Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Improving Verbal Communication Skills
• Method 2 of 3: Improving Non-Verbal Communication Skills
• Method 3 of 3: Hone Your Skills in Real Life Situations
• Tips
• Warnings

Good communication skills are an important part of a strong friendship and a successful career. It is also a necessary skill if you want to be comfortable in any company. If you're an introvert, chances are it's not easy for you to connect with people you don't know.As you know, practice leads to perfection. Therefore, the more often you hone your communication skills, the easier it will be for you to find common ground with other people.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Improving Verbal Communication Skills

1. 1 Be aware of the volume and tone of your voice. Don't speak too softly or too loudly. Speak so that the other person can hear you well. Speak confidently. However, your tone and the volume of your voice should not alert the person you are talking to. They shouldn't be aggressive.
   • Your tone of voice should match the environment you are in.
   • If possible, the tone and volume of your voice should match the tone and volume of the person with whom you are communicating.
2. 2 Learn how to start a conversation properly. You can start a conversation with a generic or generic phrase. Do not mention anything personal at the beginning of a conversation, as this may hurt the feelings of your interlocutor. Start your conversation by mentioning a recent event you heard about on the news or the weather. You can also compliment the person if you like their clothes or hairstyle. Of course, it is not always easy to start and have a short conversation, and you may feel anxious about what to say. Below you will find some examples:
   • "You have such a beautiful hat, where did you buy it?"
   • "What unpredictable weather!"
   • "What a beautiful view!"
   • “I really like the math teacher. And you?"
3. 3 Try to continue the conversation. When starting the conversation with a mention of a recent event, try moving the conversation to a deeper and more personal topic. Ask personal questions. For example, ask the other person about their family, job, or hobby. This will make your conversation more meaningful and longer. Remember that there are two people involved in the conversation, so don't talk too much or too little. Ask questions that require a detailed answer; in other words, your questions should start with “how”, “why” or “what”. Do not ask questions to which your interlocutor can answer in monosyllables, saying "yes" or "no". Otherwise, your conversation won't be long. Below are some examples of how you can continue your conversation and deepen it:
   • "What do you do?"
   • "Tell me a little about your family?"
   • "How did you meet the host of the party?"
   • "How long have you been visiting the slimming club?"
   • "What are your plans for the weekend?"
4. 4 Avoid sensitive topics. If you are communicating with someone you don't know very well, you should avoid certain topics of conversation. Avoid controversial topics related to religion, politics, or the person's ethnic / racial background. For example:
   • You can talk to the person about the upcoming election. However, the question of who he is going to vote for may offend him.
   • You can ask a person about their religious affiliation. However, you shouldn't ask him about his and his fellow believers' views on sex.
5. 5 End the conversation politely. Instead of ending the conversation abruptly and leaving, be polite when you want to say goodbye to the person. Politely tell the person to go. Also, mention that you enjoyed talking to him. End the conversation using one of the following phrases:
   • "I need to run, but I hope we meet soon."
   • "Unfortunately, I have an appointment at the bank, but I was very pleased to communicate with you."
   • “I can see that you are busy, so I will not detain you any longer. It was nice to talk to you. "

Method 2 of 3: Improving Non-Verbal Communication Skills

1. 1 Pay attention to your body language. Our gestures often speak louder than words. Remember that body language plays an important role in communicating with people. Think about the kind of information you convey to people through non-verbal communication. Monitor your posture, facial expressions and eye contact.
   • If you avoid eye contact with the person, stay away from them, or cross your arms over your chest, you are showing the other person that you do not want to communicate with them.
   • Your posture should reflect confidence. Smile. Maintain eye contact with your interlocutor, do not cross your arms over your chest. All this will help you to make a good impression on the interlocutor.
2. 2 Observe how other people behave during the conversation. Monitor their body language and also think about why they manage to be successful conversationalists. Observe their posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact. Think about how you can improve your communication by emulating successful people.
   • Determine how well the people you are observing know each other. This is very important because the body language used among close friends is different from the communication of two strangers, even in their usual environment.
   • Memorize the positive things you notice when you observe other people's interactions. This will help you better understand your own body language.
3. 3 Improve your non-verbal communication skills at home. Home is the best place where each of us can learn valuable skills, because we are in our usual environment. Make a video of how you interact with your family members, and then think about how you can improve your body language. You can also practice non-verbal gestures while standing in front of a mirror. Get help from family and friends. Close people will be able to honestly and openly tell you what needs to be changed. They can honestly say that you should keep your back straight and your chin parallel to the floor and not slouch.
   • Hone your skills at home as this is a place where you feel relaxed.
   • Do not be shy! It's just you and the mirror! Have fun practicing different kinds of gestures.
4. 4 Smile at your interlocutor from the first second of your meeting. The smile must be sincere. Smiling is known to be a great way to show that you are open to others. Others will feel at ease if you smile. It will be easier for you to start and continue a conversation if you remember to smile.
5. 5 Practice eye contact. Learn to make and maintain eye contact with your interlocutors. You shouldn't stare at the person, especially if you feel insecure. Otherwise, it can irritate your interlocutor. Whenever you think about eye contact, look into the other person's eyes for 3-5 seconds. Over time, you will be able to easily establish and maintain eye contact.
   • If you are chatting with someone and find it difficult to look the person in the eye, look at their earlobe or choose a focus point right between their eyes. It will be difficult for a person to understand that you are not looking into his eyes.
   • If you feel anxious at the mere thought of looking someone in the eye, some psychologists advise you to practice this skill by making eye contact while watching TV. Try making eye contact with your favorite actor or news anchor.
6. 6 Set aside enough time to tidy yourself up if you are about to leave the house. You will feel more confident if your appearance is flawless. Taking time to tidy up can help you feel confident and make it easier for you to interact with other people. Maintain your personal hygiene, buy new clothes and a pair of shoes that you like. You will be confident in yourself and will be able to communicate with other people at ease.

Method 3 of 3: Hone Your Skills in Real Life Situations

1. 1 Choose a place where you can meet outgoing people. It will be easier for you to start a conversation with an unknown person. Under some circumstances, it is much easier to start a conversation. Supermarkets or banks are not the best places to start a conversation (people want to buy a product or do other important things for them). Cafes, sporting events, and community centers are great places to start a conversation with strangers.
   • If you want to meet new people, become a member of a sports or book club. A sports club is often a great place to start a conversation.
2. 2 Start a small conversation with people who provide you with a service. Ask the barista how his day went. Thank the postman passing by, or ask a colleague about his weekend. You don't need to dive into deep conversations right away. Start small. Remember, it's not hard to greet someone. You probably won't see him again, so you can start a short, casual conversation with him.
3. 3 Reach out to someone who doesn't seem busy or uninterested. Start a conversation by showing that you are interested in communicating with the person, and don't forget the importance of body language. This will give you a good opportunity to talk to the person.
   • Remain confident when approaching a person. If you get too nervous, your condition will be passed on to your interlocutor!
   • Remember to put your cell phone away. If the interlocutor uses the phone during a conversation, this is annoying. In addition, the person may think that you are more interested in your phone than talking to them.
4. 4 Analyze how your conversation went. If the conversation went well, pay attention to what you did right and try to do it in the future. If not everything went smoothly, mentally assess the situation to determine what exactly you did wrong.
   • Have you tried to strike up a conversation with a person who was very busy or was his body language showing that he was not ready to communicate?
   • Did your body language show that you are open to communication?
   • Have you picked the right topic of conversation?
5. 5 Talk to a lot of people. Your social skills will get better with practice. The more you communicate, the better.
   • Don't let unsuccessful attempts negatively affect you. Don't give up. Often times, these unfortunate conversations are not your fault.
6. 6 Get help from a support group. This is usually a safe and comfortable environment where you can learn the correct communication manners. You are not the only person who wants to learn how to communicate properly. Why not study this together with people who have similar goals? The very fact that you want to improve your social skills shows that you are an open, kind person who is ready to work on yourself. Surround yourself with people with similar goals and interests. Through this, you will improve your communication skills.

Tips

• If you have social phobia or other similar disorders that make it difficult for you to communicate with other people, consider that recent research has shown that group therapy focused on teaching social skills has positive results.
• If you have been diagnosed with social phobia, find out if there is an opportunity to participate in a psychotherapy group in your city.
• Always try to be considerate by being polite and courteous. Don't forget to smile.
• Communicate with people in front of others; people will notice the changes in your behavior and gradually begin to respect you.
• Behave yourself properly. Show respect for others and you will be a good example for them.
• Never forget that experience is the best teacher!

Warnings

• Be careful when it comes to physical touch with other people. Some people may be open to touch.However, others may find this unacceptable or even offensive. First, determine the level of acquaintance with this person and only then you can try to pat him on the shoulder or shake his hand.
• Alcohol or drugs can boost your self-confidence for a while, but they won't improve your social skills in the long run.
• Social skills vary by culture. Remember that in one country certain behavior may be considered acceptable, while in another, which is characterized by more conservative views, the same actions may not be acceptable. Each person has his own moral standards and values.