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Successful people are not born; they are made. They are the product of their own continued attempts and efforts aimed at achieving success. They may decide to focus their efforts on a specific region, but successful people tend to succeed in several aspects of their lives. They take small steps toward their goals and achieve them, regardless of the diversions life throws at them.
Successful people have also learned to adapt their communication traits to the needs of everyone they come in contact with. It should be noted that there are common communication traits that all successful people use in their daily interactions with others. It would help if you incorporated them into your communication style to become more productive and competitive because they are common skills.
The ability to listen is the first communication trait that any successful person possesses. Listening is not about just nodding your head in understanding while the other person is talking. No, authentic listening requires that you maintain eye contact with the one you are listening to. Make sure your eyes are not looking side to side or over the other’s shoulder, but instead are focused on the eyes and face of the person you are talking with.
The successful person does this to understand exactly what the other person has to say. When you listen to people, not only do you get to know them, but they might provide you with some information to help you farther along towards future success.
As someone speaks, a successful person will pause and paraphrase what he has heard when the speaker breaks. Paraphrasing is repeating, to the one you’re communicating with, what you just heard them say, but in your own words. When you paraphrase, you show that you understand what the other person is saying. Every successful individual has this engaging and interactive contact characteristic.
Body Language As A Key Communication Traits

In addition to listening, successful people possess excellent non-verbal communication traits or body language. As a successful person is communicating with people, their posture is relaxed. Their hands are free, sometimes by their side, but rarely in their pockets. They do not scratch their heads, backs, or faces while listening or talking, nor do they tightly tie their hands or arms around each other in a tight embrace.
Much of this makes the speaker uncomfortable. The posture of successful people is upright yet comfortable. They don’t slouch when standing or sitting, and they don’t stand stiffly. Their legs may be crossed or comfortably side-by-side in a sitting position. A successful person never toe-taps or bounces their knee. They are calm and patient, and this is the image they want to project.
Communication Traits Are A Prerequisite For Success
The tone of voice of a successful communicator is always even. Also, a successful communication trait involves a prudent choice of words to express themselves. It includes taking time as one speaks so as not to use foul or inappropriate language. The successful person has a good command of language and knows how to use it effectively.
Successful people don’t assume they know everything and are very interested, even when communicating with others. This means they ask questions and engage in genuine conversation with others. They are aware that others have the expertise as well. They learn by asking questions; they understand the importance of education. It helps them make better decisions and choices in their life and work.
Ethics Of Effective Communication

Communication is a bridge to the world. Being able to communicate effectively with others is essential to our psychological well-being. This is simply because it allows us to convey our needs and feelings to others and respond to and respect the needs of others. As such, our excellent communication traits helps us in developing significant relationships at the social and business level. A glance at one’s life will reveal that almost every problem that one faces has its roots in interpersonal communication. In this sense, effective communication involves:
The language makes our thoughts more evident. A process of fitting or matching our words with the happenings in our inner self. It allows us to achieve specific outcomes, to serve our particular interests and concerns. It helps us explain the details about situations. To express ourselves, be known and understood, get our point across, and make things happen. Language in its broad sense includes the words said and the way the message is transmitted.
It is the body language that reveals the valid notice more than the words said. To communicate means that we send and receive information. Through effective listening, one makes others feel that they are essential and that their points of view are appreciated. Effective communication traits are a partnership that needs both parties to become involved as speakers and listeners.
Effective Communication Traits
- It enables one to express himself clearly and confidently while revealing your emotions to someone close to us, discussing a problem with colleagues at work, or simply chatting in a social setting.
- A person becomes an active listener, which implies that you listen carefully because you want to fully understand what the other person is saying or know how well you are understood.
- Effective communicators not only choose their words carefully but also maintain control of their body posture. As such, they know how to express themselves clearly and accurately.
- In any given situation, good communicators have the power of choice, which means that they have the right to choose the way they behave and consequently do not see themselves as victims of circumstances, events, or people. i.e., they know when to express anger, when to hold on to their opinions and when to make compromises.
Communication Styles

Individuals have various preferences when communicating with others as well as interpreting messages received from others. As a result, good communication traits necessitate a high degree of self-awareness. Knowing one’s unique communication style aids in making a positive and enduring impact on others. We will respond more efficiently to other people’s communication styles if we become more mindful of how they view us. The following are different communication styles:
Passive Communication Style
These categories of communicators fail to express themselves clearly and are generally characterized by low self-confidence levels. Thus, they are willing to do anything to avoid conflict even if their rights are violated.
Passive communicators are characterized by being:
- Apologetic and self-conscious.
- Trust others but not self.
- Do not express your wants and feelings.
- Allows others to make decisions for them.
- Do not get what they want.
While communicating, they show the following behaviors:
- Try to sit on both sides of the fence to avoid conflict.
- Clam up when feeling mistreated.
- Ask permission unnecessarily.
- Lament rather than take action.
- Allow others to make decisions for them.
- Have a hard time putting plans into action.
- Self-effacing.
Aggressive Communication Style
A communication style in which the communicator’s primary goal is to win in any situation, even at the expense of violating other people’s rights. Hence, aggressive communicators are usually close-minded, poor listeners, and have difficulty in understanding the point of view of others.
Assertive communicators manifest the following characteristics:
- Achieves goals even at others’ expense.
- Domineering and bullying.
- Patronizing.
- Condescending and sarcastic.
While communicating, they manifest the following behaviors:
- Downgrade others because they think they are always right.
- Jumps on others push people around.
- Know-it-all attitude.
- Never show appreciation.
Assertive Communication Style
Such communicators can openly and honestly share their desires, emotions, thoughts, and values without infringing on other people’s rights. Thus, they are honest and straightforward in expressing their needs.
Such communicators are:
- Active listeners.
- Set limits and expectations.
- Express self directly and honestly.
- Understand their feelings and others’ feelings.
Assertive communicators manifest the following characteristics:
- Non-judgmental, i.e., observe behavior rather than label it.
- Self-confident and trust other people.
- They use both logic and emotions when assessing any situation.
- Open, flexible, and versatile.
- Decisive, proactive and initiating.
While communicating, they show the following behaviors:
- Have the power of choice.
- Effective planners and implementers.
- Action-oriented and firm.
- Realistic in their expectations.
- Fair and consistent
- Take appropriate action toward getting what they want without denying the rights of others.
Conclusion
Effective communication traits are a very pertinent feature of successful people in all they get involved with. Leading people to achieve set goals and targets is made more accessible when the leader applies impeccable and excellent communication traits. Some of these traits can be developed or learned within the walls of a class, while they could also be grabbed from experience gathered from working with successful and effective leaders. Effective and winning workplaces thrive on excellent communication traits between workers and the management of the organization.
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