How You Can Improve Your Communication Skills For Virtual Interaction

Whether you are talking in a team meeting or presenting in front of an audience, you will have to speak in public from time to time. The way you speak affects the way people think about you. This is why public speaking causes so much concern and anxiety.

With the help of effective communication skills training, and thorough practice and preparation, you can overcome your nervousness and perform exceptionally well.

There are plenty of situations where communication skills can help you advance your career and create opportunities. Speaking skills are also essential in other areas of life. You might be asked to make a speech at a friend’s wedding or inspire a group of volunteers at an event.

Even right now, with millions around the world in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, technology is helping us to stay connected. Even those who avoided digital communication tools have had to adapt to avoid professional isolation.

As said above, digital communication platforms are helping us stay connected;however, they can bring several challenges. Communicating through virtual services can sometimes lead to confusion.

• Difficult to properly convey the message.

• Hard to read body language and expression.

• Too much disturbance during the conversation.

During these uncertain times, putting forth messages clearly and empathetically is crucial. Now more than ever it is vital for everyone in the organization to communicate effectively, as poor communication or lack of information can easily create confusion.

The pandemic has dramatically changed the way we communicate. But once everything is back to normal, whatever normality will be by then, it is essential to take into account all we have learned during this period.

“Communication- the human connection- is the key to personal and career success”. – Paul J. Meyer

The good news is that communicating effectively is a learnable skill. You can join effective communication skills training, where you can learn the specific technique on how to become a better communicator/speaker/presenter.

Follow these 3 vital tips to improve your communication skills.

1. Connect with your listener

A great communicator/speaker is someone who can take public participation to a whole new level. You can pause in the middle of your speech or presentation to ask your audience if they have any doubts.By this, you can gauge how far they followed you and how much they have understood.

The best ways to connect with your listener/audience are:

• Be aware of your target audience.

• Know the energy in the room.

• Work on your non-verbal body language.

2. Cope with nerves and speak confidently

When we have to speak in front of others, we envision terrible things happening. You might forget every crucial point you have to make, or might stutter while speaking.

When it comes to speaking, confidence is very crucial. However, when you speak in front of the audience for the first time, it is quite usual to be nervous.

“There are only two types of speakers in the world; one- those who are nervous and others- who are liars.” – Mark Twain

To speak efficiently, you must do more than just defeat your nervous jitter. You must have confidence in your subject and be yourself while speaking.

3. Pay attention to your body language.

Your audience can understand your inner state, just by observing your body language. If you are nervous, or uncertain of what you are saying, they will know it.

So, pay attention to your body language:

• Stand up straight

• Make eye contact

• Smile while speaking

• Maintain a slow and steady breath

• Use gesture that feels unnatural

• While speaking in public, walk around and use gestures to engage the audience.

Practicing will help to make you feel more confident and appear more authentic; thus, creating a better opportunity to connect with your audience. It takes a lot of practice and experience to become an effective speaker.