Verbal Communication Skills: Examples & How To Improve Them

Employers actively seek out individuals that possess certain skills. Verbal communication skills are among some of the more valued skills within the workplace because they typically indicate a conscientious and an effective employee.

In this article, we'll explain what verbal communication skills are, provide some examples, list ways to improve your verbal communication skills, give tips for utilizing them in a work setting and examine how you can highlight them when searching for employment.

Related: Client Communication: Its Elements and 5 Ways To Improve It

What are verbal communication skills?

Verbal communication requires a specific set of skills that focus on utilizing words to convey information to those around you. Though the term refers to both written and spoken communication, it is primarily used when describing communicating through speech.

The element in this type of communication that quantifies it as being verbal centers around an individual's choice of words as well as how they are received and eventually interpreted. For this article, we will be primarily focusing on spoken verbal skills.

To be an effective verbal communicator, it takes more than simply speaking. Verbal skills are comprised of how you deliver information as well as how you receive messages from others.

Related: What Are Soft Skills? (Definition, Examples and Resume Tips)

Examples of verbal communication skills

Within the realm of verbal communication, there are two major aspects that you must excel in:

Effective speaking

Unsurprisingly, being able to communicate effectively through speech is one of the cornerstones of verbal communication skills. The ability to speak effectively involves three major areas:

Word choice

The appropriate word choices will vary with different situations, topics and audiences. For example, you would speak differently to a colleague than you would in a conference room full of clients. Additionally, the subject matter would likely be very different. Regardless of the scenario, words should always be chosen carefully.

Related: Ultimate Guide To Attention-Grabbing Words

Delivery

How you deliver information can have a huge impact on the message you're trying to convey. You should be aware of the pace and tone of your voice when communicating with others to ensure that you are delivering your words intentionally.

Reinforcement

Though we are focusing on verbal skills, nonverbal communication plays a major role in effectively speaking. The cues that you send through body gestures and facial expressions affect how your audience perceives the information you're delivering. For example, you can indicate through nonverbal cues if you are anxious, committed, interested or bored, so be sure that your body language matches the words you are saying as well as your intent.

Related: When To Speak Up at Work (And Why It Matters)

Active listening

It can be easy to become focused on planning your response rather than listening to the other person when having a conversation. However, to be a truly effective verbal communicator, you must also be a good listener. Here are a few ways to practice and improve your active listening:

• Focus on the speaker and what they are saying. Wait to formulate your reply until after they have finished talking.

• Maintain an open mind. It's imperative that you truly hear their message before making snap judgments based on prejudices or stereotypes.

• Avoid concentrating on certain aspects of the speaker's message exclusively. Instead, attempt to understand their overall message as well as their primary points.

• Keep distractions at a minimum. If necessary, suggest moving to a quieter area or turning your phone on silent.

Related: 4 Types of Communication and How To Improve Them

How to improve your verbal communication skills

Verbal communication can be a challenge for some more than others. Regardless of your natural inclination, you can take steps to improve your verbal communication skills and build deeper relationships with others. Here are a few things you can do to improve this set of skills:

1. Use reinforcement

You can improve your verbal communication by consciously encouraging others during a conversation, also referred to as reinforcement. Reinforcement shows the other party that you are listening and helps to build rapport by letting the person know that you are hearing and understanding them. This can be accomplished with verbal and non-verbal cues alike. Some of the non-verbal gestures you can use to reinforce others include maintaining eye contact, smiling and nodding your head

Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool that can accomplish many things, such as:

• Minimize nervousness in others as well as yourself

• Convey openness and warmth

• Offer reassurance

• Develop meaningful relationships

• Communicate interest in what others have to say

• Encourage others to join a conversation or discussion

Related: How To Communicate Effectively With a Difficult Team

2. Ask questions

Questioning can be a great way to obtain clarification, test one's understanding of something or reach out for support. However, it's also a useful tool when attempting to convey interest, initiate a conversation or entice others to join a conversation. There are two primary types of questions:

• Open questions: Open questions encourage elaboration or discussion. They typically take a bit longer to answer, therefore furthering a conversation and encouraging involvement from others. An example of an open question would be, "What did you do yesterday?"

• Closed questions: Closed questions, on the other hand, only require a simple answer. These responses are typically only a few words and allow the person to ask them to maintain control of the conversation. Therefore, these types of questions are typically avoided when attempting to encourage verbal communication. An example of a closed question would be "Did you finish the assignment?"

3. Check for clarification

Periodically checking with the other person to make sure that you are understanding what they are saying is called reflecting and is a skill often employed in counseling. Though its origin may be clinical, reflecting is a powerful way to check for clarification. The process usually involves paraphrasing the feelings as well as the message and then repeating them back to the other person. Aside from providing clarity, here are some of its other advantages:

• It shows the other person that you are trying to understand things from their perspective

• It demonstrates respect and genuine interest in what they have to say

• It allows the speaker to explain or expound on the topic if they'd like

Related: Communication Mediums: 5 Types (Plus Choosing the Right One)

4. Summarize the main points

Though similar to reflecting, summarizing is more focused on reviewing the information discussed to reach an agreement and ensure that all parties involved understand the expectations or next steps. This technique is often used after a meeting and provides an overview of the major issues that were discussed.

Related: 7 Types of Nonverbal Communication (With Examples and Tips)

Verbal communication skills in the workplace

Effective communication is vital in almost every aspect of life but especially within the workplace. Without proper communication, organizations are unable to function efficiently and effectively.

There are various contexts for interaction within a work environment, such as consulting engagements, sales pitches, disciplinary sessions, individual discussions, performance reviews, conference room meetings, presentations and training sessions. Additionally, there are many different relationships and people that you will have to communicate with verbally, including audiences, speakers, students, teachers, clients, employees, supervisors and coworkers.

Here are a few tips for using your verbal communication skills in a work setting:

• Be observant: Nonverbal cues can be extremely communicative, so if possible, practice being aware of how both you and your coworkers are using body language. It's important to pay attention to what you may be saying with your movements and facial expressions whether it's intentionally or subconsciously.

• Remain calm: Ideally, you would be able to avoid conflict while at work. However, disagreements do occur so try your best to refrain from allowing your communications to become emotional. Maintaining an even tone and calm body language can increase the likelihood that you will be able to reach a solution.
  Empathize: Empathy is a powerful tool that will enrich the relationships in every aspect of your life. By attempting to understand the goals, ideas and feelings of your coworkers, you will be able to communicate with them more effectively.

• Be clear and concise: There are times when providing context is both necessary and beneficial. However, it can improve the efficiency and understanding of both you and your coworkers to practice consolidating your message into its core meaning. In turn, this will reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings, aid the ability of others to grasp goals and increase productivity.

Related: Top 10 Communication Skills for Career Success

How to highlight verbal communication skills

Verbal communication skills are soft skills that are valued by every employer. To demonstrate to potential employers that it is a skill that you possess, you will need to highlight those qualities. Here are some ways that you can draw attention to your verbal communication skills at each step of the hiring process:

For a resume

Writing is a form of verbal communication. Therefore, a great place to demonstrate your ability to effectively communicate is by crafting a resume that is properly structured and free of any grammatical or spelling errors.

Take some time to ensure that your descriptions are clear and concise and be sure to incorporate some communication skills in the skills section of your resume. Additionally, pay attention to job descriptions and, while remaining truthful, tailor your skills to match specific qualities that the employer is looking for in a candidate.

Related: 8 Types of Positive Verbal Communication for Interviewing

For a cover letter

As with a resume, a cover letter will provide an employer with an initial and extremely informative indication of your verbal communication skills. Take some time to detail your abilities but, more importantly, draft a cover letter that is well-written, free from errors, brief and tailored specifically to the position that you are applying for. To accomplish this, be sure to research the position beforehand and proofread your work before submitting the cover letter.

For an interview

It's important that you display positive verbal communication skills during an interview. Aside from adhering to the proper etiquette (such as showing up 10-15 minutes early and dressing professionally), you will also need to pay special attention to your verbal and nonverbal cues. Remain calm and confident, maintain eye contact and listen actively. Additionally, you can demonstrate your interest and communication skills by asking your interviewer open questions.

Related: A Guide To Acing the Interview