Your body language is equally important, since it reveals a lot about your thoughts
and attitudes. Make sure it clearly supports the message you want to deliver. A
smile shows you are attentive to the issues being discussed, while looking away
with your arms folded can indicate disinterest and create distrust or friction.
Additionally, you should not ignore the other person’s body language, which will
give you clues as to whether the conversation is going well or not. When you notice
a change in the other person’s body language, you should adjust how you are
communicating accordingly. If someone looks at you with a confused expression,
this could indicate that they have not completely understood your point. Then you
will need to clarify your message before moving on.
While being knowledgeable about body language is vital, the value of empathy
should not be understated. Seek to understand the other person’s emotions, by
putting yourself in their shoes and looking at the situation from their perspective.
Suppose you are discussing a project with your partner, who has just lost an
important basketball game and is inactive. To engage him or her in the discussion
and make your communication more effective, you may express your sympathy by,
for instance, saying, “I understand how you feel ...” However, some issues may be
complicated and you may be confused about why others feel the way they do. Only
when you give serious consideration to their points of view will you be able to see
what accounts for their emotions and empathize with them. You may not approve
of their ideas but at least you will see where they are coming from, which means
you can make adjustments to your own tone and choice of words accordingly.