Your Communication Sucks

Here’s How to Fix It Like I Did

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When I was younger, I thought being smart was enough. I buried my head in books, stacked degrees like trophies, and wrote emails that sounded like legal documents. But somehow, in meetings, classrooms, and even dinner tables — I felt unheard.

People would nod politely when I spoke, skim over my messages, or worse, misunderstand me completely. I used to think, “Maybe they just don’t get it.” The truth? I wasn’t really communicating. I was performing. Broadcasting. Speaking at people, not to them.

It took a few humbling experiences — and one very honest friend — for me to realize that being articulate isn’t about using big words. It’s about being understood.

1. Talk Like You Care (Because You Do)

One of my friend told me that I spoke like a news reporter as if my speech were scripted and it was some kind of job that I wanted to get over with. I was speaking with empty heart.

So I started listening more. I paid attention to how people talk when they’re not trying to impress — when they’re just being human. The laughter in their pauses. The way their eyes light up when they’re talking about something they love. That’s where connection lives.