tools available to help us create professional-looking visuals.

Make use of those! You don’t want your presentation to look like it was created in 1995.

Default to clean, professional templates, rather than looking for something ‘interesting.’ Your message should be the star, not the font, color, or background image.

Tips for improving visual communication:

Less is more! Pare back your design and resist the urge to stuff every fact, figure, font and color into a presentation.
Utilize typography. If in doubt, ask for the brand guidelines for your company and follow those. They will help you create cohesive presentations in line with your company’s preferred look.
Pay attention to balance and harmony. You can achieve this by using similar, rather than disparate, elements in your communication. The same style of clip art, the same font family, or the same pastel shades.
Begin with the end in mind. Know what you want to communicate and start there.

Recommended resources

Surrounded by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life) , Thomas Erikson
How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships , Leil Lowndes
Influencer: The new science of leading change , Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler
How to win friends and influence people , Dale Carnegie
Skill with people , Les Gibli
How to speak, how to listen , Mortimer J. Adler
Communication strategies for a virtual age
Improving communication skills
Teamwork skills: Communicating effectively in groups
Effective communication in the globalised workplace

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How to Be More Concise When Speaking-5 Actionable Steps

Have you ever listened to someone speak and have no clue what they’re trying to say?

Worse, have you ever tried to tell your colleague an idea or your friend a funny thing that happened to you and see their eyes glaze over?

Or you’re at a meeting and you have a brilliant idea, you try to convey it and you keep saying the same thing over & over? It mostly happens in high-stakes situations and that’s when we need to be at our best. What gives?

The way we convey our message is critical. And part of that is learning to be more concise when speaking. Learning how to use the fewest possible words to make it easier for people to process your speech and then, yes, follow your call to action.

Be done explaining.

Many people tell me that they feel like they should be done explaining, but they can’t help themselves but explain again in different ways. It’s so confusing for the listener! Some people don’t even know they’re over-explaining!

Then, of course, you know the times when you can be concise and awesome in comfy situations, but not so much when you’re making a report to your boss .

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Successful communicators speak concisely.

Successful communications are always succinct. You know the folks that get their point across quickly without confusion? Yup, they learned the techniques necessary to be concise.

They learned how to speak up in meetings and how to refine their verbal brand .

They learned how to have executive presence and speak clearly and with authority and warmth.

Conveying your message in a short and sweet way cannot be overestimated. It makes you credible, authoritative , and highly persuasive .

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5 Steps to Being More Concise when Speaking

Here are your top 5 pro tips in a nutshell and I’ll explain them more thoroughly further along.

Stop Over-Explaining. Have confidence that your message is understood. You don’t need to repeat yourself with different words. It takes a bit of practice. Try saying fewer words & see if your listener understood you.
Speak in chunks of essential information. Make sure you’re delivering your message in bullet format. This will help you speak better in general.
Eliminate phrases that don’t mean anything, like, “As I said before…” and “I just wanted to tell you…” and, of course, eliminate filler words .
Practice and record yourself for a minute each day for a week. Then edit for brevity. Practice conveying your concise message into the recorder. Make sure you use an authoritative voice .
Get to the point. Take minute details out of your message and bottom-line it for your listener. If you’re not concise people end up interrupted and micromanaging you.

I’ll go into detail about each of these 5 steps further along in this article.

But remember, you don’t have to do this training alone! We are here for you! Contact us to get more information or to schedule an appointment for a free evaluation.! We’ll listen to you and give you direction. There are many options!

How to Articulate Your Thoughts into Words

9 Secret Steps to Influencing Others

Want to be more influential? We all want to communicate our most important messages in a way that encourages others to take action. Whether that action is voting for our candidate or picking up milk from the store, the words we use and how we speak play a huge role in getting the job done.

Why Must We Be Concise?

For one thing, our attention spans are getting shorter. It’s science. According to some statistics I found:

“They say that the average attention span is down from 12 seconds in the year 2000 to eight seconds now. That is less than the nine-second attention span of your average goldfish.”

That was from 2017. I’m willing to bet our attention spans have diminished quite a bit in the years 2020-21. This year’s been crazy!

But it’s not just because people have short attention spans that we need to be concise. I mean, we do need to make sure that by the time we’ve reached the end of our soliloquy, people haven’t forgotten what we said at the beginning.

Only concisely can we influence others.

All-day long, we’re attempting to influence others. We want people to like (love!) our ideas in meetings . We need people to think we’re smart . We need people to choose us for promotions and gigs . When we meet people for the first time, we want people to like us and respect us.

There’s rarely an interaction where we don’t need to persuade someone to think or do something.

But when we’re too wordy, it’s nearly impossible to persuade people that we’re smart or hire us for the job. It’s impossible because people can’t even understand what you’re saying! How can they do what you say when they don’t know what you’re talking about.

Get What You Want With More Persuasive Speaking

Only concisesly can we get people to do what we say.

We need to be concise because we need people to take us seriously and process our message comfortably. This is imperative if you need to be persuasive .

You can think of processing information as being on a spectrum of difficulty levels. When it’s very challenging to process a message, people tune out. The speaker has lost any chance of the listener following their call to action.

The easier you make it for people to process your information, the easier it is for them to follow your call to action.

What Crimes are Getting You Interrupted, Micromanaged, and Ignored?

Speak in chunks.

The way our brains process information is based on chunks of meaning. That’s why our sentences are broken down into phrases and clauses.

And it’s best to verbally convey them broken into those segments.

Learning how to speak clearly is integral to relationship building , getting a job , dating , absolutely anything that involves opening your mouth to speak.

“ If you want me to give you a two-hour presentation, I am ready today. If you want only a five-minute speech, it will take me two weeks to prepare. ”

― Mark Twain

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“If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.”

-Abraham Lincoln

How to Make Your Speaking Voice Sound Better

Concise Speech Makes You Credible and Magnetic

Did you ever notice the person who doesn’t say much always appears so intelligent? The person who waits for a few beats to answer a question seems as wise as a yogi.

Then there are the folks who jump to answer questions. They start so quickly, but they start with, “Uh, well, I think…”

You don’t need to jump to answer questions quickly. Just take a moment to take a breath in and organize your thoughts for a second or two.

While you’re waiting a beat and taking a breath in, your thoughts are working in the background, organizing themselves into easily processed segments. Now you’re the yogi!

Being concise is imperative if you’re trying to get folks to see how intelligent and funny you are. It’s the precursor to being influential .

Do you have any tips to be more concise? I want to hear your ideas. Please post them in the comments.

How to Improve Your Communication Skills at Work

Want to be concise? The Voice Spa will train you.

The Voice Spa teaches you to be habitually relaxed in all high-stakes situations. You’ll be ultra-confident and cool as a cucumber being interview on Bloomberg or GMA. You’ll be smooth as silk during an interview or on Shark Tank 🙂

Next, you learn to use a concise speaking style. Then I teach you the techniques to being persuasive. I give you lots of practice.

You’ll learn to use a back resonance which gives you a very professional and authoritative sound. Your voice will be so magnetic people will do precisely what you tell them to do.

The Voice Spa

if you do your homework (it’s not brain surgery but requires some diligence), you’ll end up being an incredibly well-spoken persuasive person. You’ll still be you, only more compelling and influential.

Let’s go through the above more thoroughly, shall we?

How to Be More Concise

We don’t need to deliver a message and then repeat it, just using different words. After you make a statement, stop speaking.

We often think that we should talk in that formal way in which we write. In school, they encouraged very long essays for homework. Imagine if you could take the information in your 25-page paper and condense it into 1?

Also, avoid redundancies, like “first draft” and “empty void.”

If you have a meeting with your team or your client, be prepared with the important concepts you want to get across. Say them aloud. Make them your story. Make sure you’re using a magnetic voice .

Also, eliminate words that undermine you, like “just” and “actually.” Not only are they a waste of time, but they take away from your credibility. These are the things that cause you to be micromanaged and interrupted .

Practice & Self Assess . You know I want you to record yourself! No super communicators have gotten there by wishing for it. They worked on it. Ramble on into the recorder for 30 seconds. Listen back and revise it on paper. Then, read your edited version aloud a few times into the recorder. At first, it will feel weird to be so brief, but it’ll start to come naturally.

Take minute details out of your message and bottom-line it for your listener. When people listen to your story , they are drawing a picture in their minds. For your story or message to be successful, you need to allow them to focus on that picture.

Not only are you trying to be less verbose, but you also want people to engage with you. And they can do so if you provide fewer details.

How to Improve Your Body Language

You can get all of this done easily with a little help from us.

If you’re having trouble doing it yourself reach out to us for help .

If you want to learn all the techniques and still apply them yourself we have the online video class for you.

The Voice Spa trains you to speak in bullets and to eliminate meaningless phrases. It teaches you to have an authoritative, yet warm voice. It’ll teach you to be relaxed in high-stakes situations. You do have a bit of homework, but only about 10 minutes, 2ce/day.

An Introduction to Accent Reduction

This brief introduction will get you started on the road to speaking Standard American English.

25 thoughts on “How to Be More Concise When Speaking-5 Actionable Steps”

Such a great article on how to improve my speech and sound better. I know I have a problem of over explaining and it was great to see some tips on how to speak in a more concise manner.

Thank you, Brittney!

I recently heard myself on a recorder and I was shocked and appalled! I basically said 1 thing 15 different ways all in the same conversation! It was like I wasn’t sure I was getting my point across! It was so embarrassing! I definitely do a lot of empty phrases, like “I just want to say…” That just makes me sound weak!

I literally just searched “how to be more concise” and your article came up! It is blowing my mind! I have to speak in chunks. That makes sense. It’s something there’s a solution to! Thank you!

Please don’t be hard on yourself. No one was born a perfect communicator! Just like every other skill in our lives, we have to work on communication skills to become proficient and successful at it. And nothing is more important! You’re at the beginning of a lovely journey! Reach out to me if you need help 🙂

I am long winded because I believe others can’t understand what I’m saying. I over explain. These are really useful tips. Nothing beats clear communication. This is because the real essence of communication is to send a message across in a clear manner.

Thank you so much for sharing, Kierra. I am here for you! The Voice Spa online video class will help you to be concise. Or you can take one-on-one sessions with me 🙂

Thanks, Ita! This is great material. I’m not very good at interviewing, mainly because I tend to ramble and overexplain. I want to learn to communicate in a more concise manner, both for interviews and in other business settings. I’m definitely willing to put in the work, but could use some guidance. Would you recommend your Voice Spa or Executive Communicator course if this is my primary goal?

Hi Brian! First, know that you’re not alone! Many people have a tendency to overexplain. It’s one of the things I teach day in and day out!

I would start with The Voice Spa . It will teach you specifically how to eliminate tension in your vocal mechanism as a learned behavior, how to formulate your ideas into concise “units of meaning,” and how to use a persuasive varied intonation pattern. (There’s more than that, of course!) The program is systematically done to become a habit in your life.

Happy to hear you’re willing to put in the work, because, it requires time and determination. If you can set aside 10 minutes 2 or 3 times per day to do your assignments you should see significant improvement in a couple of weeks. The Executive Communicator is a bit more big picture and does benefit from having a Voice Spa background. Not necessary, but that’s the order I would recommend for you. The EC gives tips on having an executive presence, networking, and making small talk.

All of the programs are for life and new videos are added frequently 🙂

I’m here when you have questions! Good luck!

My old boss told me I was too wordy and offered to get me training a few years ago. I never followed through with the training. I look back now and realize how much she tried to help me but I felt like she was attacking me. I was miserable and ended up losing that job. I’ve been searching for jobs and going on interviews but no success. Then I got an email from one of the companies that rejected me (I think I’ve gotten then before but I always ignored then) and I said yes. They told me that they never really got the point of what I was saying and that I need to be more succinct. I’m so mad at myself that I let this many years go by in misery when I could be a great speaker by now.

It’s never too late, Jessie! You can start now. I’m here for you. Start with The Voice Spa , do all the homework (it’s not hard, only requires about 20 minutes per day, and you should be done in less than a month.)

Then, if you want extra help, contact me! I’m here for you. Most people aren’t concise enough! You’re not alone!

We are here for you whenever you’re ready.

If I have a presentation, I usually practice it in front of my friends and family and then allow them to ask questions and give me feedback. This helps me highlight and refine the sections that are not clear and concise.

That’s me! People give me the glaze over when I try to tell a story. Sometimes I get so flummoxed during professional situations I can’t seem to get to the point. Thank you for these great tips! I really never thought this was something I could change!

Your tips are really helpful especially the one which said regarding over explaining I used to explain too much of stuffs which was not required as a result my content became oversize your tips help me a lot also I was not able to get a point out of it after reading your tips my content became better and concise thank you so much👍

My pleasure, Neha!

Thanks a lot..i just learned from your article about concise …

Glad to help, Nadeem.

Googled about concise speaking and you popped up! 🙂 I over-explain to the max, and getting worse! I drive others, and myself nuts, that I wish I could stop talking to give everyone a break from me(including me!)! Forget high-stakes situations! Thank you for the great tips! That was probably too many words. :-/

You are hilarious! Thanks for your note! I’m here for you. Reach out to me if you want help! The Voice Spa is a good place to start.

great communication skills realize you don’t have to have a long communication to talk to people keep it simple and short

communication is always the key!! but you can keep a conversation simple without having a long talk and make it boring your words expired people

Thank you for all the helpful feedback.

My pleasure! Keep up the good work!

any articles on pronunciation skills? I don’t tend to over-speak or over-deliver a message. I often worry about if I am pronouncing words correctly or if my tone is soft. my accent tends to hold me back as well. Ugh!

Hi Mel! Thanks so much for your comment! Yes, we have articles on pronunciation & accent reduction. Many articles 🙂

https://conveyclearly.com/2022/07/21/how-to-speak-clearly-in-7-easy-steps/ https://conveyclearly.com/2016/02/04/obtaining-an-american-accent-is-likely-not-what-you-think/ https://conveyclearly.com/2021/01/19/how-to-speak-with-an-american-accent/ https://conveyclearly.com/2015/11/21/how-to-speak-better-is-the-way-youre-doing-it-now-totally-wrong/ Speaking Voice: https://conveyclearly.com/2016/10/05/voice-good-enough-national-tv/ How to Improve Your Diction: https://conveyclearly.com/2016/06/07/its-not-about-the-oxford-comma/ Great Elocution: https://conveyclearly.com/2016/05/17/gives-f-about-oxford-comma/

And more! We have over a hundred articles on those topics, so be sure to click through. You can even use the search bar 🙂

Sending you love! Let me know when you need help!

5 Ways to Improve Your Professional Communication Skills

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5 Ways to Improve Your Professional Communication Skills was originally published on Vault .

Success in any industry relies on developing strong communication skills, which are essential to sharing information with colleagues, managers, and clients. So, below are five easy ways to improve your professional communication skills and boost your career in the process.

1. Expand Your Industry Vocabulary

Every industry uses specific words and phrases. So, one of the easiest ways to improve your professional communication skills is to learn your industry’s jargon. To do that, you can join online industry groups, attend virtual and in-person industry events, and read industry-specific books. These actions will help you to become more proficient in your industry’s specific language, improving your ability to communicate with everyone you work with

2. Be Clear

Regardless of whether you’re communicating verbally or through the written word, it’s essential to be clear. Clarity is your best friend in the workplace; anything but well-thought-out communication creates confusion. So, if you want to be better at business communication, you must learn how to transfer information clearly.

The first step toward clarity is defining your goals and the audience you’ll be communicating with. This will tell you who you’re talking to and what you’ll be talking about. Second, avoid unnecessary words and confusing language, which only makes it more difficult for others to understand your message. Lastly, never repeat yourself. Only repeat your message if the other person needs more clarity.

Sometimes, you’ll need to make a presentation or explain your progress on a project. When that happens, it’s important to prepare ahead of time, thinking about what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it. Note that preparation is more than talking in front of the mirror for your big presentation. Preparation means researching the best way to get your message across. It means searching for the right words to use, the right examples to convey, and how to best use your body language to get your message across.

4. Get Better at Using Communication Tools

Of course, not all professional dealings are verbal. In fact, you’ll mostly communicate with colleagues, clients, customers, suppliers, and partners through email. But email isn’t the only communication tool you’ll be using. Communication through messaging apps like Slack is also quite common in the business world. And people are of course increasingly reliant on video-conferencing apps like Zoom. The bottom line is that you’ll be using plenty of communication tools in the workplace. Therefore, it’s important to get better at using these tools.

5. Learn to Listen

Listening is a core component of communication. In fact, modern workplace leaders are excellent listeners. Listening, which some believe is the most important social skill , helps in numerous workplace situations, including defusing workplace tensions. So, if you want to succeed in any sphere of work and take your career to the next level, you must learn how to listen.

One of the keys to becoming a great listener is becoming an active listener . Active listening includes deeply listening to others without thinking about what you’re going to say in response. It also includes paying attention to body language cues. So, it means listening with your eyes as well as your ears. Although learning to become a great active listener won’t happen overnight, the good news is listening in this way can be learned, and there are many great online courses out there that can help.

Erik Bergman co-founded Catena Media and helped grow it to over 300 employees and a $200 million valuation before stepping away to start Great.com , an iGaming organization that donates 100 percent of its profits to environmental charities. In addition to running a successful online affiliate business, Erik hosts the Becoming Great podcast, shares entrepreneurship tips with his more than 1 million social media followers, and contributes to sites like Entrepreneuer.com, Business Insider, Foundr, and Forbes.

Understanding Stuttering: The Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment & More

Stuttering is a speech disorder that disrupts the natural flow of speech, leading to repeated

sounds, prolonged syllables, or blocks where speech is completely halted. Affecting over 70

million people worldwide, stuttering is a condition that can significantly impact one's quality of life, communication skills, and social interactions.

In this article, we’ll share a comprehensive overview of the causes, diagnosis, treatment

options, and living strategies for individuals with stuttering.

In this article we will discuss:

Online vs. In-Person Speech Therapy: The Overview

Comparative Costs: Online vs. In-Person Speech Therapy

Flexibility of online versus in-person speech therapy

Online vs. In-Person Speech Therapy: Which Is More Effective?

What Kind of Speech Therapy is Right for You?

Understanding the Causes of Stuttering

Stuttering is a multifactorial disorder with several contributing elements. By understanding the causes of your stutter, your speech-language pathologist (SLP) can determine the best

treatment for your particular case.

The most common causes of stuttering include:

● Genetic factors

● Neurological factors

● Environmental factors

● Developmental factors

Genetic Factors

Stuttering tends to run in families, indicating a strong genetic component. Studies have shown that about 60% of those who stutter have a close family member who also stutters. Specific genetic mutations have been identified that are linked to stuttering, particularly in genes involved in neural development and functioning. These genetic factors can predispose an individual to stuttering, although they do not act alone in causing the disorder.

Neurological Factors

Neurological studies have revealed differences in the brains of individuals who stutter. These

differences are found in the regions responsible for speech production and language

processing, such as the Broca's area and the motor cortex. Functional MRI and PET scans

have shown that people who stutter may have atypical brain activity during speech, with

increased right hemisphere activity and reduced connectivity between speech-related areas.

Environmental Factors

Environmental influences, especially during early childhood, can trigger or exacerbate stuttering in genetically predisposed individuals. Factors such as high parental expectations, fast-paced questioning, stressful speaking environments, and major life changes (like starting school) can contribute to the onset and persistence of stuttering. Additionally, children who experience frequent interruptions or pressure to speak quickly may develop stuttering as a response to these external stresses.

Developmental Factors

Stuttering often begins in early childhood during the critical period of speech and language

development. As children learn to form sentences and communicate, the complex coordination required for fluent speech can sometimes falter. This developmental stuttering is common and usually resolves on its own. However, for some children, these disruptions become persistent and develop into chronic stuttering.

Get help from over 250 licensed SLPs at Better Speech—just a few taps away!

Navigating the Diagnosis of Stuttering

Diagnosing stuttering involves a comprehensive evaluation by a speech-language pathologist (SLP), who assesses the individual's speech patterns, history, and related factors. This process will vary case by case, but in general, the diagnosis follows three steps:

● Case History

● Speech Assessment

● Additional Evaluations

Case History

The SLP collects detailed information about the individual's developmental, medical, and family history. They will inquire about the onset of stuttering, its progression, and any factors that seem to exacerbate or alleviate the stuttering. Information about the individual's social and educational environment is also gathered.

Speech Assessment

A thorough speech assessment involves observing the individual in various speaking situations, such as casual conversation, reading aloud, and structured tasks. The SLP looks for specific characteristics of stuttering, including:

● Frequency of Disfluencies: How often disruptions occur in speech.

● Types of Disfluencies: Whether they are repetitions, prolongations, or blocks.

● Severity and Duration: The length and intensity of stuttering episodes.

● Associated Behaviors: Any physical tension, facial grimaces, or secondary behaviors

accompanying stuttering.

These characteristics can provide additional insight into the causes of your stutter as well as the most effective treatment for your particular case.

Additional Evaluations

In some cases, the SLP may recommend additional assessments to rule out other conditions

that could impact speech. These may include hearing tests, cognitive assessments, and

evaluations for other speech or language disorders. Neurological evaluations may be necessary if there are signs of an underlying neurological condition.

Seeking Treatment for Stuttering with Speech Therapy

Speech therapy is the cornerstone of stuttering treatment. Speech-language pathologists

(SLPs) employ several techniques to help individuals speak more fluently and confidently.

Some of the most effective speech therapy methods for stuttering include fluency shaping and stuttering modification, each offering a unique approach.

Fluency shaping focuses on teaching smoother speech patterns. Techniques include:

● Slow Speech: Speaking more slowly to reduce the chances of stuttering.

● Gentle Onset: Starting sounds softly to avoid blocks.

● Continuous Phonation: Keeping vocal cords vibrating to create steady speech.

● Breath Control: Learning to control breathing to support smoother speech.

Stuttering modification helps individuals manage and ease their stuttering. Techniques include:

● Voluntary Stuttering: Practicing stuttering on purpose to reduce fear and anxiety.

● Cancellation: Pausing after a stuttered word and saying it again more fluently.

● Pull-Out: Adjusting a stuttered word in real-time to finish it more smoothly.

● Desensitization: Gradually facing feared speaking situations to reduce avoidance.

In some cases, you might also seek cognitive-behavioral therapy or electronic devices, but in

general, these speech therapy techniques are often the most effective solution. After your

diagnosis, your SLP will determine which of these tactics are best for your specific case.

Getting Started with Online Speech Therapy for Stuttering

Understanding stuttering, from its causes to its treatment, is essential in managing this

condition. With the right approach and support, individuals who stutter can improve their speech fluency and confidence.

At Better Speech, we offer comprehensive online speech therapy tailored to meet your unique needs. Our experienced speech-language pathologists are here to help you navigate your journey toward more fluent speech.

If you or a loved one is struggling with stuttering, don't wait to seek help. Contact Better Speech today to schedule a consultation and start your path to clearer, more confident communication.

At Better Speech, we offer online speech therapy services convenient for you and tailored to your child's individual needs. Our services are affordable and effective - get Better speech now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can stuttering be outgrown or will it persist into adulthood?

Stuttering often begins in early childhood, and many children outgrow it as they develop their speech and language skills. However, for some, stuttering can persist into adulthood. Early intervention with speech therapy can increase the likelihood of overcoming stuttering.

Are there any medications available to treat stuttering?

How can parents support a child who stutters?

Does stress or anxiety cause stuttering?

Can bilingualism or learning a second language affect stuttering?

About the Author

Aycen Zambuto

I’m a seasoned educator in speech therapy with over six years of experience helping people navigate challenges in communication. Throughout this time, I’ve found joy in guiding individuals through a variety of therapeutic journeys, from toddlers with apraxia to seniors with dysphonia.

I’m passionate about demystifying this complex world of speech therapy and helping readers around the globe achieve clear and effective communication. When I’m not writing about speech, you’ll often find me reading, traveling or spending time with friends and family.

Stutter Speech Therapy

Lateral Lisp: What Is It and How to Fix It

Is Your Child One of the 5% of Kids Who Stutter?

Stuttering vs Cluttering: What's the Difference?

Get Free Guide to Improve Speech

Improve your communication skills

Improve your child’s speech

by Patricia D. Myers

I'm not an English native speaker and I wanted to improve my speech. Better Speech onboarding process is AWESOME, I met with different people before being matched with an AMAZING Therapist, Christina. My assigned therapist created a safe place for me to be vulnerable and made all the sessions fun and helpful. Thanks to her, I received great feedback from my clients.

by John L. Wilson

Better Speech is a great program that is easy to use from home and anywhere online. Shannon was amazing at engaging our shy son - and building on their relationship each session! Her commitment to knowing him improved his confidence to speak and practice more. Truly appreciate her dedication. She cares for her clients.

by Christy O. King

Better Speech is an excellent opportunity to improve your speech in the convenience of your home with flexible scheduling options. Our therapist Miss Lynda was nothing short of amazing! We have greatly appreciated and enjoyed the time spent together in speech therapy. Her kind, engaging and entertaining spirit has been well received. She will surely be missed.

by Patricia W. Lopez

This service is so easy, i signed up, got a therapist and got to set up an appointment right away that worked with my schedule. so glad to see that services like speech therapy are finally catching up to the rest of the convenience age! therapy is great, i can't believe how many good tips, exercises and methods in just the first session. really recommend it!

More From Forbes

How to make your presentation sound more like a conversation.

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The main difference between strong, confident speakers and speakers who seem nervous in front of the room is in how relaxed and conversational they appear. Here are some basic pointers that will help you create a conversational tone when speaking, regardless of the size of your audience.

1. Avoid using the word, “presentation.” Every time you say, “I’m here to give you a presentation on X,” or, “In this presentation, you’ll see…,” you are emphasizing the formal, structured, sometimes artificial nature of the interaction. No one wants to be “presented” to. Instead, use language that emphasizes a natural, conversational exchange. “We’re here today to talk about X,” or “Today I’ll be sharing some ideas regarding Y.” You can even go so far as to say, “I’m glad we have time together today to discuss Z.” Even if your talk is not going to truly be a dialogue, you can use language that suggests engagement with the audience.

2. If you are using PowerPoint, avoid using the word “slide.” Instead of talking about the medium, talk about the concepts. Swap out, “This slide shows you…,” for, “Here we see….” Instead of saying, “On that slide I showed you a moment ago,” say, “A moment ago we were discussing X. Here’s how that issue will impact Y and Z.” Casual conversations don’t usually involve slide decks. Just because your complicated presentation on tax exposure, supply chain issues, or new health care regulations requires you to use slides, doesn’t mean you have to draw attention to that fact that the setting is formal and structured.

3. For many large-group events, speakers are provided with what’s called a “confidence monitor,” a computer screen that sits on the floor at the speaker’s feet showing the slide that appears on the large screen above the speaker’s head. Avoid using confidence monitors. Our natural inclination when using a confidence monitor is to gesture at the bullet point we’re discussing at the moment. However, we are pointing to a bullet point on the screen at our feet, which the audience can’t see, so it creates a disconnect between us and the audience. Instead, stand to the side of the large screen and gesture at the bullet point you’re talking about so that the audience knows which point you are discussing at the moment.

4. Don’t tell your audience, “I want this to be interactive.” It’s your job to make it interactive. If you are delivering the type of presentation where your audience size allows you to create true engagement with your listeners, create that connecting in stages to “warm up” the audience. Stage One engagement is to ask the audience a question relevant to your topic that you know most of the audience members can respond to affirmatively. “Who here has ever bought a new car?” or, “How many of you have ever waited more than 5 minutes on hold on a customer service line?” Raise your hand as you ask the question to indicate to the audience how to respond. Whoever has raised their hand has now participated in the discussion. They have indicated a willingness to engage. Stage Two engagement is calling on one of the people who raised their hand and asking a specific, perfunctory question. Again, it needs to be a question they can answer easily. If your first questions is, “Who here has bought a new car?” you can then call on someone and ask, “How long ago,” or “What kind of car did you buy most recently?” If your first question was, “Have you ever waited on hold for more than 5 minutes,” you can’t ask, “What company were you calling at the time?” The people who raised their hands weren’t thinking of a specific instance; they were just thinking broadly about that type of experience. You could, however, call on someone and ask, “Do you prefer when they play music or ads for the company’s products?” Anyone can answer that question. At that point, you are in an actual dialogue with that person. Stage Three engagement is asking them a question where they need to reveal something more personal. “How does that make you feel when you hear those ads?” You’ve warmed up your audience and drawn them in with baby steps. Now you have actual, meaningful audience participation.

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5. Use gestures. When we’re speaking in an informal setting, we all use hand gestures; some people use more than others, but we all use them. When we try to rein in our gestures, two things happen that diminish our speaking style. First, we look stiff and unnatural. We look like we are presenting a guarded or cautious version of ourselves; we look less genuine. Second, hand gestures burn up the nervous energy we all have when speaking in front of a large group. That’s good. When we try to minimize our hand gestures, we tie up that nervous energy and it starts to leak out on odd ways, where we start to tap our foot, fidget with our notes or microphone, or tilt our head side to side to emphasize key points. Just let the gestures fly. It’s unlikely they will be too large or distracting. I have coached people on their presentation skills for 26 years. In that time, I have met three people who gestured too much. Everyone else would benefit from using their gestures more freely.

The impact we have as communicators is based on the cumulative effect of many different elements of our delivery. These suggestions alone won’t make you a terrific presenter. They will, however, add to the overall package your present of yourself when speaking to large audiences.

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What is Preschool Speech Therapy?

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Preschool speech therapy helps young kids with special needs improve their talking skills. It’s like a fun class where kids learn to say words better and communicate more clearly through games and activities.

Frequently Asked Questions
Science Person Definition

Real World Example of Preschool Speech Therapy

How does preschool speech therapy work, recommended products, related topics, frequently asked question.

What is preschool speech therapy?

Preschool speech therapy helps kids aged 3-5 improve their speaking and understanding of language through fun, structured activities.

How do I know if my child needs speech therapy?

If your child has trouble pronouncing words, forming sentences, or understanding language, they may benefit from an evaluation by a speech therapist.

What happens during a speech therapy session?

Sessions typically involve games, reading, and other interactive activities designed to improve specific speech and language skills.

How long does it take to see improvement?

The timeline varies, but many kids start showing progress within a few months of regular therapy sessions.

Scientific Definition

Preschool speech therapy is a specialized intervention designed to assess, diagnose, and treat speech and language disorders in children aged 3-5 years. It focuses on improving articulation , fluency, voice, receptive and expressive language skills through evidence-based techniques tailored to each child’s unique needs.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Speech and Language Kids
Apraxia Kids

Meet Lily, a 4-year-old with autism who struggles with speaking clearly. Her journey with preschool speech therapy shows how it can make a big difference:

First session: Lily’s shy and barely speaks. The therapist uses colorful toys to engage her.
Fun games: They play “I Spy” to practice sounds. Lily starts pointing and trying new words.
Progress: After a few weeks, Lily names her favorite animals with clearer pronunciation.
Confidence boost: Lily begins initiating conversations with her parents at home.
Big win: At her next playdate, Lily asks a friend to share toys – a huge step in communication!

Activity	Skill Targeted
I Spy Game	Vocabulary, Articulation
Puppet Play	Social Communication
Song Time	Rhythm, Fluency

Lily’s story shows the power of preschool speech therapy. It’s not just about clearer words – it’s about unlocking a child’s potential to connect and express themselves. Each small victory, from a new sound to a shared toy, builds towards better communication and confidence.

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Speaking Skills in Communication
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Top 10 Tips to Improve Speech & Communication Skills at home

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Improve Your Communication Skills Building Rapport and Effective Interaction
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COMMENTS

22 Tips to Be More Articulate and Speak More Clearly
Enunciate crisply. To speak articulately, it helps to pronounce each word with sharp clarity. And it helps to say each word as its own, not bleeding into the next one. Here's one great practice for enunciation borrowed from the freestyle rap community. 6. Read backward. Pick up a book and read a paragraph backward.
10 Tips for Improving Your Public Speaking Skills
In part one of this series, Mastering the Basics of Communication, I shared strategies to improve how you communicate.In part two, How to Communicate More Effectively in the Workplace, I examined how to apply these techniques as you interact with colleagues and supervisors in the workplace.For the third and final part of this series, I'm providing you with public speaking tips that will help ...
14 Tips On How To Improve Speaking Skills (Speak Like A Pro!)
Touch: A light touch on the arm can be a thoughtful way to get someone's attention or help. Combined with speaking in a soft or friendly tone, this can help you appear more kind and more compassionate. Firm handshake: A nice firm handshake can portray you as confident but not domineering.
16 Practical Tips To Improve Your Public Speaking Skills
3. Focus on Articulation and Pronunciation. In public speaking, the efficacy of communication is intricately tied to the speaker's ability to articulate and pronounce words clearly. Each consonant and vowel carries significance, especially within the context of essential terms central to the speaker's discourse.
8 Tips to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills
1. Voice control. Your voice is the most basic communication tool you possess. Learning to use it properly is key for improving your public speaking. Diaphragmatic breathing is a useful voice control technique. It can give your voice greater power and clarity and prevent the shortness of breath that anxiety causes.
18 effective strategies to improve your communication skills
Communicating concisely — while maintaining interest and including everything your team needs to know — is a high-level communication skill. Here are some ways to communicate better. 1. Keep your audience in mind. Your audience will naturally be more interested and engaged when you tailor your communications to their interests.
10 Tips to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills
Adjust accordingly so you can connect with them throughout your presentation. 2. Practice, practice, practice. Even the most seasoned public speaker needs practice to be effective. Give a mock presentation of your speech in advance, so you can determine if you've organized the information cohesively and clearly.
Effective Communication: 6 Ways to Improve Communication Skills
Teaches Effective and Authentic Communication. Teaches Sales and Persuasion. Teaches Buying and Selling Real Estate. Teaches Designing Your Career. Teaches Leading Winning Teams. Teaches Purposeful Communication. On the Power of Personal Branding. Teaches Disruptive Entrepreneurship. Teaches Relational Intelligence.
21 Most Effective Ways to Improve Your English Speaking Skills
5. Learn the natural flow of English. Being able to say individual words correctly is great, but the secret to speaking English fluently lies in the flow of your sentences. Whenever you read a piece of poetry, listen to a melodic song or watch a hilarious sitcom, pay attention to: Linking.
10 Effective Ways You Can Improve Your Communication Skills
6. Use Powerful Words. Words are very powerful, depending on how we say them and the specific words that we say. In fact, using powerful words is one of the most valuable communication skills in the workplace because of the digital world we live in that simply requires us to look down and use our thumbs.
10 TED talks to sharpen your communication skills
Even if you only master one of them, she says, you'll be on your way to becoming a better communicator. 2. Talk nerdy to me. Speaker: Melissa Marshall. When Melissa Marshall was invited to teach a communications class for engineering students at Penn State, she was intimidated, as she shares in this TED Talk. But her intimidation quickly ...
10 Effective Ways To Improve Verbal Communication Skills
You can use the following 10 steps to help improve your verbal communication at work: 1. Think before speaking. People often feel uncomfortable with silence, but pausing before answering a question can improve your response. Taking time to reflect allows you to organize your thoughts into a concise, clear statement.
How to Be More Articulate: 5 Tips to Improve Speech
No matter what is blocking you from being articulate with your speech, here are five tips for how to improve articulation. 1. Record yourself speaking. It's awkward and cringe-worthy to listen to a recording of your own voice. But when you listen back to yourself, you'll be able to identify your bad habits.
How to Improve your Communication Skills, with Key Resources
Active listening needs to be practised and improved. It involves engaging with a speaker, in an emotionally intelligent way. For instance, being aware of your own responses and reactions, so you can stay calmer and more focused in situations of conflict or debate. Also, consider what's behind the words you're hearing.
How to Become More Articulate: 6 Ways to Be More Articulate
See why leading organizations rely on MasterClass for learning & development. You can learn how to become more articulate by practicing simple techniques like slowing down your speech. Learn how you can improve your articulation and communication skills.
How to Improve Communication Skills: 10 Tactics
5: Ask Questions. Asking questions not only clarifies your understanding but also engages your conversation. partner. Use open-ended questions to invite expansive answers, and ask clarifying questions. when details are unclear. This tactic helps deepen conversations and fosters better. understanding between all parties involved.
10 Ways to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills
It will help calm your nerves and allow the audience to better understand what you say. Breath control can help you do this. Practice using your stomach to push air in and out of your lungs. Before you begin public speaking, take 10 slow, deep breaths.
8 Ways You Can Improve Your Communication Skills
The good news is that these skills can be learned and even mastered. These eight tips can help you maximize your communication skills for the success of your organization and your career. 1. Be clear and concise. Communication is primarily about word choice. And when it comes to word choice, less is more.
15 Effective Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills
Here are 15 ways in which you can become a more efficient and confident communicator in the workplace and beyond. 1. Understand body language. Body language, or nonverbal communication, is a subtle art that has the potential to say an awful lot and can be applied in any number of situations. As a leader, for example, standing up straight and ...
Important Communication Skills and How to Improve Them
Try incorporating their feedback into your next chat, brainstorming session, or video conference. 4. Prioritize interpersonal skills. Improving interpersonal skills —or your ability to work with others—will feed into the way you communicate with your colleagues, managers, and more.
How to Improve Speech Skills: 3 Key Speaking Skills
Level Up Your Team. See why leading organizations rely on MasterClass for learning & development. It can be difficult to speak in front of a crowd, no matter how large or small. Great public speakers learn how to overcome their insecurities, improve their vocabularies, and entrance their audiences with their verbal and nonverbal communication.
How to Improve Communication Skills: 11 Expert Tips
Google. Samantha Clark. If you're looking to enhance your communication skills, even in a professional setting, I highly recommend Connected Speech Pathology (CSP). They connected me with a seasoned specialist, Dr. Cuellar, who provided an expert perspective on my concerns about my communication style.
How to Improve Communication Skills: Tips & Best Practices
3. Improving verbal communication. To improve your verbal communication, you'll need to get better at both what you say and how you say it. It doesn't matter how clear your message is if you are patronizing or rude when you say it. As we recommend for non-verbal communication, begin by observing yourself and others in conversation. Observe ...
How to Be More Concise When Speaking-5 Actionable Steps
Practice and record yourself for a minute each day for a week. Then edit for brevity. Practice conveying your concise message into the recorder. Make sure you use an authoritative voice. Get to the point. Take minute details out of your message and bottom-line it for your listener.
How to improve your communication skills ️
Learn how to improve your public speaking skills with Talk Like Ted by Carmine Gallo and become a professional public speaker.TED Talks have earned an enviab...
5 Ways to Improve Your Professional Communication Skills
So, below are five easy ways to improve your professional communication skills and boost your career in the process. 1. Expand Your Industry Vocabulary. Every industry uses specific words and phrases. So, one of the easiest ways to improve your professional communication skills is to learn your industry's jargon.
How To Communicate With Someone With Hearing Loss
To improve your communication skills when talking with someone who has hearing loss, Dr. Sydlowski advises to: Get their attention before you start speaking. Limit background noise.
Understanding Stuttering: The Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment & More
Stuttering is a speech disorder that disrupts the natural flow of speech, leading to repeatedsounds, prolonged syllables, or blocks where speech is completely halted. Affecting over 70million people worldwide, stuttering is a condition that can significantly impact one's quality of life, communication skills, and social interactions.In this article, we'll share a comprehensive overview of ...
How To Make Your Presentation Sound More Like A Conversation
5. Use gestures. When we're speaking in an informal setting, we all use hand gestures; some people use more than others, but we all use them.
What is Preschool Speech Therapy?
Preschool speech therapy uses various techniques to help kids communicate better: Play-based learning: Therapists use toys and games to make speech practice fun. Articulation exercises: Kids practice specific sounds through repetition and feedback. Language stimulation: Activities encourage using new words and forming sentences. Social skills practice: Role-playing helps kids learn ...