Guidelines for Improving Verbal Communication

A critical guideline for effective verbal communication is to engage in dual perspective. This involves being person centered so that we recognize another person’s perspective and communicate accordingly. We have to be sensitive to other’s viewpoints and show that respectful consideration in our communication.

1.     Engage in dual perspective: if there are people who speak in the group who speak different local language other than English, it is best to communicate with everyone in one common language such as English. That way we avoid the confusion and humiliation of other who cannot speak the local language.

2.     Own our feelings and thoughts: Effective communicators take responsibility of themselves by using language that owns their thoughts and feelings by using I language rather than You language.

3.     Respect what other say about their feelings and thoughts: We should not speak for others when they can speak for themselves by assuming how they feel or think.