How you communicate can positively or negatively impact your relationships both at work and at home. Most agree that effective communication is an essential skill to have. Amazon offers 4,302 books on effective communication and Lynda.com lists 14,582 courses on communication skills. Clearly there is a wealth of information available on this key life skill. However, making even a few simple shifts can go a long way in improving your effectiveness as a communicator. Below are three simple strategies you can implement to significantly ramp up your communication effectiveness.

1. Engage in Active Listening. This means you are 100% focused on the speaker. Not multitasking, checking your phone, thinking about something else or what you might say next. It requires concentration and being fully present. It also means letting them talk uninterrupted. For some of us that is a real challenge! To make the speaker feel truly heard and understood, try reflecting back or paraphrasing what you heard.

2. Make it direct, honest, respectful. Do you go directly to the person you need to speak with? Or do you talk with others about it, behind the person’s back? Are you truly honest about where you’re coming from? To ensure you are being respectful, before speaking ask yourself: Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it kind? If not, then maybe you shouldn’t say it!

3. Use “I statements.” When you start a conversation with “You”, the other person automatically goes on the defensive and your message is not effectively received. Practice using “I” statements such as “I feel frustrated when you ____.” “I get concerned when I see ______.” Your message will be better received, and the conversation will be more productive.

Think about all the people you communicate with… colleagues, direct reports, managers, clients, family, friends, etc. If you’d like to increase your ability to get your message across clearly and well received, incorporate these strategies in your future interactions.