Communication in one-to-one is helpful when both are able to communicate in a relaxed way and ending the interaction on a positive note it must include personal and professional respect and trust for each other. It includes both listening and speaking skills.
Contents
- What does one-to-one communication mean
- Common issues faced while communicating
- Importance of one-to-one communication
- What is stopping you from communicating at your best
- Importance of Body language and Eye contact in one-to-one communication
- Tips to excel at one-to-one communication
- Conclusion
What does One-to-one Communication mean?
One-to-one communication is the type of communication wherein one person speaks to another individual through writing or through speech. Effective one-to- one communication happens when the receiver receives the message clearly.
Some examples of one-to-one communication are- Interview, talking to the opposite sex, talking to the same sex, boss, senior, parent, teacher, mentor, etc.
Some common issues that are faced by them-
-It takes time.
-Sometimes it requires a quiet place.
-It is very hard to structure a natural conversation.
-The main points and content gets lost.
-It sometimes feels forced.
-They sometimes can turn into a gossip session.
Importance of One-to-one communication
- It is the simplest and effective medium of exchange.
- It helps in solving queries which may get misunderstood by texting or call because you are unaware of they mean.
- Creates a lasting impression if done correctly.
- It helps in nurturing relationships because it involves physical touch.
- It helps in conveying what people mean in the exact manner.
- Delivering ideas.
- Grab full attention of the person with whom you are speaking.
- It is the best way of persuading people’s minds and behaviors.
- Connecting more as it is the most important social requirement of human beings.
What is stopping you from communicating at your best?
Effective communication is about understanding the emotion and intentions of another person and not just about exchange of facts and information. But sometimes when we are trying to have a conversation with others something may go wrong.
When we say one thing and the other person hears something else or interpret something else so, there is a lack of transfer of data. And other times, we are holding ourselves back because of some mental blocks that we have in our minds. These are called barriers to communication.
Some of the common mental blocks that stops you from communicating in a better way are :-
1. Initiating the conversation makes you feel uncomfortable-
- If you are meant to meet for work, then greet them first and then focus on getting your work done. Avoid unnecessary talks that can affect your work.
- If you are meeting them for the first time suppose on a date or starting a conversation with a person you don’t know, start with weather or start the talk based upon what the other person is doing at that particular point of time any circumstance comment can go right.
- start the talk by complementing them.
2. Fear of judgement-
Get rid of the assumption that they are going to judge you. They are not. You are thinking if they might judge you and the other person is also thinking that you might judge them.
That just doesn’t make any sense. Take the call of talking to them first.
3.Lack of focus-
You can never communicate effectively, if you’re out of focus, doing multiple things or planning what you’re going to speak next.
Importance of body language and eye contact in one-to-one communication
We are always transmitting information about ourselves whether we talk or not. Eye movements and eye contact works the same as well.
Human mind is designed in such a way that it judges the personality and character of an individual just by recording what the other person is doing and how he reacts in different situations. It decodes others body language and also helps you to change your own self by giving it proper directions.
1. You want to make sure that your toes pointing towards the person to whom you are speaking.
2.Secondly, Do not cross your arms, don’t put one arm on the other arm, and you are using show that your palms are open to them and use them to empathize certain points.
3. Thirdly, have your chest outwards keeping your shoulders back, keep your neck inclined with your body.
4. Don’t tilt your head downward or upward, it should be facing forward, use head movement to mean yes or no.
5. Strong eye contact is a huge indicator of confidence. Follow 80/20 rule that is spend 80% of time looking at their eyes and 20% of the time let your eyes wander just so that you maintain the balance and not look like a creep.
6. Do not have smile showing your teeth all the time because it shows these smiles shows forced and fake instead it best to have a subtle grin that projects happiness and honest at the same time.
7. The slower you move your body, the more confident you seem. Avoid clumsy movements. Don’t touch your face and play with your hair while you are having an important conversation.
8. Take more space. The more space you take up, more comfortable and confidence you seem. When you are at a desk and you have enough space spread your belongings. Drape your arms apart on your chair handle.
Want more? We have a detailed article on Body language.
Tips to excel at one-to-one communication
1.Use the bridge technique-
While communicating, if the other person suddenly stops due to nervousness or if he stops due to some other reason use this technique to guide them by asking what next or if they forgot words that they might want to use tell them that too.
2. Hand on the chin-
Put your hand on your chin to show that you are genuinely interested in them.
3. Have a positive attitude-
You be someone who is always motivated and talk with a positive attitude, the other person will love you.
4. Common topics to interact-
Have at least one common topic that you both are interested in. This will ensure you don’t have to face awkward silence.
5.Take it easy-
Don’t use heavy words if the other person is not able to catch you. Be generous and respecting. Usage of simple words makes the conversation easy going.
6. Be present-
Be fully present in that conversation. Don’t check your phone while speaking and also while listening.
7. Mindfulness-
If you find hard to concentrate on what the speaker is saying, try repeating their words in your head to understand better and also try to pick up their non-verbal to get clear on what they mean.
8. Welcoming posture-
Make sure your posture is warm and inviting. Nod occasionally, smile at them through your eyes.
9. Encourage-
Encourage the speaker to continue with small verbal comments like “yea” or “uh huh” or “ah” etc.
10. Usage of slangs-
Use slangs and jargons in a friendly way.
11. Improve your emotional quotient (EQ)-
If you listen to them carefully, you will know what type of reply, comments or answers they are looking for. Analyse what they want to listen and then respond accordingly.
12. Know what and when to speak-
Take your time to respond at the same time, provide them adequate time and space to respond.
13. Appreciation-
Always appreciate people for who they are. So be a person that puts value on the table. Give out positive vibrations.
14.Take feed backs-
Ask for help and feedback to improve from either people around you or people whom you think might help and If you find someone who is at the same page where you are, improve together by being accountable.
(Also read how to grow exponentially at work by being better at Business English)
Conclusion
Confidence is knowing that you can make contribution to the conversation. Being aware of what you speak and how you speak is a very important aspect.Moreover, what is worthwhile to one person may not be to the other person. So, do not put too much pressure on yourself. Developing advanced communication begins with simple interactions.
