Listening is an important function of effective communication skills. According to the "New York Times," ideas often get distorted -- as much as 75 percent of the time -- as they move through a corporation because employees don't listen correctly. Listening is an active five-step process: receiving, understanding, remembering, evaluating and responding. Listen to the entire message, understand what the person is saying, remember what he said, think about it and respond. Utilizing this process will prevent "thinking about what you're going to say next" and help you focus on the message, writes communication scholar Joseph A. DeVito.
Communication apprehension, according to communication researcher James McCroskey, is "fear or anxiety associated with ether real or anticipate communication with another person or persons." People who suffer from communication apprehension, or CA, feel nervous about speaking, causing discomfort while communicating. Communication apprehension has varying degrees of intensity, from feeling slightly nervous to being very fearful. If you fear communicating, try deep breathing exercises. Breathe through your nose and exhale out your mouth as long as you can. Your heart rate will slow down and you will feel more relaxed, the "Public Speaking Handbook" states.
Being educated about communication improve your communication skills. Communication classes prepare people to maintain relationships, persuade bosses for promotions and present initiatives at public meetings, Lynn Hunter writes for the Communication Currents website. Communication courses offered include improving communication for small group environments, interpersonal conversation, public speaking and intercultural communication.
The more you expose yourself to speaking engagements the more comfortable you will feel communicating. The journal "Current Research in Social Psychology" reports you have more confidence about speaking the more you do it successfully. Being a good communicator takes practice. Seek out opportunities to speak to other people. Strike up a conversation at a restaurant or getting coffee. The more you practice you have, the journal advises, the more comfortable you will feel.