3 communication skills you should work to improve

This guy seems annoyed.

Communication is super important, no matter if you’re at work or at home (or working at home). Here are three communication skills you should try to master…

The right tone of voice: Try to avoid a tone that shows disinterest. Even if you’re bored with the information you’re being given, don’t express that in your reply. And when someone has ticked you off, don’t let your tone convey your annoyance. It’s important to be cool, no matter the situation. Let your words respond instead of your tone.

Stay focused: Face-to-face communication is a lost art, but it’s still important in the workplace, so keep an eye on your target so they know you’re fully committed to the conversation, even if you’re video chatting from miles away. When you’re chatting via FaceTime or Zoom, it would probably be super awkward if you were somehow staring at your coworker (especially since you’d have to stare into the camera on your laptop), but just make sure you don’t get caught focusing your eyes elsewhere. If you’re looking down at your phone, everyone will know it.

Body language: It’s important to be mindful of the message your body is sending. Slouching will make you look like you’re not listening, which tells others that you don’t care about what they have to say. And when you’re speaking, make sure your body language matches up with the words that are coming out of your mouth.