Communication is much more than just a release of words, emotions and gestures meant to convey a message. It’s about believability.

In an age of cut throat competition, most (if not all) of us have been victims of dishonest salespeople or con artists who’ve managed to squeeze hard earned cash from our pockets in exchange for a lame product. Social media makes it even more complicated with people seeming comfortable with a portrayal of a false image about themselves. It seems as if authenticity in communication is fast becoming less fashionable. Those who seem to talk loudest appear most likely to be given a listening ear than those who seem honest. Authenticity in communication seems to have taken a back seat. But should it?

Authenticity is being real. There should be no greater asset in communication than one who desires to be as authentic as possible. But what does it mean to be an authentic communicator? A few nuggets are drawn from Jorge Gutierrez’s article on effective communication in forbes.com.

BUILD A RAPPORT WITH YOUR AUDIENCE

Your audience is your greatest asset as a communicator. Whether you’re speaking one on one or to a crowd, having an understanding of your audience and allowing them to understand you is key. Better still, building an emotional connection with them pays in the long run. Seek to start of by identifying with your audience. Anecdotes or short stories are powerful in creating such connections. But also, humor plays a key role. However it should be used cautiously depending on the type of audience. In short seek to find a point of connection with your audience before delving into the thick of things. Rapport builds trust which is key in being seen as authentic.

BE TRUTHFUL

Being a story teller comes with its fair share of temptations one of which is the urge to flavour your stories with half truths. People may enjoy sensational stories but once they call out your dishonest bluff, your goose will be cooked. Seek to be accurate and factual as possible as you communicate. This doesn’t just apply to communicating to a crowd but also talking to your bosom friend. Half truths and lies have a way of destroying relationships that have taken ages to build. Avoid them as plague.

BE CLEAR

Clarity is like windscreen wipers while driving in a car during a heavy storm. They enable you to see where you’re headed to. In our information saturated age, its easy to lose people along the way despite packing a punch in your message. Seek to be clear about where you want to take them. Guide them and let them know the direction you desire to take. This creates anticipation which is good for communication. Clarity also helps take care of the short attention span people have been accustomed to because of social media. Seek not only to be clear about the destination but also about your way there.

LISTEN ACTIVELY

Applying listening skills is a golden opportunity to win the audience fully to your side. Listening reveals to you your audience’s mind. But mere listening is not enough. It’s even better to engage in active listening. Active listening involves non verbal cues such as nodding the head, wearing a smile, maintaining eye contact or even mirroring your audience’s gestures. Listening actively is also encouraged by those who use open ended as opposed to closed ended questions. Listening is a skill we should all choose to develop in our age today.

DELIVER A TAKE HOME

Perhaps the goal of any communication is to get to the point and deliver a take home lesson. As we communicate with others, we must seek to leave a lesson to learn or a point to act upon. Nothing deflates expectation than a good communicator lining up his audience with a good message only for him not to tell them what to do next. Remember that when people choose to listen to you, they have opted for you against a competitive field of other influencers. See it as an opportunity to point them towards a certain direction. Seek to deliver a take home message.

IN CONCLUSION

Authenticity in communication lifts us above mediocrity. It sets us on a pathway of excellence. When we are authentic, we become believable, dependable and respected. Choose to be an authentic communicator.