What makes some people good communicators

He delivered it with passion and anaphoras. An anaphora involves repeating the same phrase at the beginning of different sentences. Repetition, done tastefully and in the right places, reinforces the point and solidifies it into the minds of listeners.

Winfrey understands that listening is as important—if not more important—than speaking when it comes to communicating. People trust her because she comes off as genuinely interested in others.

Developing empathy and learning to put the focus on other people can help make anyone a better communicator. Good communication skills are a tool that can open up a vast range of careers.

By studying communication and examining the good example set by other master communicators, you can successfully get your point across whether you are talking to your family, conducting a board meeting, or running for President. Skip to main content. Winston Churchill Winston Churchill is one of the most oft-quoted leaders of the 20th century. Martin Luther King, Jr. Below are five successful practices of great communicators:.

Great communicators are competent and have vast knowledge about their areas of expertise. They are prepared to show people that their communication is valuable. Great communicators appreciate the time people spend listening to them and interacting with them.

Great communicators understand that people won't listen--nor respect them--if they don't know what they are talking about. They place high value on providing effective and authentic communication because they want to keep an environment of respect and engagement. Great communicators listen more than they speak. They won't dominate a discussion or a presentation. Great communicators frequently ask questions to give people an opportunity to share their knowledge and express their opinions.

Great communicators give themselves permission to listen to others; in this way, they understand what people are thinking. They know how to balance speaking and listening effectively. To connect with your people emotionally, you need to be transparent. Be human. Show them what drives you, what you care about, what makes you get out of bed in the morning. No matter how good a relationship you have with your subordinates, you are kidding yourself if you think they are as open with you as they are with their peers.

So, you must become adept at understanding unspoken messages. The body communicates nonstop and is an abundant source of information, so purposefully watch body language during meetings and casual conversation. Once you tune into body language, the messages will become loud and clear.

A little preparation goes a long way toward saying what you wanted to say and having a conversation achieve its intended impact. Your communication will be more persuasive and on point when you prepare your intent ahead of time. The business world is filled with jargon and metaphors that are harmless when people can relate to them. Active listening is a simple technique that ensures people feel heard, an essential component of good communication.

To practice active listening:. As you work to employ these strategies, try to avoid biting off more than you can chew. Working on one to three strategies at a time is sufficient.

Once you become effective in one particular strategy, you can take on another one in its place. Communication is a dynamic element of leadership that is intertwined in most of what you do each day. A version of this article first appeared at TalentSmart.

His bestselling books have been translated into 25 languages and are available in more than countries. Kartik Anand. Faiza Hughell. Sheri Atwood. Max Pecherskyi.