FREE online courses on Creating Confidence - Conversation
Skills - Tips for communicating effectively
The following
guidelines will help you hold a perfect conversation over the telephone:
1.
A pad and pen should be kept handy
instead of making the person on the line wait till you find them.
2.
Sound relaxed on the phone although you may be busy.
3.
At office always mention your name and department while
answering the phone.
4.
Smoking or eating should be avoided while conversing on the
phone
5.
The message should be noted down correctly and repeated to
confirm whether you have received it with clarity
6.
Do not converse with anyone else while on the phone
7.
You should answer the call as soon as you pick up, don't leave
the caller holding the line
1.
Avoiding technical terms and words, which are difficult for the
layman to comprehend.
2.
You should be very clear in your mind about what you are saying
3.
Don't repeat your ideas and phrases.
4.
Your conversation should appeal to the sense of sight.
Illustrations can be used e.g. ``Do not emulate the mountain goat``. This has a
powerful effect on the listener.
5.
Do not speak too much on a topic. The effect gets diluted.
Tone
The pitch and tone of your voice must be effective. You could judge it by
recording your voice. A general phrase can be said in four different ways: “It's
been a pleasure to be a part of this organization for these many years.”
You can change the pitch and tone to sound:
a.
Sincere
b.
Sarcastic
c.
Surprised
d.
Angry
Loud reading is the best exercise to improve the pitch and
tone of your voice. Make it a point to be confident about what you speak. Lack
of confidence might make your voice toneless.
Jaw
If we work on each of the consonants by pronouncing them in an exaggerating
movement, it would help to loosen the jaws.
Lips
Loudly repeating the letter ‘P' helps to warm up the lips. You could purse your
lips by pronouncing the world ‘spit' with stress.
Tongue
Tongue twisters help the most to make the tongue flexible. Any old favorite
could be practiced upon like:
“She sells sea-shells on the
sea-shore”
Or
“Red leather, yellow
leather”
Pace
Words spoken in a hurry tend to lose their impact. Being too slow would for sure
give a dull effect. Take time to express your important thoughts. Fast speaking
might lead you to stammering. A break is welcome between words, which are food
for thought.
Pauses
If a pause is allowed during a
conversation, it does not fall flat. In fact a quick thought can be added to the
words already spoken. Time should be given
to others to express their thoughts. Interruption is not a healthy
conversation ethic.
Mumbling
This is a sign
for lack of confidence. To avoid this one should look up and speak rather than
speak to the floor.
Jargon
Long complicated phrases and
words must be replaced with short simple words. A good conversation has no room
for jargon.
Waffle
The longer the
story the more complicated it becomes, projecting you as a liar. Speak
confidently and concisely without repeating yourself.
Accent
Work on your
tone to improve your accent.
Words
It is effective to have a
positive speech pattern using words like ‘positively', ‘surely' 
or definitely.
Punctuation
Important words should always be
stressed upon to bring a complete effect. Penning thoughts and reading them
aloud in a correct manner will help.
Posture
A correct posture covers up the
presentation of your thought. Sit upright in the chair with fingertips at the
abdomen. Correct breathing also helps to boost your posture.
