Have you ever imagined that having effective communication skills could help you maintain happy, healthy, and stable mental health?
In our work spaces, school, college, or family, there are people who can hardly make their presence felt. It is mostly not because they don’t have anything to say; instead, it is mostly because they lack the knowledge of effective communication.
Let’s look deeper into the article to understand it!
Communicate Your Information more Clearly and Effectively
There are some ways to convey your message clearly and effectively, and not everyone has this skill. Good communication is an art that needs to be polished, no matter in which field you are working. The attributes of good communication include empathy, active listening, assertiveness, and understanding various communication styles. An individual with effective communication skills can foster better relationships, resolve conflicts, and succeed in personal and professional interactions. Consequently, this leads to happy, healthy, and peaceful mental health.
Lack of Clear and Reassuring Communication
Ineffective communication in any professional or personal relationship that lacks clear and reassuring communication could be a bane to your mental health. You will end up feeling confused, lonely, or left out because of the inability to wind off the miscommunication.
People having a difficult time expressing themselves may find themselves not getting their needs met at work, with their family or friends, or in romantic relationships. This might create disagreements or misunderstandings because of their inability to question or put their point forward. Therefore, it affects their reputation.
Ineffective Communication can Impact Your Leadership
Frequent communication issues may have a negative impact on your relationships.
Imagine being a manager at some place, but you are unable to communicate with your colleagues. You are not able to give them any remarks, either good or bad. Your colleague will feel lost; they won’t understand what you think of them. Hence, it would be difficult for them to improve, and your work would suffer.
Think of a different situation where your supervisor doesn’t clearly communicate your role and responsibilities during the workday. It would leave you clueless about what they really want from you. Eventually, this can cause you to fail to meet their expectations, ultimately lowering your morale.
Poor communication can also affect you beyond just your workspace; it can also present challenges in relationships.
If your partner falls into the pattern of poor communication, it may cause rifts in your relationship and eventually your mental peace. Insufficient conversation can lead to blame, depression, relationship anxiety, and resentment in relationships.
The less you interact with your partner, the more you will be emotionally distant and lonely, putting a strain on your mental health. Communication is how you develop a connection. When effective communication is missing in marriage, love also starts to fade.
Ways to improve your Communication Skills:
- Smile 😊 Yes! That’s the main key. Staying cheerful would not only be good for your mental health, but it can instantly refresh others moods as well. Force yourself to do this. People are more attracted to someone who is smiling.
- Don’t be judgmental. If you are having a peaceful time while talking to someone, that emotion of joy will transfer to them. The less judgmental you are, the easier it will be for people to talk to you. This will strengthen the relationship you have with them. Everyone wants to be happy and carefree. If you can create that aura of happiness, most people will gravitate towards you.
- Go out and practice. You can’t complain if you are just hiding in the corner. Go out and approach someone. The first time is always the worst. It gets better after that!
- Confident Outlook. You can simply decide to be confident today. At least pretend to be. Reflect on positive behavior.
- Face your fears. Don’t assume that something will turn bad. That’s the only thing holding you back. You are afraid to lose your friends, your status, or be embarrassed by saying something absurd. However, that’s not true. The people who truly love you will understand. Don’t be afraid to make space.
- Work on your body language. Straight up your back, hands on your sides, chest out, and head held level. “Motion creates emotion.” Tony Robbins Numerous psychological studies have been done on confident body language.
- Be a good listener. Don’t just speak, but listen too. Listening to others gives people assurance and makes them feel that you care. People will respect you for investing your time in them, which will make you more charming and charismatic to everyone around you.
Some Good Reads for Effective Communication
- Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, and Get Results
By Rob Biesenbach - Five Stars: The Communication Secrets to Get from Good to Great
By Carmine Gallo - Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone
By Mark Goulston - We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter
By Celeste Headlee - Power Questions: Build Relationships, Win New Business, and Influence Others
By Andrew Sobel and Jerold Panas
Indulge in Interesting Activities
One activity that can help you focus on specific learning points related to communication skills is: Blind line-up: communication skills
This activity involves blindfolding the whole group. Make sure there is enough space around to avoid any accidents.
Ask the group to make a que and arrange themselves according to one of the following:
(Choose from the list below.)
- From oldest to youngest
- Shortest to tallest
- From the longest-serving employees to the newest recruits
- Team members, from most family members to fewer members
By the end of the activity, discuss how they overcame their communication problems. Did someone take charge of getting everybody in line? How was the experience of not being able to see each other?
For more activities, click here.
