If you want to become a confident communicator, there are five golden rules you must always follow. Here they are.
Rule No. 1: Eye contact.
Maintain eye contact with the person you are communicating with. If you struggle with direct eye contact, you have three alternative options. Option number one is to look anywhere along the bridge of their nose. Option number two is to look between their eyebrows. And option number three is to look anywhere across their forehead. If you choose any of these options, it tells the person you are communicating with that they have your full attention.
Rule No. 2: Pause before you speak.
This is incredibly powerful. For example, if someone says to you at work, “How do you think we should tackle this problem?” Do this. Pause. Then say, “I think we should tackle this problem in the following two ways.” When you pause before you speak, it tells the person you are communicating with that you have control of the conversation, and it gives you authority.
Rule No. 3: Avoid filler words.
Have you ever noticed people who you communicate with use filler words like “um,” “like,” “basically,” “you know”? Do not use any of these filler words. They are your worst enemy. Instead, make sure you pause before you speak.
Rule No. 4: Use numbers.
Make sure you use numbers whenever you are communicating with anyone. You will notice I use this rule all the time in my teachings. “I will teach you three things in this lesson.” “I recommend we tackle this problem in the following two ways.” Or you could say, “There is one thing we need to focus on when completing this project.” Whenever you use numbers in your communication, it creates curiosity and it builds anticipation.
Rule No. 5: Listen more than you speak.
This one is often overlooked. However, I want you to start using this rule right now. There is a brilliant saying that goes like this: “The smartest person in the room is the one who speaks last.” When you listen, it allows you to gather vital information that then empowers you to deliver your message with confidence and clarity.
If you can apply these five rules consistently, you will stand out in meetings, conversations, and job interviews. Which rule will you start using today?
