10 Steps to Better Communication

1. Listen!
You've heard it before; you have two ears and one mouth. Listen twice as much as you talk. Listening is twice as important to effective
communication as speaking is.

2. Hear!
To simply listen is not to hear. Hearing requires empathy and openmindedness. Pay close attention and don't let your prejudices or mental chatter get in the way of hearing someone else's message.

3. Speak your truth!
When you do talk, don't waste words. Say what is on your mind. Speak your truth plainly and clearly. Don't just recycle the common claptrap that is going around. If you do not know what your truth is, keep quiet.

4. Get empathy!
The fastest way into someone's heart and mind is to become empathetic. Show care, consideration and compassion for your fellow human beings. Your empathy for them will develop their empathy for you and then you can communicate your message heart-to-heart and mind-to-mind without barriers and filters getting in the way.

5. Get charisma!
Why do some people seem to have more presence than others? Because they are 100% present. Stand out from the crowd by being in the moment. Be here, now! Look people in the eye. Have a firm and warm handshake. Focus your energy on the now moment.

6. Paint a picture!
Most people are visual. Help them to see what you mean. Use the words that others use. They get it quicker. If they say, " Yes, I can see that," then you need to use visual imagery in your language.

7. Tell a story!
Some people are auditory. Assist them to hear what you mean. If they say, "Yes I hear what you are saying," then you need to use words that make sense to them. 'It sounds like', 'Music to my ears', etc.

8. Evince emotion!
Some people are kinesthetic (feelers). Aid them in feeling the meaning of what you say. Use the language they relate to. If they say, "Yes, that feels right to me", then you must help them to get your message where it counts…in their heart. Grab yourself an NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) primer and start using the basics.

9. The eyes have it!
Look people in the eye when you talk to them…for two reasons…one, you demonstrate your respect and attention, and two, you can pretty much tell if they are telling you the truth as they see it. You can also tell the nature of their personality. Like grandma used to say, 'The eyes are the windows to the soul.'

10. Say what you mean. Mean what you say!
Leave the lies, dissemination and the BS to the politicians. Speak your truth plainly and simply and then, plainly and simply, follow through on what you say. What you do speaks louder than what you say. People will remember one broken commitment and forget ten kept ones. If you are not going to do it, then don't say you will.