How to Improve Conversation Skills

What is Conversation Skills

Conversation is one of the most common and direct methods for communicating. In order to be as effective as possible, it is important to know how to conduct yourself in a conversation. Conversations are supposed to be light, simple, interesting and not ambiguous.

But many people worry about having conversations. They are concerned that they won’t be able to keep conversation going, or about what they will say. 
Keeping a conversation going is something of an art, and one which many of us now seem to lack. This article explains how you can learn this ‘art’ and have constructive and enjoyable conversations with others. 

Characteristics of a High Quality Conversation

Providing conversations have a purpose and stay focused on that purpose, below are five characteristics of high quality workplace conversations.

1. Listen for Understanding:

When you are listening to another team member speak, you are really just waiting for them to stop speaking so that you can speak. If you don’t listen what the other is saying, then you can’t have anything valuable points to speak or debate.

Listening for understanding does not mean listening for agreement. When listening for understanding, an argument that is formed in your head while another person is speaking is used as a catalyst for recognizing that you have just stopped listening and may not fully understand what the other person is saying. This triggers the second characteristics of a high quality conversation. 

2. Ask, Genuine High Quality Questions:

A genuine question is one for which you are open to whatever answer is provided after you ask your question. High quality questions allow the respondent to provide a genuine, open response. Low quality questions generate defensiveness and close down conversations. The best way for improving the quality of your conversation is to ask genuine, proper questions related to conversation. 

3. Let People Finish:

There are two sides to this characteristic as well. When people are speaking, let them finish saying what they are saying before you speak. When you are speaking, maintain awareness of how much you are speaking. Keep to the point and be as clear as possible. This leads to the fourth characteristic. 

4. Share the Floor:

High quality conversations are ones where whatever needs to be said and explored. This doesn’t mean that everyone says an equal number of words not has an equal amount of ‘air time’. It means that the genuine opportunity for everyone to speak exists, and everyone uses that opportunity if they have something to say. 

5. New Possibilities are Possible:

The challenge with most conversations is that everyone is locked in to their pre-existing thought patterns. This isn’t particularly useful in the fast changing world that we live in. Learning is essential for survival, so new possibilities need to be possible. High quality conversations allow new possibilities to emerge and to be genuinely explored, because without them real learning can’t occur. 

Read More:

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Importance of Communication Skills:

1. Valued in the Workplace:

If you applying for jobs or looking for a promotion with your current employer, you will almost certainly need to demonstrate good communication skills. Communication skills are needed to speak appropriately with a wide variety of people whilst maintaining good eye contact, demonstrate a varied vocabulary and tailor your language to your audience, listen effectively, present your ideas appropriately, write clearly and concisely, and work well in a group. Many of these are essential business skills that employers seek. 

Having the ability to listen carefully, speak clearly and put others at ease is valuable in any organization and can involve a wide range of skills. 

•   Listening to others and showing interest in what they say. 
• Dealing with telephone conversation appropriately. 
• Encouraging interest and interaction from others in your team. 
• Expressing an opinion or asking a question clearly. 
• Being able to persuade others. 

2. In Demand by Business:

Oral and written communication proficiencies are consistently ranked in the top ten desirable skills by employer surveys year after year. Employees are often encouraged to take online courses and in-person training to improve their presentation and communication skills. 

3. Help Your Career Progression:

You will need to request information, discuss problems, give instructions, work in teams, interact with colleagues and clients. If you are to achieve co-operation and effective teamwork, good human relations skills are essential. Also, as the workplace is also becoming more global, there are many factors to consider if you are to communicate well in such a diverse environment. 

Being able to deliver messages clearly and understand other people means work can be completed more effectively and to the benefit of the company as a whole. Employers want staff who can think for themselves, use initiative and solve problems, staffs who are interested in the long term success of the company. If you are to be seen as a valued member of the organization, it is important not just to be able to do your job well, but also to communicate your thoughts on how the processes and products or services can be improved. 

4. Allow You to Speak Concisely:

It is natural to feel some nerves when speaking to superiors or to clients. Communication skills training will help you learn how best to communicate effectively in a wide range of situations and how to be direct in order to get the most out of your dealings with others. 

5. Builds Better Rapport with Customers:

Customers desire nothing more than to be understood by a company and they wish to feel like they are being heard and listened to. This is a particularly important point if your business involves a large amount of contact with customers, either face-to-face Or over telephone. 

6. Influences How You Learn:

Communication skills have played an important part of your existing knowledge and beliefs. You learn to speak in public by first having conversations, then by answering questions and then by expressing your opinions. Yoh learn to write by first learning to read, then by writing and learning to think critically. Good communication skills help you absorb information and express your ideas in a clear, concise and meaningful way to other people. 

7. Enhance Your Professional Image:

You want to make a good first impression on your friends and family, instructors, and employer. They all want you to convey a positive image, as it reflects on them. In your career, you will represent your business or company in spoken and written form. Your professionalism and attention to detail will reflect positively on you and set you up for success.

8. Other Benefits of Effective Communication:

The most successful organizations understand that if they are to be successful in today’s business world, good communication at all levels is essential. Here is a useful mnemonic to remember the benefits you and your organization can achieve from effective communication. 

• Stronger decision making and problem solving
• Upturn in productivity
• Convincing and compelling corporate materials
• Clearer, more streamlined workflow
• Sound business relationship
• Successful response ensured

Tips for Improving Conversational Skills

Conversation skills refer to a collective group of skills needed to communicate effectively with another person. They allow you to understand and be understood by others. More than that though conversation skills allow you to connect with people and build strong relationship. People who are strong conversationalists appeared smooth and charismatic when they talk and others are often drawn to this behavior. 
Understanding the importance of developing conversational skills for the workplace, here are some tips for improving your own skills. 

1. Listen actively to others:

Listening shows that we are interested in the other person and what they have to say. Listening is as vital as speaking since a conversation should consist of sharing information. Practice active listening by paying attention, asking clarifying questions and repeating the message back to the speaker. 

2. Look for nonverbal cues:

Nonverbal communication is just as important as the words the person chooses. One example is body language. Make eye contact with the other person, nod your head yes or shake your head no. Lean forward slightly to hear them better. It is important that the message you are sending is consistent, both verbally and nonverbally. 

3. Hold eye contact:

While most people only hold eye contact approximately two-thirds of the time or less, maintaining eye contact conveys confidence and interest in what is being said. Practice attempting to hold the eye contact of the person with whom you are speaking. Confidence emphasizes your message. Stand up straight, use a level tone and make eye contact. 

4. Have empathy:

Empathy is vital. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Try to see their point of view. Respect the other person, even when you disagree. Be polite and professional. People may forget what you say, but they will not forget how you made them feel. Be empathetic. 

5. Pay attention to details: 

People with strong conversation skills take notice of details that the average person might not notice and bring attention to those details during the conversation. For example, you may notice that the person you are speaking with has a slight accent and is beautifully dressed. Offer compliments related to these small details. 

6. Offer interesting insights:

People with good conversation skills can frequently tell you things you didn’t know and find interesting. Learn what you can about your affairs so that when you are in a situation where you are discussing, you will offer in-depth knowledge on the business and any new trends. 

7. Talk slowly:

People who are good conversationalists often act as though they have an abundance of time. They take their time when they speak and often reflect on what they will say before they speak. This makes them appear centered and collected. 

8. Use the right words: 

The ability to communicate well with others has a lot to do with finding the right words to convey precise feelings or thoughts. Work to constantly develop your vocabulary and practice communicating as acurately as possible. By expanding your vocabulary, you will express yourself more easily. 

Conclusion:

Regardless of the industry, the ability to communicate effectively with superiors, colleagues and support staffs is essential. Employees in the digital age must know how to effectively transfer and receive messages in person, via phone, email and social media. Strong conversation skills also allow you to be highly memorable and effective when the situation demands. This strong conversation skills can create opportunities for professional growth and career advancement that might have been otherwise unavailable. 

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