Improve Your

Communication Skills

Unlock effective communication. Understand, and be understood.

	Play this video for our quick guide to these resources.

Regardless of the size of business you are in – whether a large corporation, a small company, or even a home-based business – effective communication skills are essential for success.

The articles in this section of Mind Tools help you to understand how to communicate your message in the best possible way.

We start with a look at some of the key ideas behind successful communication, and offer a brief quiz that helps you evaluate how effectively you communicate, so that you can identify the areas you should focus on for improvement. The articles that follow help you develop the skills you need to produce effective and inspiring spoken, written and electronic communications to individuals and groups.

To read each article in sequence, click "Next article" at the bottom of the page and, for other useful communication skills information, see the suggested 'Next Steps' and 'Extension resources' links below.

Start improving your Communication Skills with the articles below.

	Communication Skills - Start Here!
	How Good Are Your Communication Skills? - Take our test to see how effectively you communicate and identify key areas to improve
	Making a Great First Impression
	The Johari Window - Helping people understand one-another
	Active Listening - Hear what people are really saying
	Better Public Speaking and Presentation - Ensure your words are always understood
	Speaking to an Audience - Communicate complex ideas successfully
	Presentation Planning Checklist
	Questioning Techniques - Asking questions effectively
	Effective Email - How to communicate powerfully by email
	Writing Skills - Before you write it down, know this
	Charts and Graphs - Choosing the right format
	AIDA: Attention-Interest-Desire-Action - Inspiring action with your writing
	Running Effective Meetings
	Ice Breakers - Setting the scene for productive meetings
	Facilitation - Guiding an event through to a successful conclusion
	Win-Win Negotiation
	Business Story Telling - Using stories to inspire
	Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions - Understanding values around the world
Career Excellence Club Member Tools: (How to become a member)
	Communications Planning - Getting the right message over, in the right way
	Monroe's Motivated Sequence - Perfecting the call to act
	360° Feedback - Encouraging teamwork and improving performance (sometimes!)
	Empathic Listening - Going beyond active listening
	Neuro-Linguistic Programming - Achieving excellence in communication
	Jargon Busting - Communicating without creating barriers
	Keep It Simple - Avoiding confusion and complexity
	Powers of Persuasion - Understanding the dos and don'ts of persuading
	Transactional Analysis - Learning the secret games people play
	Role Playing - Preparing for difficult conversations and situations
	Opening Closed Minds - Getting past an initial 'No'
	Dealing With Unfair Criticism - Responding calmly and rationally to unwarranted criticism
	Chunking - Grouping information so it's more easily understood
	Ice Breakers - Easing group contribution
	Running Teleconferences - Chairing effective phone meetings
	Concept Attainment - Reaching a shared understanding of important ideas
	Creating a Value Proposition - Clearly communicating benefits
	Communicating Internationally
	Delivering Bad News - Terminating employment honestly, respectfully and with dignity
	The Rhetorical Triangle - Making your writing credible, appealing and logical
	Assertiveness - Getting what you want or need by working WITH people, not against them
	Giving and Receiving Feedback - Keeping team member performance high
	Delivering Great Presentations - Communicating effectively
	Cross-Culture Communication
	Communicating in a Crisis - Don't shut down communication
Next steps:
	Download the Communication Skills Section - download the free articles in the Mind Tools Communication Skills section in PDF format. Print or store on your PC to review at your leisure.
	Subscribe to our FREE eNewsletter - discover new career skills every two weeks, PLUS receive our Communication Skills Workbook worth US$19.99 FREE when you subscribe. Subscribe here, and download now!
	Join the Mind Tools Career Excellence Club - benefit your life and career with online access to skills training, resources, coaching and support from professional trainers and our unique community. Download the “Career Booster” workbook plus 3 others FREE (worth US$121), when you sign up at our special introductory rate! Click here to find out more.

In the next article we consider the importance and theory of effective communication and how you can remove barriers at each stage of the communication process. To read it, click "Next Article" below.

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Where to go from here:		Join Mind Tools Club		Free eNewsletter
		Download and Print		Next article

Extension Resources (Not included in the Mind Tools E-book.)

Body Language - Understanding non-verbal communication
Writing Reports - Using the business report format
Giving and Receiving Feedback - Keeping team member performance high
Empathy at Work - Developing skills to understand other people
Managing Presentation Nerves - Coping with the fear within
How Good Are Your Presentation Skills? - Understanding your impact
Thinking On Your Feet - Staying cool and confident under pressure
Planning a Workshop - Organizing and running a successful event
Conflict Resolution - Resolving conflict rationally and effectively
Cross-Cultural Business Etiquette - Learning the ins and outs of global business

Tool/Resource Finder - Explore every Mind Tools article by skill area, in list format

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