Practice Makes Perfect

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Practice Makes Perfect: Developing Communication

Welcome back to Speaking Clearly with Yakut! 😃 Practice is one important but commonly disregarded principle that I'd wish to talk about as we continue our exploration of what makes communication work. Whether it be presenting something to an audience, negotiating with business clients, or even just talking among close friends, communication is an art that requires grooming and perfecting at every step. And the only way anyone can get good at anything is by doing the same thing over and over again.

Why Practice Matters
Like anything else, this is a skill that gets better with practice. The more use, the more natural and confident one becomes with it. Practice will help you to tighten and perfect your message, enhance your delivery, and know your audience inside and out. It can also build in opportunities to make mistakes, learn from them, and adjust your approach.

It is a fact that we cannot all be great communicators overnight. It takes some time, effort, and just a readiness to place one's self in challenging situations. But over time, with each conversation, presentation, or even interaction, one will get better and effective in handling how to express themselves.

Key Areas to Practice

  1. Public Speaking: The more you speak in front of people, the more comfortable it will get. Start with small groups, gradually moving on to bigger ones. Practice articulation, making eye contact, and appropriate body language.

  2. Listen Actively: While speaking is indispensable, so is listening. Learn to be there in conversations without getting distracted, and when responding, do so thoughtfully.

  3. Constructive Feedback: Feedback giving and receiving is part of the communication deal. Practice how you give feedback in a helpful and respectful manner, and be prepared to receive it from others.

  4. Conflict Resolution: Confrontation is where communication is at a struggle. Practice remaining cool and clearly expressing yourself, and hear what the other person is saying.




How Practice Builds Confidence


One of the most invaluable positive returns from the practice of communication comes through increased confidence. The more you practice different forms of communication, the more confident you become with your ability to express yourself effectively. In fact, this gradually leads to an improvement in your relationships, professional interactions, and overall success pertaining to both personal and professional life.

Moving Ahead


Effective communication is not like learning to ride a bike, where we have a one-time learning and live with it. It’s more about traveling in a direction of learning, practicing, and growing constantly. Whether you aim at developing your public speaking skills or mastering the art of being a good listener—keep in mind that practice is the only way to grow. In future posts, specific strategies you might use to practice communicating effectively will be discussed in detail, including role-playing, public speaking groups, and constructive conversations.

I look forward to the rest of this journey with you while working together on how to become an effective communicator. Keep at it, and you will see your results over time.

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