What makes someone a great communicator?

Alex McKinley





The best communicators are the ones that are aware of their own contributions to the conversation, and know how best to help the flow of dialogue.

Communication for the sake of it is not very helpful. Great communicators will know when a contribution is needed, and when it's best to let others take the floor.

Here are a few qualities that can make someone a great communicator.

INTEND TO GIVE VALUE

This is the first and foremost important quality of a great communicator. While speaking, your intention should not be to utter a few words but instead, intend to deliver some valuable information whenever you speak. It does not mean you need to prepare a speech, but always speak whenever you require.

Some messages can be complicated, confusing or absolutely muddled. The good communicator, though, can take these messages and make them clear and concrete for his audience.

GIVE IMPORTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS

While speaking to a group of people, great communicators give importance to each member of that group. Discussions should not be based on priority; instead, you should give every individual an equal chance to present their ideas and communicate their part.

ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE

Great communicators do not just start a huge lecture on any irrelevant topic. So to be an efficient communicator, you need to talk friendly, allow the audience to participate, and make sure everybody can relate to what you are talking about.

One way to engage the listeners in a conversation is to ask relevant yet interesting questions from the audience and answer their queries with reliable solutions.

PRACTICE ACTIVE LISTENING

Communication is not all about speaking, but it also covers how you listen to others. A great communicator is always a great listener too. Because when you listen, you focus more on the other person's concerns, so, to be a good listener, you need to avoid these common mistakes.

Excellent listening is an essential skill in effective communication. Being able to absorb what others say allows one to come up with appropriate responses. Great communicators don’t create one-sided conversations, because what’s the point of that?

GESTURES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

With that being said about listening attentively, here comes the next quality of a great communicator, which is the gestures you impart. It is the real deal no matter how good you are at talking and whatever knowledge you have, if your gestures are not supporting your words, the communication is a flop game for you.

Give supportive and attentive gestures such as nodding your head when you agree, passing a smile when you are interested, and most importantly; maintaining eye contact.

UNDERSTANDING THE BODY LANGUAGE OF OTHERS

Now, if you have an idea about how much your gestures matter, it’s time to understand the other person’s body language. How someone shifts gestures gives crucial information about their interest in the scenario.

So, being a great communicator you have to be observant of the body language of others to be aware of when your interaction with someone is getting boring and when you should stop sticking to the same drill. Reading the opponent’s body language is not less than a super power that you can use to communicate effectively.

CONFIDENCE IS KEY

Communication isn’t just verbal. People also communicate non-verbally, so our body language and the way we present ourselves makes a big difference. Maintaining a confident stance, and speaking in a self-assured way, can be the difference between a good presentation and an awful one.

Confidence is key, even when you’re not feeling entirely sure of yourself – sometimes you have to fake it til you make it!
By practicing the above qualities you can become a great communicator in no time!