Examples of Verbal Communication Strategies (With Types)

Updated 3 January 2023

Effective communication, both written and verbal, is essential for a productive workspace. Verbal communication is an important skill you can develop so you can convey information effectively, whether in general conversation or more formal situations, such as meetings. Learning more about these strategies can help you successfully express your ideas with your colleagues and clients.

In this article, we discuss the different forms of verbal communication you may use in your career and provide some examples of verbal communication strategies to help you share your ideas effectively with others.

What are verbal communication strategies?

Verbal communication strategies are methods you can develop to help you deliver information to other people, either at work or in your personal life. Verbal communication can be important in forming relationships and friendships, especially in a workspace where you work in a team. Understanding how these strategies function might benefit your career and help you develop a wide range of interpersonal skills.

Some of these interpersonal skills can include active listening, teamwork, leadership, non-verbal communication, problem-solving and negotiation. Verbal communication skills can open opportunities to share your thoughts and ideas with colleagues. This could also help in other aspects of your job, such as selling a product, asking your manager questions, documenting research and presenting work to team members. Although verbal communication is important, it can be equally effective to actively listen to other people to understand and take note of their opinions.

Forms of verbal communication

Exchanging information and idea with others can boost your confidence and allow you to feel more comfortable in professional relationships. Here are some examples of verbal communication in the workspace:

Intrapersonal communication

Intrapersonal communication, or developing your ideas in your mind before sharing them, can be important when undertaking many tasks. This could include detailed thoughts about what you want to do next or how you can approach a supervisor or others about a specific problem. Taking the time to develop and plan a task can spark creativity and allow you to expand the idea before discussing it with other team members.

This type of communication can also improve your planning skills, especially before a group meeting or presentation. Thinking about what to say and what tone to use to convey your message could prepare you for these situations. Taking time to consider how you can effectively communicate your ideas can lead to a more effective discussion of those ideas.

Interpersonal communication

Interpersonal communication usually involves two individuals in a conversation. This could include training sessions, client calls, interviews, private meetings with your supervisor, customer service calls and general conversations with colleagues. This might be the most common way to share information and build trusting relationships in the work environment, especially when the conversation may be more personal between two people. As with most verbal communication, active listening skills are important in interpersonal communications.

In any interpersonal situation, consider and choose your words carefully. Planning your words before an interview can show you have prepared carefully and can increase your chance of getting hired. Using certain phrases in meetings can show your employer that you understand the subject and have prepared for the discussion.

Group communication

Group communication, or a conversation with more than two people, could further develop your verbal communication skills. Group communication doesn't necessarily involve a large gathering, but it encompasses enough people for the topic under discussion and enables decisions to be made promptly. This might be staff meetings, small group presentations, workshops or training sessions with new employees. There is one specific topic to cover in these types of situations, although you may find it useful to bring forward new ideas in a bigger group.

Communication in groups can improve your listening skills, as multiple people may speak at once. Group situations could involve a range of speakers and multiple messages and information, so take the time to listen and understand all points of view. Good verbal communication skills will allow you to take part in these discussions and present your ideas, helping you to develop your professional relationships with colleagues.

Large-group communication

Large-group communication involves one person speaking to an audience. This could include company speeches, lectures, talking at a conference, giving a presentation or business campaign events. If you're called on to speak at a big event, it can help to thoroughly plan how you're going to communicate your ideas to a large audience. Most people may focus on listening, so use this as a chance to show your personality and how dedicated you are to the company.

Speaking in front of an audience can improve your verbal communication skills and also boost your confidence. People might approach you more frequently if they see you're passionate about topics or issues that are of interest to them. Try to build positive habits, such as speaking in a loud voice, keeping your head up, smiling and using a clear vocabulary. These could influence your manager's decision to offer you more challenging tasks.

Verbal communication strategies

Developing your communication skills in the workplace could benefit your growth as a person and advance your career. Benefits can also apply to your personal life and your interactions with friendships and relationships. Here are some examples of how to develop your verbal communication strategies:

Think about your message

If you want to communicate effectively with people, it could help to think about your primary message and how you wish to present that. Delving straight into a detailed conversation might confuse your colleagues, so use the time beforehand to develop an effective strategy. This could be to state your point, explain it and wait for your audience's response. Structuring communication like this might benefit your performance in the workplace, especially if you give people time to respond to your message and ask questions.

Consider non-verbal communication

Non-verbal communication includes body language, facial expressions, eye contact, hand gestures and tone of voice. The way you present yourself in a conversation, discussion or presentation could influence how the other person reacts. Try to keep eye contact while smiling, as this can reassure colleagues of your confidence and dependability.

Non-verbal communication strategies may vary depending on the conversation and how both parties are responding to the information. For example, if you're communicating exciting news, you might laugh and speak loudly. Consider how you're presenting your message through your tone of voice.

Learn to actively listen

Active listening can be useful for showing your colleagues that you're interested in what they have to say. Knowing when to stop speaking in a conversation and allow another person to express their thoughts and ask questions is an important skill. This might apply to individual conversations or group presentations. During a conversation with an interesting topic, other people may wish to put forward their ideas. Non-verbal communication could contribute to your ability to listen and show your interest through positive body language and facial expressions.

Acknowledge your audience

An important skill in developing your verbal communication strategies is to consider your audience when speaking. Think about how they might respond to your perspective and tone. Some colleagues may feel more comfortable talking one on one, while others could prefer large group meetings to present their thoughts. Considering your audience before you communicate a message might allow you to recognise different reactions and improve your interpersonal skills.

For example, you might use a formal tone when approaching your supervisor, but a colleague you're friendly with could expect a longer conversation about subjects outside of work. It can be important to understand when the tone suits the receiver and how this might improve your job environment.

Use clear language

It is always best to avoid complex sentences when speaking to someone, as this can muddle your point. Speak slowly and precisely to ensure your audience understands the points you're trying to communicate. Using precise language can be a good way to communicate your thoughts accurately and build your verbal communication strategies.

Be honest

People appreciate honesty at work, so speak the truth with confidence. This could develop your existing relationships and allow both parties to feel more comfortable in the future. If you're thinking about a problem, approach your supervisor about it and ask for professional advice. Most employers appreciate this, as it can boost company morale and productivity.