Verbal communication skills are important in every aspect of our lives. These skills are extremely important in both your personal and professional life. In fact, almost every job requires strong verbal communication skills.
Students with strong verbal communication skills are highly valued by employers. According to the National Assistance of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 69.6% of employers want candidates with strong verbal communication skills.
In schools, students may require verbal communication skills to make presentations, share their points during lectures, and engage in conversations with their teachers and fellow students. Teachers also need verbal communication skills to convey information to students and colleagues.
In this article, you will learn the definition of verbal communication, examples of verbal communication, the advantages and disadvantages of verbal communication, and ways to improve your verbal communication skills.
Table of Contents
What are Verbal Communication Skills?
Verbal communication includes the use of spoken words to share information with other people. Although, verbal communication may include the use of written words.
Verbal communication skills include more than speaking abilities. They include how you receive and deliver messages verbally.
Some of the effective verbal communication skills include:
- Active listening
- Speaking clearly and concisely
- Giving feedback when necessary
- Using appropriate language and tone
- Identifying and responding to non-verbal cues
- Allowing people to take without interrupting
- Speaking with confidence.
Types of Verbal Communication
There are four main types of verbal communication, which include:
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Intrapersonal Communication
Intrapersonal communication is a type of communication that occurs internally. In simple words, intrapersonal communication involves talking to yourself.
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Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal communication, also known as one-on-one communication takes place between two people. It can either be face-to-face, on the phone or via online platforms. In this type of communication, information is shared between two people.
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Small Group Communication
Small group communication takes place when more than two people are sharing information. In this type of communication, everyone has the opportunity to talk and interact with each other.
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Public communication
Public communication takes place when one person (speaker) conveys information to a large group of people at the same time. In this type of communication, the speaker does most of the talking, and listeners are given chances to ask questions.
What are the Examples of Verbal Communication?
There are several examples of verbal communication, in fact, it is the most used method of communication.
Below are some examples of verbal communication:
- Press conferences
- Board meetings
- Election campaigns
- Public speeches
- Video conference
- Voice notes
- Phone calls
- Preaching in Churches
- Debates
- Presentations
- Dialogue in films, tv shows e.t.c
- Lectures
- Singing
- TV commercials etc.
Advantages of Verbal Communication
Verbal communication has a lot of advantages, some of which include:
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Helps in expressing yourself
Verbal communication is one of the most effective ways to express yourself. You can easily share your ideas, thoughts, emotions, and experiences through verbal communication.
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Saves time
Verbal communication is less time-consuming. Sharing information verbally saves time compared to writing a letter or email.
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Provides instant feedback
Verbal communication can generate instant feedback, unlike written communication. During presentations or meetings, you can ask questions and get instant responses.
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Less expensive
Verbal communication is one of the cheapest means of communication. You can easily have a face-to-face conversation with a colleague without spending a dime.
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It is more secretive
Information shared verbally can be kept as a secret, unless when recorded.
For instance, you can easily whisper into someone’s ear and the person next to them won’t know the information you shared.
Disadvantages of Verbal Communication
Verbal communication has a lot of benefits but it also has a few limitations. Here are the limitations of verbal communication:
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Can cause language barriers
Language barriers can occur when you are communicating with someone who doesn’t understand your language.
Verbal communication can not be used when you are communicating with someone who doesn’t understand your language, otherwise, it will cause a language barrier.
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Poor retention
Your audience may not be able to retain information conveyed through spoken words for a long time.
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Does not provide a permanent record
Verbal communication doesn’t provide records for future reference unless it was recorded. It cannot be used as evidence in legal cases.
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Can be easily interrupted
Noise and other forms of distraction can easily distort verbal communication.
For example, during presentations, someone’s phone can ring and the sound of the phone can make it difficult to hear the speaker.
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Not suitable for lengthy messages
Verbal communication is not suitable for transmitting lengthy messages. Long speeches consume a lot of time and can be unproductive most times.
Your audience can also easily lose interest before the end of the speech.
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Not suitable for communicating with distant people
Verbal communication is not suitable for conveying messages to people far away from you. Use written communication to convey messages to distant people.
Tips to Improve Effective Verbal Communication
Verbal communication is used in almost every field of life. So, it is important to have effective communication skills.
Below are the tips to improve effective verbal communication skills:
- Be prepared
- Consider your audience
- Be clear and concise
- Be mindful of your body language
- Speak with confidence
- Be mindful of your tone
- Practice active listening
- Think before you speak
- Avoid using filler words
- Practice.
1. Be prepared
Before any speech, conversation, or presentation, make sure you fully understand the topic you are going to talk about. Understanding a topic will help you improve the way you talk about the topic.
You can research the topic, jot down some ideas, and check if the ideas match the topic.
2. Consider your audience
To communicate effectively, you must keep your audience in mind and put yourself in their position.
You can understand your audience by considering the following factors:
- The needs of your audience
- Their level of knowledge and experience
- The tone appropriate for your audience.
Understanding your audience will help you convey messages to them in a very easy way.
3. Be clear and concise
When you are communicating through spoken words, your message should be clear and concise. Your audience must be able to understand your message and respond accordingly.
You should find a way to present your information in a few words. Avoid the use of complex words and don’t add irrelevant information in your speech.
4. Be mindful of your body language
According to Albert Mehrabian’s 7-38-55 communication rule, 7% of communication take place through spoken words, 38% takes place through tone and voice, and the remaining 55% takes place through the body we use.
Your body language can either influence your communication negatively or positively.
Whenever you are in a conversation or you are presenting to a large audience, do the following:
- Maintain eye contact and a good posture
- Avoid crossing your arms or legs
- Be relaxed; don’t stiffen your body.
You should also mind the body language of your audience. Body language like looking down, folded arms e.t.c indicates a lack of interest. Once you notice these body languages find a way to spice up your speech.
5. Speak with confidence
It is necessary to show confidence while talking. You should be confident in the message you are about to share.
If you sound like you don’t believe in your message, your audience will not believe either.
You can build confidence by preparing before you engage in conversations, presentations, or speeches. All you have to do is highlight the main points you want to talk about.
6. Be mindful of your tone
The tone is a crucial element in verbal communication, your tone can affect the way your audience interprets your message.
You should avoid using a monotone or flat tone. A monotone or flat tone indicates a lack of interest and can make you lose your audience’s attention.
Instead, use a friendly tone combined with a smile on your face, this will help you create a positive impression and reduce misinterpretation.
7. Practice active listening
Active listening is an essential part of verbal communication. If you are an active listener, you will be a good speaker.
In any form of verbal communication, including public communication, you shouldn’t be the only person talking. Your audience should be able to ask questions.
To be an active listener, do the following:
- Avoid jumping to a conclusion
- Do not interrupt
- Pay full attention
- Give feedback
- Avoid any form of distraction.
8. Think before you speak
Spoken words cannot be taken back or corrected, this is why it is advisable to think before you speak.
Whenever your audience asks questions, you should take your time to think before your respond. You need to be sure your response is accurate and organized in a clear and concise statement.
9. Avoid using filler words
During presentations or public speeches, avoid filler words like “um,” “ah,” “like,” “yeah,” “so” e.t.c. Filler words are short meaningless words, phrases, or sounds that make a pause in speech.
Too much of filler words can make you lose your audience’s attention. Your audience may think that you don’t know what you are talking about. Instead of using filler words consider taking a deep breath.
10. Practice
All skills require practice, including communication skills. Apply all the 9 tips in your daily conversations to improve your verbal communication skills.
You can practice in front of the mirror, or in the presence of your family and friends. Ask them what they think about your performance.
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Conclusion
Verbal communication is one of the most used methods of communication, especially in informal settings. It is also considered to be the oldest method of communication.
Besides high GPAs, Employers are attracted to verbal communication skills. Apart from written communication skills, verbal communication skills are among the important communication skills that should be added to your CV or Resume.
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