At the end of this lesson you should continue to be developing self-awareness; and be improving your communication skills.

Express Your Message

Being able to express yourself well is a vital part of effective communication. While your knowledge of a language will affect the words you choose, "express" is a verb meaning to convey (a thought or feeling) in words or by gestures and conduct.

To say what you want to say well and clearly you need to consider the following:

• What do I want to say?
• How do I want to say it? This includes what language you would like to communicate in as well as what method of communication to use.
• When should I be saying it? The timing of your communication is very important.
• Why am I saying it?
• Who do I need to be saying it to?  Sometimes we communicate with the wrong person hoping for the right results.
• Where should I be saying this?  Time and place can make or break communication.

What Makes You a Good Expresser?

• Know what you want to say.
• Recognise your feelings.
• Share mixed feelings.
• Recognise the difference between feelings and acting on those feelings.
• Accept responsibility for your feelings.
• Choose the time and place to express your feelings.
• Choose the best language for the receiver and situation.
• Share your feelings clearly.

Who Did It Best?

Regardless of political affiliation, simply compare the communication styles of Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Who would you prefer to listen to? Do you agree that Obama is a master at the skills discussed above?

Next

Let's work on your ability to convey your message. Take the introspective quiz below.