Strengthening your communication skills, strengthen your friendships
Communication skills are some of the most valuable skills a person can have in every relationship, whether it's at work, home, or with friends. In fact, when problems in a friendship come up, more often than not it's from a lack of communication that leads to misunderstandings or hurt feelings.
Your can strengthen your friendships by strengthening your communication skills in the following ways:
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- Listen. One of the most important traits of a good communicator is a good listener. Good listeners stay focused on the topic at hand and actually listen to what the other person is saying. Oftentimes in conversation, it's tempting to let your mind wander or to think about what you're going to say next rather than focusing on what your friend is saying. In addition, part of being a good listener is letting the other person finish talking without interrupting or becoming defensive. Remember that communication is two-way; allowing others to speak and share their opinions and insights is part of effectively communicating.
- Think before you speak. You may have a mindful of good ideas or insightful comments, or you may have strong feelings you want to share with your friend, but you need to be able to convey them in a way that makes sense. Think about what you're going to say before you say it. By organizing your thoughts before speaking, you are doing your friend a favor by making it easy to follow along with what you're saying. It also makes them less likely to misunderstand you.
- Take responsibility. In order to understand others' viewpoints and communicate your own, it's important to admit when you've made a mistake when trying to resolve a conflict through communication. Do not blame others or make excuses. You are more likely to improve your friendships if you admit you made a mistake.
- Learn. There are many courses, whether they are online or through community outreach programs that offer tips on communicating effectively in relationships. These courses are often helpful as they allow you to practice what you've learned right there in the class. In addition, there are many books available that can help in becoming an effective communicator.
- Use appropriate language. Avoid swearing when communicating with your friends. It is disrespectful and often shows a lack of control or anger. Avoid belittling them or being sarcastic as well, as this will hurt rather than help your friendship.
- Be aware of your voice. Make sure you don't speak too loudly, too softly, or too fast. You can practice this by speaking on a tape recorder. If you are having difficulty understanding what you're saying, chances are other people are as well. Make note of things you might need to change, whether it be enunciating or slowing down.
- Concentrate on your body language. Whether you realize it or not, you are communicating just as much with your body as you are with your mouth. Certain gestures and postures convey a certain attitude that your friend could take the wrong way. For example, folding your arms shows that you are defensive, while making eye contact and nodding shows that you are listening.
Strong communication skills, both verbal and nonverbal, will help you to better communicate with your friends. These tips will help you strengthen your communication skills while strengthening your friendships at the same time.
