As human beings we interact every day on a variety of levels and communication is a vital part of that interaction. Whether you are chatting with friends, sending a text, or winking at the cute guy or gal on the bus, you are communicating.

1. Conversation: 3 Ways to Improve Your Verbal Communication
As human beings we interact every day on a variety of levels and communication is a vital part of that
interaction. Whether you are chatting with friends, sending a text, or winking at the cute guy or gal on
the bus, you are communicating.
Positive communication is informative, can bridge differences, increase understanding, and broaden
horizons. Poor communication will cause problems ranging from situations as menial as hearing the
wrong directions to more complicated conflicts like war and persecution.
Communication happens via four primary methods; Verbal, Non-Verbal, Visual, and Written. The most
direct of these methods is verbal communication. This is a cooperative interaction and good, effective
verbal communication requires that all parties involved
follow a few simple rules.
Keep an Open Mind
First, as you enter the conversation, keep an open mind.
Any indication on your part of prejudice or judgment on a
topic can immediately put the other person on guard,
might make them distrustful and prejudiced against your
opinion.
Keeping an open mind allows you to better understand
perspectives, ideas, beliefs, and values other than your
own. Your willingness to set aside your own opinions,
listen to and understand their point of view, and respond
with respect can help you develop some of the strongest
and most divers associations and friendships of your life.
Engage in the Conversation
Second, be engaged in what is being said. When you are talking to someone who keeps glancing at the
clock, texting on the phone, or sneaking looks at the TV, it is very frustrating. You know that they are not
engaged in what you are saying and half the time they have missed the important aspects of what you
are attempting to convey.
Noticing the gestures, facial expressions, and other non-verbal aspects of communication are essential
to understanding the full meaning of a spoken phrase. When you are distracted you risk missing these
vital elements of conversation and the words are now partially out of context. Pay attention to the body
language as well as the words that are being spoken and make sure that your posture, demeanor, and
facial expressions match the tone of the conversation while remaining welcoming and open to what is
being said.

2. Be an Active Listener
Third, and possibly most important, it is paramount that you be an active listener. When it is your turn
to speak, do so clearly and concisely. When others are speaking, LISTEN. Many people listen only to hear
what they may respond to. This is a mistake, and doing this will limit your ability to understand what is
being said. When you listen, do not interrupt, and listen to hear and understand, not respond.
As you are able to actively employ these skills in your conversation, you will find that you are able to
learn more, understand better, and be more accepting of those with whom you interact.
For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, these rules may vary slightly as verbal communication will
alter when you are communicating with someone who is unable to hear well or at all. Caption Call is a
telephone equipment company that specializes in hearing loss phones, enabling those with limited
hearing to communicate more effectively via telephone.