Improving your verbal communication skills is essential for business success and relationship building Whether you’re having a conversation, participating in a staff meeting, or running a presentation, effective verbal communication skills play a central role in bringing both people and ideas together. In the business world, it’s an essential skill. In this lesson, you’ll learn about the importance of verbal communication, how it’s used in the workplace, and how to improve your verbal communication skills.
Why Verbal Communication Skills Are Crucial
We use verbal communication to share information, ideas, thoughts, and opinions through speech. It’s both how we deliver messages and how we receive them. It’s speaking, and it’s listening.
Regardless of your profession or industry, your spoken words and listening skills have power. Maybe you’re righting a wrong with an empathetic “I’m sorry,” deciphering directions, sharing your latest project idea, or negotiating a business deal. In each case, verbal communication is a core component of business success. Through productive communication, you can refine ideas, remove frustrations, and create stronger relationships.
How to Improve Communication Skills in the Workplace
In a work setting, we use verbal communication to interact with individuals and groups in many situations. Click on the tabs below to learn how we use verbal communication in the workplace.
A verbal conversation is an exchange between two or more people. When participating in a conversation, you’ll split your time between speaking and listening. These discussions can be spontaneous or planned, formal or informal, and occur between many different people and groups. In business, a coherent conversation can help you address a problem, gain knowledge, and build closer connections with others.
Business meetings are typically scheduled in advance and follow an agenda. Often, an organizer will run a meeting and lead the discussion by sharing information or asking questions. Meetings are great for brainstorming ideas, chatting about upcoming projects, and sharing personal progress and goals. Much like a conversation, a meeting will require that you listen carefully and, often, provide input.
A presentation is a form of public speaking where one or more people will speak to a group, sharing a strategy or vision, offering instructions or information, or pitching an idea or product. Presentations tend to include visual elements, such as on-screen slides, to help inform and keep audience members engaged. Presentations work best when the speaker communicates clearly, prepares adequately, and allows time for listeners to ask questions.
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.
How to Improve Your Verbal Communication Skills
When your verbal communication skills are strong, you’re more likely to share a message effectively and listen actively. Here are five tips to improve your verbal communication:
5 Strategies to Improve Effective Verbal Communication in the Workplace
- Think before you talk. While it might be tempting to just “start talking,” the best speakers plan out their messages. When you consider your words ahead of time, you’re less likely to say the wrong thing or deliver a confusing message. If you anticipate questions, think through what those questions might be so you can prepare and phrase your message appropriately.
- Speak clearly. Speaking clearly is about volume, pace, and pronunciation. If you’re too loud, your message may come off as aggressive. If you’re too quiet, your listeners could struggle to hear you. Speak fast enough so that you don’t bore your listener, but also slowly enough so that your audience can process the words. When sharing those words, avoid misinterpretations by pronouncing them fully.
- Use the right tone. Your tone will reveal a lot about your message—either reinforcing or discrediting your meaning. Whether you’re feeling nervous, angry, sad, excited, or any other emotion, ask yourself if this is something you want your listeners to hear. If not, take a few deep breaths. Control your tone so that you can control your message.
- Remember your audience. Depending on your audience, you’ll need to change how you share your message. Are you speaking with someone who already understands the topic or is new to the material? Does your listener agree with the message, or do you need to convince and persuade them? You should change your vocabulary and information depending on how you answer those questions.
- Check in with your listener. Verbal communication is about listening just as much as it’s about speaking. Once you’ve finished sharing your message, ask your listener if they have questions or feedback. Give them the floor. Consider their responses. Your goal is to make sure your listener understands the message the same way you do.
Increase Your Chances of Success
You’re running a project and plan to ask team members for help during a meeting tomorrow. Is there anything you can do today to increase your chance of success?
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