Tips for better communication in 2022
Can you remember life before cell phones, social media, and email? We’re not sure we can either!
With so many communication methods available these days, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the variety of ways to get in touch with the people in your life.
If you want to better communicate with everyone you know, here are some predictions about how 2022 will change the way we communicate with each other.
Learn about body language
Did you know that 55% of communication is nonverbal? How can you communicate without words when it comes to business?
Learning how to read body language is a useful skill in understanding what your coworkers, boss, and clients really mean.
Start by learning about how different facial expressions (the eyes are especially important) signal distinct emotions and then check out these tips for listening like a pro.
The more you learn about body language, the easier it will be to understand other people's feelings and thoughts.
Focus on nonverbal communication
Did you know that 92% of communication is nonverbal?
That’s a lot of value being left on the table by not paying attention to things like posture, facial expressions, and gestures.
At work, in relationships, and at home, it’s important to understand what people are telling you through these mediums.
Developing an eye for detail can help you pick up on nonverbal cues more quickly. If you see your coworker slouching with her head down, she might be upset about something.
If your significant other glances away when you ask him how his day was, he might be hiding something from you.
And if your child avoids making eye contact with you when he tells a lie, he’ll be easier to catch in his fibs.
It’s all about empathy: In 2022, people will have become more empathetic than ever before.
Focus on eye contact
This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s amazing how often we ignore someone or let our minds wander while looking at them.
Eye contact can change everything: It keeps you engaged with your audience, shows that you respect their time and attention, and makes you look professional and confident.
It also shows that you’re present in your interactions—something most people value. So make eye contact!
The next time you meet someone new, try to hold his or her gaze for about three seconds before moving on to something else.
The same goes when communicating via phone or video chat.
Looking away too quickly sends mixed signals (are you bored? Are you not interested?), so try to hold your gaze until the other person looks away first.
In fact, research has shown that holding eye contact increases trust and cooperation between two parties by as much as 55 percent!
Learn about the tone of voice
The tone of voice is a term used to describe how a text message, tweet, or email sounds. In 2022, businesses will focus more on the tone of voice as they work with their customers.
As a result, it will be important to recognize when you need to change your tone to reach your audience.
For example, if your content feels too salesy or informal in an attempt to connect with customers, you’ll want to adjust your communication style so it reads better on all platforms.
You can do that by making sure your tone fits with what people expect from each channel—for instance, avoid overly casual language when pitching investors and keep messages short and sweet for Twitter.
A strong understanding of the tone of voice can help you communicate effectively across multiple channels and improve customer relationships over time.
Learn about vocabulary level
When communicating with non-native English speakers, make sure to pay attention to their vocabulary level.
If you talk over their head, they will feel uncomfortable.
Instead, speak at a lower level and gradually raise your conversation partner’s understanding until you can communicate more advanced ideas.
This is an effective way to learn about others and allow them to feel included in your conversation.
Remember that communication should be two-way; make sure you ask questions to ensure your message has been received correctly.
A Guide To Communicating With Your Future Self:
As technology advances, it becomes easier and easier to stay connected on a regular basis—and that means it becomes increasingly difficult to go weeks or months without talking to friends or family members.
One day soon, we may even be able to see our friends through virtual reality or video chat with them no matter where we are located in the world.
Pay attention to the following questions
What channels will be used to communicate in 2022?
How many communication channels are we using now and how many will we use in 2022? Will voice recognition replace keyboards altogether?
Will there still be an email inbox or something similar where you can see all of your received messages or will they all be stored in one universal place, accessible through your search engines or artificial intelligence assistants, perhaps inside our glasses?
Learn to be a good listener
A major source of conflict in relationships is miscommunication—not listening, not paying attention to each other.
I can tell you from experience that being a good listener has many advantages:
it helps you understand your partner’s needs and keeps both people engaged in conversation;
it strengthens your relationship with them; and ultimately, it helps foster great communication in every area of your life.
So how do you become a better listener? Practice! Here are some tips on becoming an active, attentive listener.
Summary
It’s no secret that we could all be a little better at communication.
If you want to up your interpersonal skills, then pay attention to these 2022 predictions—they’ll have you communicating like a pro in no time.
By knowing what lies ahead, you can learn how to make small changes now that will have huge impacts later on. Here are some of our favorite predictions
1. You’ll stop using email for everything:
Email is great for sending important documents and sharing links with people, but it isn’t very effective when it comes to things like asking questions or scheduling meetings.
With instant messaging and video calling becoming more popular every day, an email will become obsolete as a primary form of communication by 2022.
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