Last week I released an episode with my amazing guests and Donna Ricardo were we spoke about…. well about speaking. This week I decided to continue the topic. Today's topic is dos and don'ts about communicating with confidence. It's important to be able to communicate confidently what you want. If you want to go from dreaming to doing, you need to be very clear about what it is that you want for yourself. Now this conversation can be developed with others around you as you express your desires to make your amazing dreams come true.

I am a true believer that what you communicate comes from deep within. And the more you practice on communicating effectively not just to others but also to yourself as you hear yourself communicating these thoughts you have, it will also make your dream realization path much easier, at least not harder.

Not been able to communicate effectively will certainly also hinder your progress moving forward. So today I want to bring you 15 dos and don'ts of communication skills that will help you not only communicate better with others, but also in the process help you shape and communicate what exactly do you want to do so that your dreams can come true. This communication is crucial to closing your 18-inch Gap. Those crucial 18 inches between your heart and your mind text so often can be in conflict with the communication they are telling each other.

I'm Edwin Soler, your dream realization partner and this is the closing the 18-inch gap podcast. "I help professionals uncover the beliefs keeping them trapped in unfulfilling lives, so they can finally take courageous action toward the dreams they've put on hold and finally live a life of their choosing."

• Quote of the week: "Your success or failure... will depend on your programming—what you accept from others, and what you say when you talk to yourself." — Shad Helmstetter

Points covered in this episode:

Listen first- Do: hear others fully before you respond Don't: interrupt or assume you know the point

Be clear and concise- Do: use simple words to share your message Don't: overcomplicate or ramble unnecessarily

Ask clarifying questions- Do: confirm understanding with thoughtful open questions Don't: assume you've understood without checking

Focus on tone- Do: speak calmly and respectfully in every situation Don't: use aggressive or dismissive tone

Maintain eye contact- Do: show engagement with appropriate eye contact Don't: stare or avoid looking at people altogether

Adapt to your audience- Do: tailor your style to suit the listener Don't: use the same approach for every person

Stay open-minded- Do: be receptive to ideas, even if unexpected Don't: shut down perspectives different from yours

Being active listener- Do: show interest with nods and verbal cues Don't: zone out or look distracted when listening

Watch body language- Do: use open gestures to build trust Don't: cross arms or look unapproachable

Choose your words wisely- Do: be mindful of how words may impact others Don't: use harsh or careless language

Be respectful in disagreements- Do: share your opinion calmly and professionally Don't: raise your voice or become dismissive

Focus on nonverbal cues- Do: notice posture, gestures, and facial expressions Don't: ignore signs of discomfort or misunderstanding

Avoid jargon- Do: use language that everyone can understand Don't: overuse technical terms without explanation

Respond thoughtfully- Do: take time to think before you reply Don't: react emotionally or without consideration

Follow-up on conversations- Do: summarize points and agree on next steps Don't: leave discussions without clear conclusions

Do you want to explore what may be keeping you from speaking more confidently to make your dreams come true? I invite you to reach out to me for a complementary Next-Level Dream Chat. It's only about 30 minutes to get started and get momentum working in your favor to get your breakthrough.

If you want to take me up on this special offer, then simply send me an email to [email protected] It's that easy. I'll be in touch with you shortly afterwards. I can't wait to hear from you!

This episode was sponsored by my book Closing the 18-inch Gap and is available on Amazon. To find it faster, simply go to edwinsoler.com/book. That will take you to the book page where you can click on the Amazon logo and order your copy right away. It's available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible.

Thank you for listening, in the meantime, keep closing that 18- inch gap!