Making Your Opinions Matter in 2019

The idea of communicating thoughts effectively and precisely has been modified to fit our modern day needs.

One of the first articles I wrote about dealt with communication and how to maintain efficient and strong communication with those around you, especially for those of us (like myself) who will be soon working in the business industry, where being able to communicate well to your boss or coworkers can matter more than whether or not you were part of the all-star debate team in college. Something that I had been noticing for a while, both in my college and outside of it, was that it doesn’t really matter if one’s resume is outstanding and unique in terms of academic prowess; if you are able to speak the right way and – more importantly – listen – to others, you will find that doors will begin to open to usher in new opportunities. Everyone likes a person who can talk, but everyone LOVES a person who can talk, listen, AND converse with others.

There are TWO important tips to improving communication:

1. “Lend me your ears”

Though the circumstances for Marc Antony’s speech during the climax of Julius Caesar were nowhere near positive, the line uttered by Antony still has context even today – just not in the way most people would think. It all comes down to one thing – initiative. Without it, one would not be able to contribute productively, lead others with visions, or even progress in relationships, be it with immediate family members or total strangers. And it isn’t like we are lacking in initiative or potential to take the reins of life: we all have some part of us that wants to take control of our journey.

Part of the reason why there are those with initiative and those without is due to the lack of openness that many of us, due to the many different things that we can stick in ears as well as cover them up (namely AirPods, headphones, and what have you), it is easy to get caught up in our own worlds and become lost in a world of comfort. Sure, it is great to occasionally lose yourself in a familiar world of pop music or gritty TV shows, but it is important to disconnect from that world and explore what reality has in store for you; no one got anywhere important or significant without doing a little trial-and-error exploring here and there.

2. Ask, ask, ask…

Other than asking the occasional food question, Snoopy proves that it is important to think about even the most simple things – and slap a question on it. Same goes for everyone else – if there is even the most slightest doubt about something, go ahead and question it. There is never “a dumb question”, and the worst question “is the one never asked” but let’s be honest here: no one was born with the database the size of Wikipedia. During anything from an elevator pitch to a job interview to even dinners with the family, asking questions shows that you are not only engaged with what is going on around you but also you are genuinely trying to give an effort in your current task.

Asking questions is one of the most underrated tools of efficient communication; today’s age sees the massive usage of search engines such as Google to find the answers to questions on a daily basis. Asking a real-life person who has had experience in a certain subject is just as rewarding as tapping away on the Internet and the ability to properly articulate the questions and converse with a single individual will show others your capability to communicate in a smart and time-efficient manner.

There is something to be learned when communicating with someone, regardless of how different they may be from you. However, with the right planning, tips, and mindset, anyone can engage in proper and beneficial communication to propel themselves into a higher standard of themselves.