The power in communication is underrated. This is especially valid for the world we are in now, where everyone is connected in some way, and we can all communicate with the world with a device that is literally within arm’s reach at all times. Indeed, effective communication is crucial in every aspect of human interaction, whether personal or professional. Communicating effectively plays a fundamental role in building and maintaining relationships. It also helps foster understanding and in achieving shared goals.

The untapped power of communication

Indeed, the better your communication skills, the better you will be able to market yourself, get your message out, and connect with other people. Here’s what is essential for effective communication:

1.     Verbal brevity

The general idea is that people’s attention spans are a lot shorter today than they used to be. While this is somewhat true, it’s not the gospel truth. While it is true that people are scrolling from one thing to the next much faster than we used to back in the day, people’s attention spans will still expand as much as necessary when they are engaged with something that is interesting to them.

Verbal brevity involves saying what needs to be said but not too much more. “What needs to be said” is relative, however. Sometimes what you need to say takes 30 seconds. At other times, what you need to say takes 30 minutes. Whatever amount it is, make sure you are only saying what needs to be said and not adding extra fluff to it; that is when you start to lose people’s attention.

2.     Being affirmative

If you want to be a powerful communicator, be decisive and affirmative in your style of communication. Be careful of non-affirmative language, words like maybe, possibly, perhaps, it seems, etc. There are times to use these words, but, when you use them you are communicating a lack of definiteness. People often follow leaders who are self-assured and definitive—even if they end up being wrong! If you want people to follow you, be decisive and assertive in your communication style.

3.     Making people feel heard.

When learning about the power of communication, we often ignore the fact that what we take in is just as important as what we give out. When communicating with other people, the easiest way to get them to listen to you is to make them believe that you have listened to them. This means making other people feel heard. The challenge with this is that it is very subjective, and completely based on the experience of the other person.

To make another person feel heard, you must get good at what we call active listening. Active listening is more than just letting someone talk. It also involves engaging with what they are saying and encouraging them to continue talking by showing them through your words and your body language that you are actually giving them your full focus and attention. Again, this is purely subjective and 100% based on the experience of the person you are talking to. Thus, reading the room to influence change is a soft skill that you need to work on.

Takeaway: The Power of Communication

It can’t be denied that effective communication helps individuals convey ideas, opinions, and information clearly and accurately. It minimizes misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and conflicts that can arise due to miscommunication. Tapping the power of communication also promotes empathy, understanding, and compromise, leading to mutually satisfactory resolutions.

Effective communication is a fundamental skill that contributes to positive outcomes in all aspects of human interaction and is vital for personal and professional success. Understanding the power of communication can help you convey your ideas and establish yourself as an expert or authority in your niche, thus enabling you to scale faster and grow your business.