How can I communicate better with other people? 6 useful tips

Communication is a good part of who we are. No person exists as a lonely island, we always evolve as human beings in contact with others, regardless of whether we enjoy most social relationships or not.

Because, many people are concerned about one question: "how can I communicate better with other people?".

Learning to make yourself understood and interact properly with others is so important. In this article we will see several tips on how to better communicate with others based on simple ideas to apply in your day-to-day habits.

• Related article: "The 28 types of communication and their characteristics"

How to communicate better with others?

Before seeing the specific techniques to apply in your social relationships to better connect with those around you, it is important to understand some basic principles of communication, whether in the field of friendship, the couple or at work. They are as follows.

1. You are responsible for making yourself understood

Does that old saying "I am responsible for what I say, not what you understand" sound familiar to you? Well, it will interest you that this is false, or at least partially false.

Communication does not function as a packet data transmission system that one emits outwards and that's it; It is something much more dynamic, you have to participate in the process by which the other person interprets what we say.

This is so because the simple fact of being a different person from the receiver already makes our point of view and experiences lived in the past and in the present is different, which means that no matter how well we do it, they can always appear misunderstandings.

2. You have to put yourself in the shoes of others

This advice is derived from the previous one, since the communication process is somewhat dynamic and you have to make sure that there are no errors. It is not enough to have an approximate idea of ​​the type of ideas or questions that arise in the mind of the interlocutor; We must also take into account the emotional state that accompanies each of these cognitive processes.

3. Take the context into account

Beyond the individuals involved in an act of communication is the context, and this conditions both what is said and how what is said is interpreted that should always be considered a very important factor.

For example, it is not the same to say something in a meeting in a restaurant than in the office where you work and one of the two being the head of the company. The situation in which social interaction takes place can even turn the meaning of words upside down.

4. Never forget non-verbal language

It is impossible not to communicate through non-verbal language, so do not forget about this factor, because it is virtually whether you want it or not what you do in this sense will be perceived and interpreted by others, and you will do the same when observing others even if you do not give bill.

Techniques to express yourself better and connect with other people

Given the above, we can now go on to see several tips on how to communicate better with others and make this improve your social relationships.

1. Adapt your language

It is very important to adapt the language to the conversation you are having, especially considering two factors: the training and educational level of the listeners, and the context in which the conversation occurs.

For example, if you dedicate yourself to research in biology and want to explain what a breed of dog that you have at home is like, You should definitely avoid using highly technical jargon, unless the other person asks you to explain those details.

On the other hand, if you are in a professional context it is likely that it is not seen with good eyes that you express yourself as you would with your lifelong friends; As much as this is an arbitrary imposition, violating these unwritten rules can overshadow the content of your message, in addition to wearing down your image in many cases.

2. Look at the eyes

This is possibly one of the simplest yet basic tips on how to communicate better. Failure to do so will create a strange situation where it will be difficult to interpret what you are saying, since your intentions will not be clear (Since you will be talking but at the same time you show that you would like to be anywhere else except having that conversation).

Of course, so that you do not get obsessed with something so basic, it is better that you worry about not stopping looking into your eyes for many seconds in a row, rather than focusing on looking into your eyes all the time. The ideal is to do it with a spontaneity that allows you to forget about the matter Unless you detect that you are not complying with it.

3. Avoid prejudging

Sometimes we can be tempted to express prejudices aloud about others, be they positive or negative, even if it is only to generate conversation. Avoid this. In any case, ask questions to allow others to let themselves know more.

4. Notice if the other person is feeling nervous

Sometimes you will meet people who are prone to feeling nervous during conversations, especially if they know you very little.

By spotting these signs of stress, show them your complicity and use strategies to relieve tension and create a more relaxed atmosphere- Make a joke, adopt relaxed non-verbal language, show that you take the other person seriously and care what they think of you, etc.

5. Practice active listening

When they speak to you, don't be passive. Even if it is your turn to remain silent, it signals that you are paying attention: look into the eyes, nod, react with some exclamations depending on the emotions that provoke you what you hear, and occasionally, add small comments or ask questions related to the subject (provided that don't mean telling too long a story that doesn't matter much in that situation). This is what is known as active listening.

6. Don't try to fill the silences with words

Do not be afraid of silences; they are one more communication tool. In fact, many of the great interviewers use it constantly to create the conversational climate they want; You can do the same.

Bibliographic references:

• Horse, V. (1983). Social skills training and evaluation manual. Madrid: XXI century.
• Cuartero, N. (2014). From self-awareness to social dexterity. Notebooks of Pedagogy (442), p. 65.
• Ferguson, S. D.; Lennox-Terrion, J.; Ahmed, R.; Jaya, P. (2014). Communication in Everyday Life: Personal and Professional Contexts. Canada: Oxford University Press.
• Mehrabian, A. (1972). Nonverbal communication. Transaction Publishers.
• Orth U.; Robbins R.W. (2014). The development of self-esteem. Current Directions in Psychological Science. 23 (5): pp. 381 - 387.
• Turner, L.H., and West, R.L. (2013). Perspectives on family communication. Boston: McGraw-Hill.