Do you ever feel like you know what you want to say, but when it comes time to use your words, they get jumbled? It happens to the best of us, and it can be uncomfortable or embarrassing when it does. There are ways of communicating more effectively which are learned skills.

Through my years as a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), I’ve worked with individuals who needed to brush up on their professional communication skills. These people may have initially come to me for accent modification, treatment of dysfluencies, or articulation treatment. In almost every situation, they also benefitted from brushing up on their basic and high-level communication skills as well. SLPs can help.

We want to be clear and concise when we’re talking to people, especially when we’re trying to make a good impression. Here are 7 Helpful Hints to communicate more clearly.

1. Focus on one main point at a time.
2. Think before you speak – take a breath – start by introducing the topic
3. Keep it simple

• • • • Get to your main point quickly
      • Elaborate using stories, examples and analogies
      • Loop back to the main point, repeat it, and paraphrase it to reinforce it

4. Regulate your vocal volume
5. Focus on pronunciation – articulation, intonation, and stress
6. Remove filler words – use a pause in place
7. Monitor your audience – body language, bored? Confused?

Always remember that nobody is perfect and we all “slip up.” We’re human after all. If someone was having an “off” day and not communicating as effectively as they could be, would you point it out and make them feel bad about it? Probably not. We try to give others grace when they make mistakes. We should remember that we deserve the same. We always judge ourselves more harshly. Be kind to yourself.

In many cases, the listener didn’t even notice anything was amiss. More on that in a future blog post….