It’s a new year, which means it’s time to set a few lofty resolutions that will likely be forgotten about before the end of January. Look, we understand how hard it is to keep those commitments. Going to the gym every day seems daunting, and eating healthy isn’t always easy — especially on Taco Tuesdays.
If there’s one resolution worth keeping, though, it’s trying to improve your communication skills. The ability to clearly articulate your thoughts or feelings is essential for healthy relationships and successful collaboration. If you feel like your written and verbal skills could use a bit of a refresh, here are six ways to level up for 2025.
Thank-you notes are a great way to show your loved ones just how much you appreciate them. You could send a quick note via email, but some of the personal touches may get lost, and the words may fail to convey your true feelings. Handwritten thank-you notes, meanwhile, are an excellent alternative. Writing a note by hand takes time, so you can really ruminate on the positive sentiments you want to convey. Say goodbye to impersonal emails and start to communicate your gratitude on paper.
When you do write an email, don’t neglect salutations, which can help set the tone of your message. An opening salutation such as “Dear” or “Greetings” can establish positivity and camaraderie, whereas going straight into the message without any introduction may come off as curt or rude. The same can be said for closing an email — writing “Best regards” or “Thank you for your time” is an easy way to communicate respect.
For all its benefits, texting can be impersonal. All of those emojis and acronyms are handy shortcuts but can fall short in expressing a complex sentiment. If you need to talk to someone about something important, pick up the phone and give them a call instead. Having regular phone conversations keeps your communication skills honed in a way that texting doesn’t. While you can let a text sit for hours before responding, phone calls require quick responses to keep you sharp. Phone conversations are also more personal than a text message, so forgo those winky faces and “lols” and start talking over the phone.
If we may offer a suggestion for a sister publication, Word Daily (a word-of-the-day email) is an effective and convenient tool for broadening your vocabulary. If you’re tired of using the same old words in conversation, a (free!) Word Daily subscription is the perfect remedy, delivering a new word right to your email inbox each day. You’ll instantly start to broaden your lexicographical knowledge with fresh terms that make your sentences more interesting. Rather than say that someone is happy, you can describe them as “gemütlich.” Use “derring-do” when talking about an act of heroism. And instead of noting that something is “third to last,” bust out the term “antepenultimate” to wow your friends. Sign up here and you’ll begin to improve your vocabulary in no time.
A daily journal is a powerful tool for articulating and processing your feelings. Putting your thoughts down on paper each day is almost a rehearsal for the real world; the more you can understand your own perspective, the easier it’ll be to grasp the perspectives of other people. A journal also gives you a space to flesh out your thoughts in writing before you weave them into a future conversation with someone else.
Public speaking courses provide a plethora of benefits. Not only do they teach you how to be concise and express your viewpoints in the most effective means possible, but these courses also help you effectively construct arguments that resonate with others. They can even teach you how to analyze a person’s body language while talking — gestures that often say more than words ever could. Finally, a good public speaking course will leave you with more confidence than before, which is a critical skill for leading any conversation.
