7 Things I Started Doing to Improve My Communication

7 practical ways the speaker used to improve communication

1. Read more often

• Actionable tips:
  • Schedule short reading segments (e.g., at breakfast, after lunch, or instead of scrolling).
  • Keep 2–3 books in progress so you can pick according to your mood.
• Benefits:
  • Sharper thinking, larger and faster-access vocabulary, easier articulation, and stronger contributions to conversations.

2. Overcome fear of speaking

• Actionable tips:
  • Force yourself to speak up in meetings, with colleagues, and with strangers—use every opportunity to practice.
• Benefits:
  • Builds confidence, increases willingness to engage, and can unlock new opportunities (podcasts, channels, public roles).

3. Level up your conversation partners

• Actionable tips:
  • Start with “easy” partners, then intentionally seek conversations with people who are more knowledgeable, intimidating, or stronger communicators.
• Benefits:
  • Practice adapting to different styles, gain confidence across contexts, and accelerate skill growth.

4. Finish your sentences (be decisive and clear)

• Actionable tips:
  • Avoid trailing off or leaving thoughts vague; state your point fully and clearly.
• Why it matters:
  • Signals confidence and clarity, and prevents others from finishing your thoughts for you.

5. Ask more questions

• Actionable tips:
  • Use questions to deepen conversations, show curiosity, and put the focus on the other person.
• Benefits:
  • Makes others feel important, boosts your confidence, and provides an easy way for shy people to participate actively.

6. Get to the point quickly

• Actionable tips:
  • Lead with your main point, then elaborate with background, examples, or stories.
• When to use:
  • Especially important with time-pressed audiences (executives, senior leaders).

7. Analyze and model good communicators

• Method 1 — media:
  • Listen/watch intentionally, pause when you hear a useful word/phrase/tone, write it down, and use it soon after.
• Method 2 — in-person:
  • After a conversation, quickly jot what you liked about the other person’s delivery and try to replicate those techniques.
• Benefits:
  • Builds a toolbox of verbal techniques (vocabulary, phrases, tone, pacing) to borrow and practice.

Other practical tips and reminders

• Use podcasts or recorded conversations to self-review and discover habits (e.g., trailing sentences).
• Implement newly learned techniques promptly in real conversations to reinforce them.
• In workplace communication, prioritize brevity and clarity.

Presenters / sources

• Video host: unnamed leadership coach / creator (speaker)
• Executive Impressions (speaker’s business/podcast referenced)
• Referenced formats: YouTube videos and podcast interviews (used for analysis and practice)