Improve Your Communication Skills

Regardless of the size of business you are in – whether a large corporation, a small company, or even a home-based business – effective communication skills are essential for success.

The articles in this section of Mind Tools help you to understand how to communicate your message in the best possible way.

We start with a look at some of the key ideas behind successful communication, and offer a brief quiz that helps you evaluate how effectively you communicate, so that you can identify the areas you should focus on for improvement. The articles that follow help you develop the skills you need to produce effective and inspiring spoken, written and electronic communications to individuals and groups.

To read each article in sequence, click "Next article" at the bottom of the page and, for other useful communication skills information, see the suggested 'Next Steps' and 'Extension resources' links below.

Start improving your Communication Skills with the articles below.

Communication Skills - Start Here!


How Good Are Your Communication Skills? - Take our test to see how effectively you communicate and identify key areas to improve

Making a Great First Impression

The Johari Window - Helping people understand one-another

Active Listening - Hear what people are really saying


Better Public Speaking and Presentation - Ensure your words are always understood

Speaking to an Audience - Communicate complex ideas successfully

Presentation Planning Checklist
Questioning Techniques - Asking questions effectively


Effective Email - How to communicate powerfully by email


Charts and Graphs - Choosing the right format

AIDA: Attention-Interest-Desire-Action - Inspiring action with your writing

Running Effective Meetings


Ice Breakers - Setting the scene for productive meetings


Facilitation - Guiding an event through to a successful conclusion

Win-Win Negotiation

Business Story Telling - Using stories to inspire

Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions - Understanding values around the world

Career Excellence Club Member Tools: (How to become a member)


Communications Planning - Getting the right message over, in the right way
Monroe's Motivated Sequence - Perfecting the call to act
360° Feedback - Encouraging teamwork and improving performance (sometimes!)
Empathic Listening - Going beyond active listening
Neuro-Linguistic Programming - Achieving excellence in communication

Jargon Busting - Communicating without creating barriers
Keep It Simple - Avoiding confusion and complexity
Powers of Persuasion - Understanding the dos and don’ts of persuading
Transactional Analysis - Learning the secret games people play

Role Playing - Preparing for difficult conversations and situations
Opening Closed Minds - Getting past an initial 'No'
Dealing With Unfair Criticism - Responding calmly and rationally to unwarranted criticism
Chunking - Grouping information so it's more easily understood
Ice Breakers - Easing group contribution
Running Teleconferences - Chairing effective phone meetings
Concept Attainment - Reaching a shared understanding of important ideas
Creating a Value Proposition - Clearly communicating benefits
Communicating Internationally
Delivering Bad News - Terminating employment honestly, respectfully and with dignity
Cross-Culture Communication
Communicating in a Crisis - Don't shut down communication