Successful communication can be easy if your message is simple. If not, your message will fall on deaf ears.
“Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow.”
Lawrence Clark Powell, a writer and librarian
Also, just because you communicate doesn’t mean you will be heard.
You must take responsibility for your messages.
- Make sure they are understood.
- Focus on how you communicate them.
- Back them up with actions.
A lack of clear communication can cause issues, headaches, and even ruin companies.
“If people had the right skills and intention to communicate well, there would be no conflict. The better we are at communicating, the better our lives will be.”
Yama Mubtaker, an entrepreneur, business strategist, and author
Wars have started because of miscommunication.
It sounds extreme, but I’m pointing out that good communication is the difference between success and failure.
“Communication is one of the most important skills you require for a successful life.”
Catherine Pulsifer, an author
What do great communicators consistently do every day that we can learn from?
This is how to master dialogue and engage your audience
Let’s dive deep into what people who successfully communicate do well.
1. Have a simplified message
You must simplify your message to make sure it is clear and concise.
Skip the slang, acronyms, and jargon. Use easy-to-understand words.
Don’t use more words. Less is more.
“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”
Hans Hofmann, an American painter
To make an impactful impression:
- Keep it simple, where less is more
- Approach your message like you are seeing or hearing it for the first time
- Sand or boil down your message into its essence
Don’t assume that people know what you know. They don’t. It’s called the curse of knowledge.
It’s a thinking bias. It assumes your audience has the same knowledge and background. This affects their understanding of what you are saying when you communicate.
“I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.”
Albert Einstein, a theoretical physicist
2. Create a dialogue, not a monologue
Great communicators know that a dialogue is better than a monologue. They engage their audience. They ask follow-up questions to make sure their audience understands.
“Two monologues do not make a dialogue.”
Jeff Daly, an American designer
People who communicate well accept responsibility for their communication’s success. They don’t assume that because they communicate something, they communicated it well.
Good communicators talk with, not at, their audience.
They know that successful communication is a back-and-forth, not one person talking.
3. Back up your messages with actions
Communication doesn’t end when you leave a meeting, walk off the stage, or finish writing an article.
People who communicate well show their message with actions. Their actions match their written and spoken words.
“The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.”
Confucius, a Chinese philosopher
Your actions bring your ideas to life. When you back up your message with actions, you add integrity, and people trust you more.
The best way to communicate is to show, not tell.
Effective communication is about communicating through actions. Your follow-up is as important as your first message.
Let your actions speak louder than your words.
Bringing it all together
There are three simple ways to make sure your message is understood.
- Have a simplified message.
- Create a dialogue, not a monologue.
- Back up your messages with actions.
Communication is a skill that can be developed.
“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 public speaker and author
The development depends on your willingness to learn how to become a better communicator.
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
George Bernard Shaw, an Irish dramatist and critic
Remember, just because something was said doesn’t mean it was heard.
Join my email newsletter for a free eBook and more helpful insights.