Are You Communicating Correctly??

The saying 'Lost in Translation' is a whole new meaning theses days. With much of our communication being done through technology, texting, emails, posts on social media, the true relationship and feeling behind the message tend to get lost. It is rare in this time of age that we pick up the phone and make a phone call to hear the person on the other side. But, yet, texting and leaving the tone, meaning of the words and what we are trying to communicate lost in the translation of the reader.

This can affect your business in many ways. You can get the client or send the client running if communication is not received correctly. Trully, you can't say the wrong thing to the right person. Still, you want to make sure your message and the words you are communicating project the correct feelings, emotions and content.

Try using the voice memo, voice message or even picking up the phone and calling your client or employee. This might just change the relationship in many ways.

Here are some tips to avoid and become better at communication.

Common barriers to effective communication include:

Stress and out-of-control emotion. When you’re stressed or emotionally overwhelmed, you’re more likely to misread other people, send confusing or off-putting nonverbal signals, and lapse into unhealthy knee-jerk patterns of behavior. To avoid conflict and misunderstandings, you can learn how to quickly calm down before continuing a conversation.

Lack of focus. You can’t communicate effectively when you’re multitasking. If you’re checking your phone, planning what you’re going to say next, or daydreaming, you’re almost certain to miss nonverbal cues in the conversation. To communicate effectively, you need to avoid distractions and stay focused.

Inconsistent body language. Nonverbal communication should reinforce what is being said, not contradict it. If you say one thing, but your body language says something else, your listener will likely feel that you’re being dishonest. For example, you can’t say “yes” while shaking your head no.

Negative body language. If you disagree with or dislike what’s being said, you might use negative body language to rebuff the other person’s message, such as crossing your arms, avoiding eye contact, or tapping your feet. You don’t have to agree with, or even like what’s being said, but to communicate effectively and not put the other person on the defensive, it’s important to avoid sending negative signals.