Have you ever had a conversation with someone that literally had you exhausted by the end of it, not because you couldn’t understand diction or pronunciation, but what they were saying made no sense? So now you’re spending the entire time trying to figure out what they are intending to say. Or you’re having a conversation with someone and in the back of your mind you’re thinking about how nothing they are saying is adding any value or relevance to the topic. So you regret the second you spent engaging in something that added nothing to your life. Or, have you had a conversation with someone and they can’t adequately express their thoughts and/or feelings and you know that’s because they have a limited vocabulary or perspective?
Communication is a vital part of being in commune and relation with one another. We engage in it every day but so many people are bad at doing it. Verbally communicating effectively and clearly is an intentional and learned task.
I am a more confident communicator in writing than I am in speech. I wish I could speak as effortlessly and extemporaneously. When I am writing for the blog, it is much easier to make adjustments to grammar and make clearer what I want emphasized. When I am speaking I have a tendency to second guess myself because there is very little room for this type of editing. But like I said previously, the key to being a better communicator is to practice.
Expanding your critical thinking skills is a great way to do this. There is a reason why in K-12 there were several assignments aimed at getting you to think deeper and analyze problems. Reading is a good way to expand your critical thinking skills. A well-read person can often add value and substances to a conversation because they understand a myriad of topics. Reading also helps to expand your vocabulary. It may also be useful to engage in dialogue with others outside your circle from varied backgrounds who have differing experiences, perspectives and opinions. This will also help better understand who you are as you hone your own voice and thus speak confidently when communicating with others.
It’s not hard to do, it’s just something you have to work at doing. But becoming a good communicator is essential for growth and the enhancement of oneself.