The onset of a new year is a time for resolutions. If you too consider the year's end an ideal moment to start working on yourself somehow, one possible resolution might be improving your communication skills. This is an area where there is always room for improvement – and that applies just as much to managers as anybody else. So how might you become a better communicator in the upcoming year?

These tips were published by Forbes.

Learn to speak with your whole body

Communication is by no means only about what you say: body language also plays a crucial role. Learn to employ this to your advantage and use gestures to emphasise whatever you are saying.

Tell stories

Learn to tell stories. This will help you not only when communicating your visions to your team, but also on a whole range of other occasions. Present each piece of information, vision or story so that it includes a premise, a problem, a solution to the problem, and a happy ending.

Get rid of fillers

At best, fillers have an impact on listeners at a sub-conscious level. At worst, the audience hears them and finds them irritating. One way or another, you should certainly try to dispense with filler words.

Learn to use intonation

Intonation and voice melody are key tools which make a speech more interesting and effective. Learn to work with intonation and use it to your advantage.

Get rid of the fear of public speaking

Cease to be afraid of public speaking. Regard it as an opportunity to improve your communication skills, practise newly acquired methods, and convey your visions to the people around you.

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