The Science of speaking: Techniques to improve your communication skills

Do you know why some people are able to captivate their audience when speaking while others struggle to even make their point? The answer lies in the science of speaking. Effective communication isn't magic and doesn’t happen overnight. It is a skill that is built on various techniques, regular practise, and understanding the audience. The good news is that you can train yourself to be a confident speaker who can express yourself in any language, whether it's English, French, German, or any other language. Are you ready to improve your communication skills? Join us today to explore simple, fun techniques and real-life examples! 

Understand the science behind communication 

According to Albert Mehrabian, a researcher of body language, in face-to-face communication, only 7% of communication is about the words you use. The rest is tone (38%) and body language (55%). This is a great way to understand that words are only one part of communication. Your tone, body language, and listening skills are just as important. This means how you say something matters significantly. 

• Brains love clarity: That’s why clear messages are so much easier to understand and remember in the long run. 
• Connections lead to understanding: When you ask your audience questions and keep them engaged, they will feel more connected to you. 
• Confidence inspires trust: People are more willing to listen and trust speakers who sound confident and sure of themselves. 

Elements of effective communication 

Communication might be just one word, but it carries a world of meaning. At its core, it is made up of five key principles. When communicating, it’s important to be clear, cohesive, complete, concise, and concrete. Let’s break down these five C’s of communication: 

1. Clear: Keep your message simple and easy to understand. Try to avoid long sentences or complicated words as much as possible. 
2. Cohesive: Stay on topic and make sure your ideas flow logically. Each sentence, topic and idea should connect to the next. 
3. Complete: Don’t leave your audience guessing. Share all the important and supporting details to conclude the overall message. 
4. Concise: Every word counts. Get to the main point with fewer words and delete the unnecessary sentences. 
5. Concrete: Use specific words with real-life examples to make your point. It will help your audience understand your ideas and make them more relatable. 

Techniques to improve your communication skills 

Whether it’s your professional or personal life, improving your communication can help you prevent misunderstandings, build trust, strengthen your relationships and share your ideas effectively. Let’s take a look at some simple and practical techniques to improve your communication skills: 

1. Practise active listening 

Good communicators understand that there are times when you just need to listen to others and not speak. It’s important to focus on what the other person says instead of planning a reply in your head. Listen to them carefully and repeat the key points when replying to show you understand. 

2. Speak slowly and clearly 

There’s no competition going on to see who can speak the fastest. There’s no point in communicating if others can’t understand you. Don't rush your words; slow down, and speak slowly and clearly. Give your listeners appropriate time to absorb and understand your words. Practise regularly to avoid fillers like “um” or “uh” when speaking. 

3. Use gestures and expressions 

As you learned earlier, when communicating face-to-face, your body language is responsible for almost 55% of your message. Master non-verbal cues like smiling, nodding, and hand gestures to make your message more engaging. Maintain good posture and use gestures and facial expressions to enhance your message. 

4. Communicate through stories 

For as long as there have been humans, there have been stories. Humans are genetically built to tell stories and remember important events through story-telling Adding real-life examples and presenting them as a story will help your audience to understand you better and remember your ideas for years. 

5. Master voice modulation techniques 

Your tone plays an important role when you are talking to somebody, especially to a group of people. It’s important to change your tone and volume to emphasize certain points or draw attention to others. Practise speaking loudly to grab attention and pause to let others absorb your words and reflect on your ideas. 

To improve your communication skills, you must understand its core elements, the science of speaking, and apply various techniques. By focusing on speaking clearly and confidently and forming a connection with your audience, you can be a charismatic speaker who is in control of the conversation. If you want some professional guidance, check out our language courses. You can choose from English, French or German classes to learn a new language and communicate effectively.