Spring is a time of change; there is a sense of hope and optimism in the air which encourages us to take action. As work takes up so much of our time and energy, this can be a great time of year to apply for a promotion, or a new job, if you feel you have more to offer.

A new job can bring excitement, fresh challenges, opportunities for learning and development and maybe financial gains. It might help you to make better use of your skills, help improve your work life balance or give you a chance to do something you are passionate about.

In addition a new job can push you out of your comfort zone. You may suddenly be expected to stand up and present for the first time, deliver training, manage a team, attend exhibitions or take on a customer facing role. If this is a new experience, the prospect can be daunting.

Of course, we’ve all learnt how to communicate from an early age, but not necessarily how to communicate effectively in specific situations. It is natural to feel nervous before leading a training session, delivering a pitch or dealing with customer complaints, but if you dread this aspect of your role, or have even avoided applying for a dream job because of this element, help is at hand.

How to Communicate Effectively

Effective communication is a skill that can be learnt and it isn’t all about how and what you say. There are three main phases in any interaction of this kind; preparation, delivery and review.

Preparation

Preparing yourself prior to facing any situation where you are feeling nervous can make all the difference to how things pan out. Techniques such as controlled breathing and changing our posture have been proven to help us relax and feel more confident.

When preparing notes for an interview, presentation or training, we usually focus on the key points we want to cover. This can be helpful, but it is also important to clarify what you are trying to achieve. With a clear end goal you will find it a little easier to take the steps towards success. It is also important to consider things from the other people’s perspective. What do they want from the interaction? How will what you say benefit them? We are all self-interested, so if you tailor what you say to address what they want or need, the outcome can be more positive.

Delivery

This is all about delivering your message in the way that others want to hear it. From learning to strike the right tone and projecting your voice, to responding to difficult questions and engaging your audience, we can all benefit from learning how to communicate effectively.

Review

It is human nature for us to focus on what didn’t go to plan. After a challenging situation, are you rewarding yourself for getting through it or thinking about the hat unexpected question that caught you off guard, the necessary adaption when technology failed you or the chunk of information that you forgot to say? Chances are it’s the errors.

Often these ‘terrible mistakes’ go unnoticed by the audience, but we can really beat ourselves up about them. By changing to focus and recognising what we have achieved we become better equipped to move forward, rather than holding ourselves back.

Taking Action

The best way to learn is to practice in a comfortable and supportive environment. Partners With You offers interactive group coaching that teaches you communication skills that enable you to develop your confidence in those difficult situations. If you are ready to take action, visit our website to find out more.