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Developing communication skills

Amitava Basu

Guidance Note Series 4

Developing Communication skills is not a rocket science. You need a strong desire, right aptitude and relentless practice to improve your skills. Where do you stand now? This is the fourth instalment of the Guidance Note Series on “Developing Communication Skills”.

Introduction
Have you started your practice? Do not be disheartened if it is taking longer time than you expected to have command over your behavioural traits and to become a patient listener. Rome was not built in a day.

The kick-off itself takes time. Sometimes it is fear of the unknown, sometimes it is lethargy and yet sometimes it is sheer lack of determination. So ask yourself where you stand at present.

Present Status
Answer these three simple questions:
Have you started your practice? Yes/No
Are you regular in practice? Yes/No
Are you finding too many hindrances? Yes/No
From your response to these questions, you would know where you are.

Get Going
If you face too many impediments to practice, list out the hindrances. These could be shyness to interact with others, recurrence of old behavioural traits, feeling of too late in beginning, nervousness when speaking and some more. Go through your list and you would be able to identify that most of the hindrances are removable and that is what you are trying to achieve through practice. The remaining ones are mere psychological factors that could be overcome through strong will power. If man could climb the indomitable Mount Everest, then removing your obstacles to practice should not be insurmountable. You need to try, try and try again.

Performance Assessment
However, you should have a performance matrix for yourself to assess your progress. Before retiring to sleep at night, complete this performance matrix form with all honesty.

Performance Matrix
Date: -------------
Serial No. Description of Action Progress

1. Number of occasions when conscious efforts were made for improvement ------ times
2. What was the degree of shyness to maintain eye contact? High/Medium/Low

3. What was the extent of following traits during your conversation
i. Crossing arms?
ii. Hunching shoulders?
iii. Seated with crossed legs?
iv. Swaying when standing?
v. Looking at the wristwatch?

High/Medium/Low
High/Medium/Low
High/Medium/Low
High/Medium/Low
High/Medium/Low

4. Number of occasions that you were asked to speak loudly or to repeat what you had said ------ times

5. With what intensity you interrupted the person with whom you were in conversation? High/Medium/Low

6. What had been level of your attention when the other person was speaking? High/Medium/Low

7. Were you speaking with conviction? Mostly/Occasionally/Least

Daily compare the completed format with that of the previous day and observe the trend of progress. Initially, there is likelihood to be slow progress, which with passage of days would appear to be erratic and eventually move in a steady, positive direction. Over a period of time, you would be able to find out whether you are on the improvement path and also ascertain the extent of improvement marginal, reasonable, considerable. Depending on the progress, plan your next steps repeat the same practice, intensify the practice through appropriate mix of homely and alien environment, be alert during practice and so on.

Friendly Beckoning
Those of you, who have not yet warmed up to start practising, ask yourselves what really prevents from beginning the exercise. Answer honestly. If it is laziness or no sound reason, begin now, as it is better late than never.