Summary:
Communication is the key to personal and career success. It’s like riding a bike or typing. If you are willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life. What if someone doesn’t know that? It’s our responsibility to let them know and help them improve. But how to tell someone to improve their communication skills without being hurtful. Don’t worry. We have got you covered.
Reasons for Poor Communication Skills
Before you start making judgements about someone’s communication skills or before commenting on it, please make sure that you understand why a person may struggle with communication skills. It is a crucial step before learning how to tell someone to improve their communication skills.
There are three big reasons why some people may find it difficult and struggle to communicate effectively. These are:
1. The person is not aware that their communication skill needs improvement. This may happen due to the lack of social awareness and/or emotional intelligence.
2. The person knows that their communication needs improvement but doesn’t know how to do so. This is due to a lack of understanding of techniques of effective communication.
3. The person may know the techniques and characteristics of effective communication, but they lack in confidence to use it effectively.
Learn How to Tell Someone to Improve Their Communication Skills with 15 Tips
Many of us want to know how to tell someone to improve their communication skills and help them simultaneously. We will now be answering this question for you through 15 tips and tricks. Instead of straight-up telling someone that they’re bad at communicating, explain how they can improve their communication skills. Try to make these points clear to the person who is struggling with communication.
Step 1: Learn to Listen
The most essential thing in communication is hearing. Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self. If you want to know how to tell someone to improve their communication skills, observe their listening skills.
Most people do not listen with the intent to understand, and they listen with the intent to reply. But be a good listener. You must consider the person talking to you as the most valuable person in your life at that moment. One more important fact that you have to keep in mind is to get hold of one specific communication at a time.
Step 2: Be Concise
If you are trying to help someone and wondering how to tell someone to improve their communication skills. You can ask them to keep their messages short.
If you are in any written or verbal communication, you must learn to be quick and to the point. Try to stock up with enough information within a short span of time. But make sure that your audience understands what you are trying to convey. For example, if your task is to respond to an email, then make sure that you go through the full email properly before you prepare a draft for it.
Don’t worry, and you will gradually learn to communicate concisely by practising it constantly.
Step 3: Look Who You are Talking To
For effective communication, you need to understand and talk according to the person you are talking to. In the third step of how to tell someone to improve their communication skills, ask the person to be aware of who they are talking to.
While having a conversation with someone, you have to keep in mind who you are talking to. You can use any friendly or informal language while talking with your buddy. But don’t use these “GTG/TTYL” or any kind of short informal language while you are texting or sending a mail to your boss or any professional client.
Why? It isn’t professional. And it’s also possible that the other person you are communicating with doesn’t know the actual meaning of those acronyms. You surely don’t want to be misunderstood, isn’t it? So, it’s better to be on the safe side and avoid these informal languages while communicating formally or officially.
Step 4: Catch on to the Basics of Non-verbal Communication
Brush up on some elementary non-verbal communication clues. It will help you reduce the chances of miscommunication when talking to someone.
For example, be comfortable with your body language and keep your facial expressions natural and normal while speaking to someone.
Your hand gestures and facial expressions say a lot about you. It can be the first impression you make on someone. One more important thing is maintaining eye contact, especially when you meet and greet someone for the first time.
Step 5: Take Care of Your Own Emotions
It’s very vital to keep your emotions under control for clear communication and personal comfort. But, of course, you have to express your emotions in a perfect context within an ideal situation. On the other hand, don’t always pass your strong emotions into a professional environment. It can sometimes lead you to face poor communication with your peers.
Communication Skills Self-Assessment ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How would you rate yourself?
Select a rating from 1 to 5 stars for each communication skill.
| Skill | Your Rating |
|---|---|
| Listening | |
| Speaking Clearly | |
| Confidence | |
| Professionalism | |
| Empathy | |
| Body Language |
Your Result
Total Score: / 30
Percentage: %
Performance:
Steps 6: Tune-up with Public Speaking
A lot of us get frightened by speaking in public, and it’s normal. However, you can not deny that you will not find any better option to improve your communication skills than coming out with public speaking.
There are three things to aim for in public speaking: first, to get into your subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience. Try to speak regularly and confidently in front of your friends. It will help to get rid of your nervousness.
Steps 7: Ask for Feedback
You must not hesitate to ask for honest and open feedback regarding your communication skills from your fellow worker or friends.
Ask your co-worker and buddies about your communication skills. Take their advice because it will help you to understand your mistakes in your workplace.
Steps 8: Develop a Filter
You will generally notice that effective and active communicators have highly matured social skills, and they can easily express themselves to their significant others. So hang around them and learn how to express feelings in different mutual and social circumstances appropriately.
Develop a filter, and it will help you to punch up all your other communication styles. Developing it will also strengthen your confidence and set out a level of dignity – allowing you to stay away from any types of clashes in your workplace.
Steps 9: Write Things Down
If you think you can’t catch every point while you’re in a meeting or talking to someone, take a notepad and write it down.
You just can’t rely on your memory, and you are most likely to forget an essential part of the meeting. Isn’t it? So, it’s safe to draft up any piece of information. Check that you understand what is being said all the time in any communication.
Step 10: Respect your Audience.
The most important thing to remember is you must know your audience. You have to respect your audience. Without them, you are essentially standing alone, singing to yourself.
Asking for permission shows respect and guarantees an interested audience. Keep your audience in mind and speak to everyone. Another best idea to respect your audience is to give attention to their conversation.
Step 11: Take Time to Respond
Respond intelligently even to unintelligent conversations. After listening to your audience and understanding their conversation, hold up to prepare what you will have to say in your head.
Step 12: Focus on Your Key Points.
Speak clearly and if you speak at all, carve every word before you let it fall. Make sure that your audience understands what you are saying. If needed, then go over your key points again at the finish moment before ending the conversation.
Step 13: Master the Art of Timing
Take care of your time while having a conversation. You also need to look after your audience’s time. Don’t talk too much time while explaining something. Try to be specific and short.
Step 14: Don’t Be Aggressive
If you are sensing that the conversation is getting heated up somehow, then keep calm.
Take a small deep breath and take it easy. Don’t say anything in anger or don’t argue. Otherwise, it can surely have a negative effect on your workplace.
Step 15: Learn from Mistakes.
If you want to improve your communication and social skills, try to wade through your mistakes and don’t repeat them. For example, if you have a bad interaction with someone, come up with solutions to improve it next time.
Common Examples of Poor vs Better Communication
Throughout this guide, we’ve explored practical ways to improve communication skills. The table below summarises common communication mistakes and how they can be replaced with more effective approaches in everyday and professional situations.
| Situation | Poor Communication | Better Communication |
|---|---|---|
| Long, unclear messages with unnecessary details | Short, clear and action-focused messages | |
| Meetings | Interrupting others while they speak | Listening actively and waiting for your turn |
| Giving Feedback | Criticising the person instead of the behaviour | Offering constructive advice with practical suggestions |
| Workplace Conversations | Using slang or informal language with clients | Speaking professionally and respectfully |
| Public Speaking | Speaking too quickly and avoiding eye contact | Speaking confidently with clear pronunciation and eye contact |
| Listening | Thinking about your response instead of listening | Paying full attention before replying |
| Conflict Resolution | Becoming defensive or raising your voice | Staying calm and discussing the issue respectfully |
| Teamwork | Assuming everyone understands the task | Confirming expectations and asking questions |
| Presentations | Reading directly from slides | Explaining ideas naturally and engaging the audience |
| Written Communication | Poor grammar and unclear wording | Using correct grammar and a well-structured message |
Explore More Workplace Communication Resources
Improving your communication skills is an ongoing journey that extends beyond everyday conversations. As workplaces continue to evolve with digital collaboration tools and flexible working arrangements, developing strong communication habits has become more important than ever. Whether you want to communicate more effectively using AI, collaborate confidently in Microsoft Teams, follow professional Slack etiquette, succeed in a hybrid work environment, or run productive Zoom meetings, the resources below will help you strengthen your communication skills and build stronger professional relationships.
AI Communication
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way people communicate at work. From writing emails and creating reports to brainstorming ideas and improving customer interactions, AI tools can help professionals communicate more efficiently and confidently. Learn how to write effective prompts, use AI responsibly, enhance workplace productivity, and collaborate successfully with AI assistants while maintaining clear, professional communication.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is one of the most widely used workplace collaboration platforms. Developing strong Microsoft Teams skills can help you communicate more effectively with colleagues, manage projects, participate confidently in virtual meetings, and share information efficiently. Explore practical guidance on using chat, channels, file sharing, video meetings, and collaboration tools to improve teamwork and workplace communication.
Hybrid Work
Hybrid working has changed how organisations communicate and collaborate. Whether you work remotely, in the office, or both, strong communication skills are essential for staying connected with colleagues and maintaining productivity. Discover practical strategies for managing virtual collaboration, building trust with distributed teams, participating effectively in online discussions, and communicating clearly across different working locations.
Zoom Meetings
Virtual meetings have become a normal part of professional life, making strong video communication skills more valuable than ever. Learn how to prepare for Zoom meetings, present ideas confidently, engage participants, use professional video meeting etiquette, and communicate effectively during online discussions. These skills can help you make a positive impression and collaborate successfully in remote and hybrid workplaces.
Conclusion
To effectively communicate, we must realise that we are all different in how we perceive the world around us and use this understanding to guide our communication with others. This article includes answers using various tips on how to tell someone to improve their communication skills. However, if you want to know further about this topic, you could enrol in our Effective Communication Skills course.
FAQs
1. How to professionally say you need to communicate better?
Improve communication by being clear and direct. Let them know the importance of effective communication and offer support. Encourage listening and asking for clarification. Provide constructive feedback and be patient. Celebrate progress and maintain open communication channels.
2. How to tell someone they have poor communication skills?
You can gently suggest that they work on improving their communication skills by offering constructive feedback and encouragement.
3. How to tell someone to communicate better at work
Help someone improve their communication skills at work by providing constructive feedback and suggesting specific areas for enhancement. Offer support and resources, and encourage practice and self-reflection.
4. How to tell someone to communicate better?
Help them understand the importance of clear communication. Offer constructive feedback and suggest practice exercises.
5. How to tell an employee to improve communication skills?
Help your employee enhance communication skills by providing constructive feedback. Offer specific examples of areas for improvement and suggest practical strategies for development. Encourage open dialogue and offer support throughout the process.
6. How to give feedback on communication skills?
Offer constructive feedback on communication skills by focusing on specific behaviors, staying positive, providing examples, and suggesting improvements.
7. Who do you find requires improvement in their manner of communication? how and why?
Spot individuals who need better communication skills and outline the benefits of improvement. Explain why effective communication is crucial for personal and professional growth.
8. How to tell someone to improve their communication skills in a relationship?
Encourage better communication in relationships by expressing the importance of clear expression and active listening. Suggest practicing open dialogue and empathy to enhance understanding and connection.
9. How to improve communication skills in child?
Helping children improve communication skills involves encouraging active listening, practicing speaking clearly, using gestures, and engaging in interactive activities like storytelling and role-playing.
Further resources
- Communication And Interpersonal Skills in Food And Beverage Service
- The Importance of Effective Communication in Healthcare
- Effective Communication Skills For Social Workers
- Why is Communication Skills of Physicians Important for Patients' Satisfaction?
- How to Improve Your Interpersonal Communication Skills
- How Do People Develop Cross Cultural Communication Skills?
- Marriage Advice: The 8 Communication Skills of Happy couple
- 10 Essential Communication Skills for Workplace
- 10 Best Assertive Communication Worksheets and Techniques
- How to Tell Someone to Improve Their Communication Skills?
- Different Types Of Communication: Everything You Need To Know
- A Definitive Guide To Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills
- The Importance of Listening Skills in Communication
- 20 Great Jobs to Consider if you have Good Communication Skills
- A Definitive Guide To Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills
- 20+ Effective Communication Skills (Good for a Resume)
May, 20, 2026 
