Are You Able to Balance Speaking and Listening to Build Trust?

Communication styles differ between people and heavily influence your connection with colleagues and clients. Respectfulness is always prioritized, however, keep in mind being polite and professional may not be enough.

Being direct and clear is also essential but should not be mixed up with being aggressive, as a confrontational approach may make listeners see you in a negative light. The best speakers should convey openness and transparency.

To be considered an active listener includes more than just nodding and agreeing. Being observant and engaging with what someone is saying, not only through your responses but also through your tone and body language, shows that you are being attentive. Encouraging open dialogue so that people can see that you are candid is important for experiencing rewarding interactions with others.

Having to balance both being an effective speaker and listener can be tricky. Staying on topic while continuing a discussion that is interesting to both parties takes practice. Sharing personal opinions and stories can help to keep a dialogue going, but if you cross a boundary or overshare, this can impact not only the conversation, but also your relationship with someone. Therefore, it is necessary to be mindful of boundaries and respect diverse norms when navigating a conversation.

Ask our communication coaches how you can make strong connections with your target audience!

 

By Emily Chu, B.A.

NCCA Canada Events Coordinator

 

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