Oratium, a leading authority in sales and executive communications, is excited to announce its strategic partnership with Yoodli, an AI-powered sales coaching platform designed to revolutionize how sales teams prepare for client meetings. This new partnership will enable sales professionals to develop critical skills needed for mastery of customer meetings, including delivery of impactful messaging with Yoodli’s AI providing real-time practice, actionable insights, and personalized feedback.
Combining Expertise in Sales Communication and Cutting-Edge AI
With real-world, practical experience in equipping sales organizations across multiple industries, including Fortune 500 companies, Oratium’s deeply developed sales communication methodologies and intellectual property make them an ideal partner for this cutting-edge technology.
By integrating Yoodli AI into its training and coaching message-delivery and sales-conversation programs, Oratium enables sales teams to:
Leverage Data-Driven Insights: Yoodli’s platform provides detailed analytics on individual and team performance, allowing sales leaders to identify areas for improvement and tailor coaching strategies to drive long-term success.
Enhance Communication Skills: Yoodli’s AI-driven feedback helps sales professionals fine-tune their messaging, improving their ability to connect with clients and deliver compelling pitches.
Increase Sales Success: The partnership combines Oratium’s expertise in sales communications with Yoodli’s real-time insights, driving better client interactions and improved sales outcomes.
Build Confidence and Consistency: Sales professionals can practice key messages in a sage, private judgment-free environment, boosting their confidence and ensuring consistent delivery during important client meetings.
The use of AI in sales delivery and conversation coaching presents an unprecedented opportunity to skill reps. Yoodli AI gives us the ability to scale and to standardize coaching for our clients – this simply would not be possible otherwise, said Tim Pollard, CEO of Oratium. This collaboration allows us to merge our communications expertise and IP with Yoodli’s AI technology. It will be a transformative experience for sales professionals.
Teaming up with Oratium is an incredible opportunity for us. Their deep understanding of sales communication aligns perfectly with our AI platform, and we’re excited to support their methods with Yoodli’s real-time coaching. —Esha Joshi, President and Co-Founder at Yoodli.
A Shared Vision for Sales Communication Excellence
Together, Oratium and Yoodli are committed to delivering innovative, results-driven solutions that help sales professionals excel in today’s competitive market. This partnership elevates the standard of communication training, equipping teams with the insights and tools they need to succeed. For more information, visit Yoodli’s website.
Spitfire Elite is an elite interview coaching service for pilots aiming to secure jobs with major global airlines. Through their tailored interview preparation, they’ve placed over 1,000 pilots at major global airlines including American, Delta, FedEx, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and UPS.
Spitfire Elite implemented Blaze, a customized AI-powered interview coaching solution powered by Yoodli, to enhance their client practice opportunities and streamline operations. By leveraging AI, they were able to coach 12% more clients, leading to a 15% increase in revenue.
The Challenge
Spitfire Elite, a top aviation interview coaching firm, faced a significant problem: a surge in demand for in-person coaching after COVID-19, paired with limited coaching capacity. Their existing system allowed for only 4 sessions per day per coach, making it challenging to reach their target of 5-6 sessions daily. Despite a pool of 1,500 aspiring pilots eager for guidance, Spitfire’s constraints on capacity hindered scalability.
Additionally, their previous web-based interview tool was not sufficient. It offered clients a way to record themselves for self-assessment, but it lacked interactive elements and real-time feedback, leading to under-prepared clients. This resulted in coaches spending too much time on the basics, limiting the overall effectiveness of each session.
We were spending too much time getting clients up to speed and not enough on advanced process refinement. We needed a solution that would let us grow without sacrificing quality. –Bill Sims, Cofounder of Spitfire Elite
The Solution
Spitfire Elite introduced Blaze, powered by Yoodli’s generative AI technology, transforming the way they prepared clients for aviation interviews. The Blaze AI Interview Coach enabled over 1,500 pilot clients to independently practice interview questions, enhancing their readiness before in-person coaching.
This tool was particularly beneficial for ESL clients and those facing biases in the aviation industry. Blaze provided a neutral environment where users could improve their communication, minimize filler words, and deliver clear, confident answers. This created new opportunities for pilots to succeed, regardless of language background or previous experience.
Blaze’s integration led to a 35% increase in coaching sessions per coach, allowing for more efficient use of time and resources. Coaches were now able to focus on advanced feedback, addressing higher-level skills rather than the basics.
Blaze has truly been a game-changer, especially for our ESL clients. It empowers them to break communication barriers and achieve their aviation career goals. —Tron Williams, CEO & Cofounder of Spitfire Elite
Client Training Workflow
Clients begin their journey with Blaze by engaging with a tailored set of questions specific to their target airlines. If questions aren’t available for a particular airline, clients have the flexibility to add their own. Blaze’s AI evaluates responses, highlighting areas for improvement, and helping clients hone their answers independently.
Spitfire also optimized their curriculum by setting up dedicated groups for each major airline. Each group includes question banks, course materials, and specific guidance for United, Delta, Southwest, American, FedEx, UPS, and regional carriers. This structured workflow ensures that clients receive the most comprehensive, relevant and tailored training for their target airlines.
The Results
Increased Efficiency: Blaze AI empowered clients to practice and self-improve before in-person coaching, allowing coaches to save 1-2 hours per client. This boosted coaching capacity by 35%, enabling them to meet the growing demand.
Business Growth: Enhanced efficiency allowed Spitfire Elite to work with 12% more clients, driving a 15% increase in revenue.
Client Satisfaction: 92% of clients expressed high satisfaction with Blaze, highlighting its user-friendliness and effectiveness in preparing them for real-world interviews.
Improved Readiness: Clients reported feeling more confident and prepared, leading to clearer, more polished interview performances.
By integrating Blaze, Spitfire Elite successfully scaled their operations without compromising on quality, continuing to support and uplift diverse talent within the aviation industry.
A globally known Fortune 10 tech company needed to train 200 Account Managers based in Europe. Their training program”Storytelling, Executive Presence, and Influence” was on upskilling sellers’ ability to effectively influence stakeholders through compelling presentations.
The Problem
Mastering talking points requires extensive practice and role-playing, but convincing sellers to practice can be challenging. This is often because sellers don’t realize they need to practice, coupled with a feeling that they don’t have time for it. To address these challenges, the customer needed a judgment-free practice environment that could also quantify progress, ensuring that sellers could improve their skills without the fear of negative feedback.
The Solution
The company provided all participants with unlimited access to Yoodli genAI communication coach, often described as “Grammarly for Speech.” Participants initially used Yoodli as part of their pre-work before live training sessions with facilitators to set a base-line. Then, after receiving live instruction, they used Yoodli again to reinforce the concepts they learned in a self-paced environment. This also allowed them to witness their own growth throughout the training week.
Yoodli simulates presentation practice at scale and is the perfect augmentation of live training sessions. Yoodli for enablement teams is like a medical report for doctors. It helps us save time, be more efficient, and quantify progress. –Facilitation Lead
Using Yoodli, participants practiced their presentations and received AI-powered feedback on content, structure, and delivery. They received suggestions on opportunities for conciseness, and analytics on their speaking mechanics, such as pacing, body language, and word choice.
Once participants felt confident in their presentations after using Yoodli, they shared their final presentations with colleagues for synchronous feedback. This combination of AI feedback and peer-to-peer coaching not only reinforced the learned material but also gave them the confidence to present live in front of leadership as the culmination of their journey.
Impact
Completion Rate: 97% of the participants completed the “Storytelling, Executive Presence, and Influence” module.
Confidence Improvement: 94% of participants who engaged with Yoodli four times reported increased confidence.
Qualitative Feedback: Directors who sponsored the program and witnessed both early practices and final presentations noted significant and swift improvements in the participants.
Extended Interest: Two participants requested to extend Yoodli AI coaching to their entire teams beyond the live facilitation.
If you’d like to learn more about Yoodli, reach out at sales@yoodli.ai.
Vautier Communications enhanced their coaching programs by adopting Yoodli’s AI coaching platform, resulting in streamlined processes, a 15% revenue increase, ongoing engagement, and a modernized approach that allows coaches to focus on high-impact training.
Background
Vautier Communications is a leading player in the business communications space, specializing in delivering education and training to individuals and groups. Their mission is simple: help people “speak as well as they think.” Their coaching sessions are structured in small group formats, typically consisting of 12 participants led by one coach, focusing on communication skills across business units. Their two-day coaching programs are built on the principle of “learn by doing,” where participants practice and receive feedback in real-time, guided by Vautier’s team of expert coaches.
Through Yoodli, Vautier Communications achieved a 15% increase in revenue per client and successfully scaled the use of AI and technology across multiple clients.
The Problem
Vautier Communications faced the following challenges:
Manual Video Recording: For years, Vautier’s coaches used SD cards to record sessions, but this method has become impractical. Collecting 12 cards per session, uploading files to Dropbox, and sharing links with participants is time-consuming and limits client access. Many clients struggle to review videos due to outdated technology or lack of time.
Limited Post-Program Support: Vautier’s business thrives on word-of-mouth and referrals, but their touchpoints with clients often end after their intensive two-day programs. The company wanted to extend the relationship by providing more opportunities for participants to practice beyond the coaching sessions.
Static Technology: Although their SD card system worked in the classroom, Vautier recognized the need to evolve. They aimed to integrate more advanced technology that would simplify their process while adding value to their offerings, especially for clients accustomed to digital platforms and on-demand feedback.
“Managing the logistics of video recordings was becoming increasingly challenging, and our clients struggled to access their feedback. We needed a solution that would streamline our process and enhance the overall experience for clients.” – Jenn Alex, Coach & Vice-President of Sales & People
The Solution & Impact
Vautier adopted a bespoke version of Yoodli’s AI platform, customized with their branding and content, to enhance participant experience and extend the impact of their coaching programs.
Their benefits include:
Seamless Integration with Yoodli: Vautier switched from SD card recordings to Yoodli’s AI platform, allowing participants to practice their talks and receive objective, data-driven feedback on communication metrics like filler words and pacing. This streamlined the process, eliminating the need for SD cards and Dropbox links.
Increased Revenue: With Yoodli’s scalable AI solution, Vautier raised their program price by 15%, allowing all participants to access AI-driven feedback and personalized insights. This freed up coaches to concentrate on more strategic aspects of communication training.
Ongoing Client Engagement: Vautier extended clients’ access to Yoodli for three months post-program, allowing participants to practice communication skills with AI feedback in real-world scenarios. This engagement boosted client retention and strengthened relationships, enhancing their referral-driven business model.
Tech-Savvy Future: Integrating Yoodli modernized Vautier’s coaching framework, enabling participants to access feedback digitally and practice anytime with AI-generated insights. This allows Vautier to focus more on high-impact coaching and less on administrative tasks.
“Integrating Yoodli has transformed our coaching approach. Not only have we seen a 15% increase in revenue, but our participants now have the tools to practice and receive instant feedback anytime, making our training more impactful than ever.” — John Vautier, Coach & Vice-President of Sales
Vautier’s Approach with Yoodli
Vautier’s coaching philosophy is direct, intuitive, and strengths-based, focusing on four key areas: executive presence, message organization, delivery, and Q&A facilitation. By integrating Yoodli, they complemented their human-led coaching with AI insights, enabling participants to receive feedback on the most tactical elements of their presentations while continuing to focus on deeper aspects of communication during live sessions.
The result? An enhanced coaching experience that stays true to Vautier’s core values while embracing the future of AI-enabled learning.
You can connect with and learn more about Vautier Communications’ service here. If you’d like to get started with a bespoke version of Yoodli, reach out at sales@yoodli.ai.
Jenn Alex from Vautier and Esha Joshi, cofounder at Yoodli, hanging out in person in Seattle 🙂
“We’ve been delivering leadership development programs for over 20 years, and for the first time, we’ve seen a 25% increase in management capabilities, including coaching and feedback skills, in just one program cycle [using AI].” – Kris Karauria, COO, BDO Gisborne
BDO Gisborne uses Yoodli AI coaching to scale leadership and manager training, and drive economic development in New Zealand. Through Yoodli, BDO Gisborne achieved a 25% increase in client management capabilities, 100% improvement in participant confidence, and successfully scaled their programs across multiple industries.
Background
BDO Gisborne, part of the international BDO network, has been delivering research-driven leadership development programs for over 20 years. They offer public accounting, tax, and advisory services across 166 countries, with 115,661 professionals in 1,776 offices worldwide.
Within months of implementation, Kris Karauria, COO of BDO Gisborne, saw transformative results. With programs targeting various leadership levels from supervisors to business leaders, they spent eight months building bespoke personas, scenarios, and rubrics. Now, they use Yoodli daily empowering leaders across New Zealand in multiple sectors to drive economic growth in the face of uncertainty.
The Problem
BDO Gisborne faced the following challenges:
Desire to scale leadership and coaching programs without sacrificing quality
Providing metrics around behavior improvements
Giving their clients the opportunity to practice their skills in a safe environment
Previously, BDO Gisborne spent significant time and resources developing tailored leadership programs. They wanted to scale these successful programs while maintaining quality and preserving their valuable intellectual property.
The Solution
BDO Gisborne partnered with Yoodli to create a series of AI-enhanced leadership development programs. With Yoodli, BDO Gisborne:
Developed multiple AI personas to test management skills across various scenarios
Easily were able to integrate the AI technology with existing proven programs
Provided a platform for users to practice, measure, and improve their skills asynchronously
Scaled their work while focusing on program impact
“Yoodli has provided the perfect platform for clients to practice what we teach them and improve their capabilities. The feedback it provides is invaluable to improve behaviors.” – Pete Jarratt, Executive Coach, BDO
Cultural Shift
The implementation of Yoodli has transformed the learning culture at BDO Gisborne and its client organizations. Participants now have unlimited access to practice their leadership skills in a private, judgment-free environment.
Kris shared: “We now have multiple personas, rubrics and scenarios that we can use to suit most situations. The learning curve is flattened for the user and we have dramatically increased the opportunity to monitor and embed individual development.”
The Outcome
Yoodli has been a game-changer for BDO Gisborne. After implementation, the team saw:
A 25% increase in the participants management capabilities, including coaching and giving feedback
100% of participants reported improved confidence
Successfully scaled programs without compromising quality across multiple industries, including horticulture, forestry, engineering, and accountancy
Increased competency and capability levels across various sectors, contributing to regional economic growth
Business leaders, upon seeing the impact on their staff, opted to complete the program themselves
“In New Zealand we have been hit hard by weather events and global economic pressures. After collaborating with various industry players, it was obvious that we need to invest in our people and prepare them for a future of constant change. The program offered by BDO Gisborne has already made a big impact on this and we are excited about the future.” – Karen Fenn, Business Growth Advisor, Trust Tairawhiti
Passive listening is one of the most common communication struggles people face. It can be easy to subconsciously tune people out, even if you don’t mean to.
We’ll help you overcome this habit and explain everything you need to know, from tips to break the habit, to common passive listening examples, downsides, and misconceptions.
What Is Passive Listening?
Passive listening is when you listen to someone speaking and don’t react. You might’ve heard the phrase, “It went in one ear and out the other.” It means the person listening didn’t actually understand what was said; they listened, but didn’t remember the meaning behind the words. Passive listening is a little like that.
On one hand, passive listeners never interrupt. But that benefit doesn’t outweigh all the downsides of this type of listening, which we’ll explain in detail in the section below. The main downside is that the listener doesn’t pay attention to what’s said, so the communication only goes one way.
Active vs. passive listening
In comparison to passive listening, active listening is the total opposite. Instead of just hearing the information but not paying attention, active listeners hear the information and remember what was said. They digest the information, reflect on it, and engage in the conversation.
How to Use AI to Overcome Passive Listening
This type of listening isn’t a habit that you want to continue. Luckily, you can take advantage of AI tools — like Yoodli — to overcome passive listening.
Yoodli, an AI-powered speech coach, can analyze your speaking habits and speech to give data-backed, practical feedback you can use to improve your listening skills. You Plus, Yoodli does so much more than provide the tools to overcome passive listening. You can also work on your conversation abilities, too.
Using Yoodli can help you overcome passive listening.
Because it’s such a realistic conversation simulator, it can be personalized by the user. For example, you’ll pick an AI conversation partner, which could be virtually anyone, from a coworker to a stranger or your boss. Then, choose a personality for your AI conversation partner — reserved, friendly, professional — you name it.
While you’re talking, your AI partner will listen to what you say. Based on that, it gives an appropriate reply. Here’s where you can practice overcoming your habit. Using the below methods in the next section, practice being a more engaged listener. For example, you could practice asking open-ended questions or paraphrasing what your partner told you.
Using Yoodli’s AI conversation coach can help with passive listening.
You’ll get an individualized report of all your speaking metrics afterward, from how loud you speak to your word choice and body language, like eye contact.
If you have a friend who’s willing to practice with you, you can get valuable insights about how long you’re talking vs. how long you’re listening to the other person. Yoodli is one of the best communication technology tools out there for working on your speaking skills.
5 Tips for Overcoming Passive Listening
If one of your goals is to overcome passive listening, that’s great — it’ll benefit your communication skills and elevate your ability to have a successful conversation. It can even improve your executive presence.
Here are the top five tips to overcome your passive listening habit.
1. Before the conversation, clear your mind.
You won’t always have the luxury of preparing before the conversation. Sometimes, a coworker will walk up to your desk and spark a conversation. A stranger might stop you in the street to ask for directions. In these situations, you can’t really prepare. But if you know you have a one-on-one meeting with your manager soon, for example, you can prepare before you speak.
To prep before the conversation, start by taking a deep breath and clearing your mind. Understand that for the duration of the conversation, you’ll need to tune into the speaker and focus. It can be distracting if you’re trying to juggle the million other things you’re thinking about in addition to an ongoing conversation.
Even if you think the conversation could be boring or tedious, be ready to be open and engaging during the chat.
2. Be ready to give the speaker your full attention.
Most importantly, to avoid passive listening, you need to be ready to give whoever is speaking your full, undivided attention. Letting your mind wander and zoning out cause you to completely lose focus.
To help yourself pay attention, make it a point to look at the speaker and make eye contact. Don’t do anything else besides listening. Multitasking while a conversation is actively happening can cause you to go into passive listening mode.
3. Summarize what was said in your head.
Another helpful tip for overcoming passive listening is to summarize what the speaker said in your head. As they’re speaking (or shortly after), think about what they said and paraphrase it in your own words. This helps you remember the context of the conversation and helps you pay attention.
Consider the key points they made and formulate questions if something is unclear.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Although some people are weary of asking questions during a conversation, it’s completely normal and even encouraged. Asking questions helps you get more information about the topic and clears up any potential misunderstandings. It also shows the speaker that you’re an engaged listener.
Just wait until the speaker is finished with their thought before you start asking questions. Interrupting them isn’t just rude, but it can cause them to forget what they were saying.
5. Make sure you’re responsive.
One thing passive listeners are guilty of is the “100-yard stare” — looking at the speaker with a blank face.
Don’t just listen passively. Instead, make sounds or affirmations that show you’re listening. For example, saying things like “Uh-huh” or “yes, I see” can demonstrate that you acknowledge what they said and understand.
Internal and External Passive Listening Examples
Not surprisingly, there are many signs that someone’s a passive listener. Some are more obvious than others.
Passive listening examples can usually be grouped into one of two categories: internal and external examples.
Internal passive listening examples
Knowing the most common signs of passive listening can help you identify when and how you’re doing it.
For example, some of the most common internal passive listening examples include:
Catching yourself daydreaming
“Hearing” the words the speaker is saying but not understanding
Having no clue what the speaker just said
Experiencing wandering thoughts
External passive listening examples
Signs of passive listening can be more obvious from the speaker’s perspective.
For example, some of the most common external passive listening examples a speaker might notice include:
Fidgeting (such as playing with items near you, tapping your fingers, picking at your skin, etc.)
Not responding or acknowledging what was said
Giving the speaker minimal responses (such as “oh,” “wow,” or “cool”)
Looking distracted or like your eyes are glazed over
Passive listening isn’t a great habit to get into because it hurts you in the long run. Passive listeners have trouble keeping up in meetings, conversations, and other situations where they need to “pay attention.”
Here are some of the most common downsides to passive listening that you should be aware of.
A lack of effective communication
One of the most significant drawbacks to passive listening is the fact that it limits your communication skills. You won’t be an effective communicator with this type of listening. Here’s why.
When you’re only half listening, you end up missing key information during the conversation. You won’t have all the details and necessary context. Not only that, but you might not pick up on the tone or emotions behind what’s being said.
This leads to misinterpretations, misunderstandings, frustration, and confusion.
Damaged relationships
As a consequence, passive listening can damage existing relationships and seriously hinder new ones. That’s because not giving the speaker your full attention is noticeable and causes the speaker to lose respect and trust for you.
Not only can being a passive listener affect your personal relationships, but it can also influence your professional relationships, too. You won’t be able to make strong connections with others. Once you’ve lost that connection with someone, it can be difficult to gain back.
Plus, if you have trouble communicating effectively, the resulting frustrations and miscommunications can result in negative interactions and ultimately, resentment toward you as a person and coworker.
Other personal and professional drawbacks
There are also some other personal and professional drawbacks to be aware of.
Your decision-making abilities could be affected if you have a habit of passive listening. Since you don’t get all the necessary information, you’ll likely make decisions based on inaccurate information.
It’s the same deal with problem-solving. Collaboration and ideation efforts — two aspects that are directly influenced by this type of listening — can be hindered. It’s more difficult to solve problems, especially in a group, when you don’t give speakers your full attention.
Similarly, you might not be able to be as productive as you could if you’re not a strong listener. Constantly misunderstanding speakers can lead to wasted resources and time, which affects your efficiency and productivity in settings like work, school, and at home.
Because of this, you might miss out on important opportunities in those settings, too.
Misconceptions of Passive Listening
Highlight the common misconceptions about passive listening (e.g., it’s just being quiet, it’s easier than active listening). To fully understand the importance of overcoming this habit, you also need to be aware of the misconceptions around it.
For one, some people think it means simply being quiet. However, this isn’t true. The difference between just being quiet while someone’s talking versus passive listening is that with the latter, you aren’t really hearing or digesting the message. If you’re just listening quietly, you’ll still understand what’s being said, including the context and implications.
Some people also think it’s “easier” than truly listening. In the sense that you won’t understand the conversation, it’s “easier.” But realistically, it’s not easier than giving the speaker your full attention.
Because of all the drawbacks to passive listening, getting into this habit actually makes your life more difficult.
Others have the assumption that it’s a harmless habit, but again, the reality of the situation is that it makes both your personal and professional life more complicated.
One of the biggest misconceptions about passive listening is that it’s a habit only introverts struggle with. However, this type of listening affects all personality types, not just introverts. Extroverts and ambiverts experience this kind of “tuning out,” too.
The Bottom Line
Remember that overcoming passive listening isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s a lifelong journey that you’ll always be working on, so don’t feel discouraged. Knowing how to avoid it is a high income skill.
Using a tool like Yoodli and practicing breaking this habit are some of the best things you can do for yourself if you’re a passive listener.
Active listening is a required skill for effective conversation. So why is it so difficult?
It can be challenging because this ability isn’t necessarily something you’re born with. It’s something you’ll continue to learn throughout your life.
In our comprehensive guide, we’ll give you everything you need to know about this skill, from easytips and tricks to how to improve your team’s skills, common pitfalls, and active listening examples.
What Is Active Listening?
Active listening is the ability to not only listen to a speaker, but also to engage and interact with them in a meaningful way during a conversation. It requires you to be able to reflect on what was said and respond to the topic.
Active Listening Examples
This specific type of listening encompasses many essential methods and means of understanding. As such, there are plenty of examples to look at.
Here are just a few examples of active listening:
Making eye contact with someone you’re talking to
Validating the speaker’s feelings
Rephrasing what was said in your head
Nodding
Using phrases of acknowledgement, like “Uh-huh” or “Oh, I see”
Asking questions
At work or in a professional setting, some active listening examples could include:
Not interrupting when others are talking
Giving constructive feedback instead of straight criticism
Taking notes during calls or meetings
Inviting others to engage and participate
There are special considerations when you’re talking to kids, too. Some active listening examples when you have a younger audience include things like:
Getting down to their level by crouching so you can look them in the eye
Helping them pinpoint their feelings (for example, saying something like, “Wow, it sounds like you were feeling really frustrated”)
Being patient to allow them to feel comfortable and open up (instead of rushing them to finish their sentence, for example)
Asking questions, especially open-ended questions, to show your interest
7 Tips for Active Listening
Active listening is a skill you can work on and hone your entire life. However, you’ve got to start somewhere. If you’re having trouble with it, a few tips and tricks can help.
Here are the top seven tips for building your active listening skills.
1. Prepare yourself before the conversation.
Although some conversations are impromptu, meaning you can’t really prepare for them, active listening works best when you can take a second to get your mind right. Remember that as the listener, it’s your job to give them the space to communicate and share their feelings.
If it’s a planned conversation (or you’re in a setting where active listening is important, like school or work), make sure there’s no obvious distractions. It should be a relatively quiet environment. Turn off your notifications and put away your phone.
2. Pay attention.
It might seem obvious, but one of the most important tips for active listening is to pay attention. Zoning out or letting your mind wander — even if the conversation seems tedious or boring to you — is a surefire way to hinder your listening skills.
Standing or sitting up straight and making eye contact can help you pay attention easier. Focus on not just the words they’re saying, but also the emotions they convey. For example, consider their facial expressions, nonverbal cues, and tone. It helps when there are no distractions.
3. Don’t interrupt.
Interrupting isn’t part of active listening. As such, it’s best to let the speaker finish their thought before interjecting with other information or a question. This tip allows you to get the complete context of the conversation while also validating the other person and showing genuine interest in them.
4. Acknowledge their feelings.
One of the most common pitfalls of active listening is when you don’t validate or acknowledge the speaker’s feelings. Instead of just listening with a straight face, you can empathize by directly acknowledging their emotions.
For example, you could say things like, “Wow, that must’ve been a difficult choice to make” or “It sounds like that was a pretty exciting experience for you.”
5. Be encouraging.
Similarly, you’ll also want to encourage the speaker to show you’re actively listening. For example, nodding can encourage the person to continue talking. You can also pair the nodding with some affirmatives, like “I see,” “gotcha,” or “uh-huh.”
It shows that you’re interested in what they have to say and care to hear more.
6. Ask questions.
Although you don’t want to interrupt the speaker, asking questions shows you’re engaged and curious about what you hear. After they’ve finished their sentence or thought, you can ask some clarifying questions to get more information.
You can also ask them how they feel about the situation, depending on the conversation topic.
7. Be patient.
Most importantly, when it comes to active listening, you need to be patient with the speaker. Be responsive and present for the conversation and let them express what they need to. Don’t try to rush them or get them to “hurry up” with what they’re saying. It’ll come off as rude and impolite.
How to Improve Your Team’s Active Listening Skills with AI
Taking advantage of generative AI is more common now than ever. In fact, you can use AI to improve your team’sactive listening skills, too. Here’s how.
Try exploring communication technology tools, such as Yoodli. Yoodli is an AI-powered conversation coach that evaluates your speech and speaking patterns to give you actionable feedback you can use to improve. You can work on not only your team’s active listening skills, but also their overall conversation abilities.
Using Yoodli’s conversation coach is a great way to practice your active listening skills.
You can start by choosing an AI conversation partner — such as a stranger or a coworker — and a topic. You can further personalize your experience by choosing a personality for your AI speech partner, whether that’s friendly, reserved, or something else entirely.
From there, you practice speaking. Your AI partner will listen to what you say and provide a response. That’s where your skills come in. Carefully listen to the AI partner’s response and use your active listening techniques. For example, practice rephrasing what was said and asking open-ended questions.
Practicing active listening is much easier with a coach to guide you through it.
After your AI-generated conversation, you’ll get a personalized report of all your speech data, such as:
You can even practice with a friend. When you upload a recording of you and a friend chatting, Yoodli can tell you how long you talked compared to how long you listened, which is a helpful stat when you’re trying to improve your skills.
Improving your team’s active listening skills for sales
You can also leverage Yoodli to enhance your sales team’s active listening skills when it comes to sales calls and pitches. Yoodli offers comprehensive, realistic sales roleplays for reps to practice their active listening skills in a risk-free environment, so they don’t have to worry about messing up or losing a client or deal.
Reps can boost their listening abilities during simulated cold calls or customer discovery calls and will receive the same feedback and insights based on their performance. Because Yoodli takes on customer personas, the back-and-forth banter is as natural as it would be with a human.
Plus, for company admin, the customization capabilities allows leaders to make Yoodli their own by tweaking it based on their company’s own methodology. Brands can optimize Yoodli for whatever their needs are, from manager training to pitch coaching, and anything in between. Not only that, but the platform also has enterprise-grade privacy, including SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, and more.
Easily work on your sales team’s active listening skills with Yoodli’s intelligent roleplays.
Benefits of Active Listening
Learning how to implement this skill can be incredibly helpful for effective communication. Whether you’re in a professional or personal setting, this is one of the best high income skills you could have.
Here are some of the top benefits of active listening.
Personal (and professional) growth and development
Not surprisingly, this skill leads to both personal and professional growth and development.
To start, this type of listening builds your foundation of knowledge. In order to learn something, you first need to listen. Knowing how to actually listen can help you better pick up information. Before you know it, you’ll be expanding your understanding of everything.
Active listening also introduces you to different perspectives, which aids your personal growth. Coming across new perspectives builds your self-awareness, too. When you pay attention to others, you can become more in touch with your own biases and personal areas of improvement.
Improved collaboration and problem solving
Problem solving and collaboration only works when you have all the right information. This type of listening ensures you have the correct information to go off of. You’ll be able to steer clear of any miscommunications or misunderstanding with active listening. Not only that, but you can make more informed decisions and problem solve effectively with accurate information.
Having access to diverse perspectives and an open discourse allows for increased innovation and creativity among groups. It’s hard to come up with and discuss new ideas with a group that does listen to others. For example, in a professional setting, this can do wonders for collaboration, innovation, and brainstorming.
In a similar vein, knowing how to listen actively can bolster team spirit, especially in work settings. It’s one of the best ways to avoid a toxic work environment: making sure everyone feels heard and appreciated.
Best of all, this type of listening can ease stress and decrease conflicts. That’s because active listening can clear up any potential misunderstandings before they evolve into conflicts.
When you have less conflict, you can focus on the things that matter, like relationship building.
Better relationships across the board
One of the best benefits of active listening is that it improves your relationships, both personal and professional.
Active listeners are able to establish a foundation of trust and understanding from the get go. You can connect easier with those around you since it shows people that you genuinely care what they have to say. Not only will they have their thoughts and feelings validated, but they’ll also feel an increased sense of trust with you.
Because this type of listening improves your communication skills, you’ll be a better communicator. Successful communication fosters connection and relationships, whether that’s at school, at work, or in your own time.
Plus, you’ll be better able to empathize and offer support when people need it. Through active listening, you can pinpoint problems easier and understand the emotions of others. Using that information, you can show your support in ways they’re looking for.
Barriers to Active Listening
That’s not to say that active listening is easy or even comes natural to people. There are quite a few obstacles to be aware of.
Here are some of the most common barriers to watch out for.
Distractions and multitasking
It should come as no surprise that external distractions can be a barrier to active listening. Some of the most common culprits include:
Loud, noisy environments
Surroundings that make you uncomfortable
Other people trying to talk to you
If you’re trying to multitask while listening to someone, this can also affect how well you’re able to listen.
Unconscious biases
Everyone has their own unconscious biases. It’s completely normal, which makes it one of the most significant barriers to active listening. These biases come in many forms, but they all have a commonality: hindering effective communication.
Cultural differences can also fuel this type of bias. For example, nonverbal cues like hand gestures can vary across cultures. Something that’s considered “normal” or harmless in one culture could be offensive in another, such as pointing.
Power dynamics
Depending on the setting, power dynamics can also prevent successful active listening. For example, if you’re in a situation where you think you might be judged, you’re less likely to be able to listen like you would if you were comfortable and relaxed.
If there’s a fear of retaliation, you’re even less likely to express your true opinions, feelings, or questions because of the perceived risk.
Active Listening Exercises to Try
If you want to practice implementing some of your skills in real-world scenarios, you can do so with a group of friends or coworkers.
Here are a few active listening exercises to try and experiment with.
Charades
Chances are, you’ve at least heard of the game known as charades. It’s an activity where participants use body language, such as facial expressions and hand gestures, to get other participants to guess what they’re imitating or describing.
This game is a perfect active listening exercise because it requires everyone to work on understanding nonverbal cues.
Paraphrasing activities
Because paraphrasing (or being able to paraphrase) is such a huge component of active listening, activities where participants are required to paraphrase are great.
If you’re looking for a good paraphrasing activity, try assigning participants a topic they can speak on. Let them speak for a few minutes and then have others in the room try to paraphrase the main points. This helps drive home the importance of listening carefully and reflecting on what was said before responding.
Friendly debates
Debating can be a serious business, but you can practice your active listening skills with a few friendly debates. Here’s how this active listening exercise works.
First, choose a debate topic. Pick something lighthearted, such as:
Which is better: mustard or ketchup?
Should cereal be considered a soup?
Do you appreciate books or movies more?
Would you rather have the power to teleport or have wings?
Which reigns superior: “Star Trek” or “Star Wars”?
Whatever it is, engage in a friendly debate about the topic. This puts your active listening skills to the test. You’ll have to listen to the other person’s points, reflect, and respond in a meaningful way while also interpreting their nonverbal cues.
Why Is Active Listening Important?
Active listening is important because it’s essential to effective communication. Whether you’re giving a presentation at work, interviewing for a job, or just engaging in small talk with a stranger, active listening is necessary.
Plus, all the aforementioned benefits of active listening adds to its importance.
The Main Takeaway
Learning how to become an active listener is well worth it. It’ll not only take your communication skills to the next level, but it can completely transform and revitalize your relationships with others.
It’s an underrated communication tool that many people overlook. All the more reason to perfect this skill!
Click here to watch the full episode on Banter, the Yoodli podcast.
Background
Bryan Lemos is one of the world’s best communication coaches and consultants. He started his career as a struggling actor and director in LA – before an eye-opening experience working in foreign aid taught him what inspires people to action. When Bryan returned home, he immersed himself in executive development and was asked to begin coaching Fortune 50 clients at LinkedIn, NBC, and Delta, among others. Bryan is now a Senior Consultant and Executive Communications Coach at Decker Communications, leading executive communications for clients such as Google, Fidelity, and Workday.
Bryan’s Challenge:
Slow coaching sales: Despite his impressive credentials, Bryan spent too much time convincing companies that they needed communication coaching help (especially for executive leaders and L&D teams with volatile budgets). Typical contracts took anywhere from 1 – 3 months to close
Manual work: While the most fun of Bryan’s job is to help clients be their best selves, he spent over 10 per week on admin work (recording client videos, reducing the file size to share over email, transcribing client speeches, critiquing tactical elements of their delivery as opposed to focusing on empathy and story)
Client churn: Most engagements involved 3 X 1:1 coaching sessions or one-off workshops. Given the infrequent nature of speech coaching, most clients would churn after their initial training sessions and Bryan would need to source new leads.
Solution and Results
Bryan signed up for a bespoke coach version of Yoodli’s AI coaching solution. With this, Bryan got a customized version of Yoodli with his branding, logo, and custom content that he could configure. His primary benefits from Yoodli:
Lead Generation: Bryan now uploads a prospective client’s speech to Yoodli, leaves comments, and sends it to the client as part of the initial proposal. When a client sees their speech critiqued quantitatively in a judgment-free way, their eyes light up. This has increased inbound discussions by over 20%+ Here are examples of celebrity speeches you can see as reference.
Time savings: With Yoodli, client speeches are automatically transcribed, can be shared with 1 click, and include AI coaching across executive presence, eye contact, word choice, etc. Bryan can quickly skim through the metrics, instantly tell where to double down, and leave timestamped feedback – this saves him up to 10 hours a week. Moreover, Bryan can show clients an instant replay of what they said during Zoom calls and then do run-throughs over and over again (without waiting for the Zoom recording to process)
Retention: With Yoodli, Bryan sells clients access to a one-year subscription. They can practice with AI anytime and can send Bryan speeches to asynchronously critique, thereby keeping him on retainer. The best part? Yoodli integrates with their online meetings – so clients can get (private) feedback anytime they’re speaking without anyone knowing (or without needing to schedule the time to practice)
Most importantly, practicing with AI gives his clients a better overall experience. They have an extension of Bryan by their side at all times – they can access his content on Yoodli, practice with AI, and then focus on the more nuanced pieces of speaking during their live coaching sessions.
Bryan’s initial concerns with AI
Bryan is more tech-forward than most speech coaches but was initially concerned about using artificial intelligence. His reasons:
Confidentiality: Most of his clients are C-Suite and high-level executives practicing extremely sensitive content – what if this leaked?
Intellectual Property: Bryan’s method is bespoke to him and built on years of experience. He wanted to ensure only his clients could access this coaching (and that it’s not used to train broader machine learning models)
AI could take jobs: Bryan was skeptical if AI might replace him. Even if the coaching isn’t as good, what if clients moved to AI as an alternative to their live sessions?
AI is too tactical: Most of Bryan’s coaching is focused on the nuance of storytelling and understanding the audience. He worried that AI may not be able to understand this context and provide feedback that is unhelpful or simply incorrect (thereby hurting his credibility)
How Bryan overcame his AI skepticism:
Bryan was intrigued by AI given all he had heard about ChatGPT but wasn’t quite convinced at first.
Confidentiality: By signing up for the customized coach version of Yoodli, Bryan got access to the most advanced privacy features on the market. His clients’ speeches are private by default (not even visible to him unless explicitly shared), instantly deleted, and locked behind enterprise-grade security and encryption
Intellectual Property: Bryan’s content belongs to him. On the advanced Yoodli plan, his content is not used to train AI models and is only accessible to his clients
AI could take jobs: Bryan realized that AI could not replace him because his coaching was far too bespoke. However, another coaching company using AI might. As a result, he switched his approach, positioning AI as his assistant. Yoodli is to Bryan what TurboTax is to accountants or a medical report is to doctors – a tool in his toolbelt
AI is too tactical: Bryan doesn’t always agree with Yoodli’s suggestions (every coach has their personal method). However, he’s now customized Yoodli with his learning content, his method, and custom prompts – he can engage with AI comments and tell his clients what to focus on.
What’s next for Bryan?
Bryan is now on the Yoodli coach advisory board and shaping the roadmap of AI and communication coaching. He advises coaches and companies around the world on how to use AI to scale themselves. You can connect with Bryan on LinkedIn. If you’d like to get started with a bespoke version of Yoodli, reach out at info@yoodli.ai
Chances are, you’re familiar with communication technology. Today, the use of smartphones, computers, and even AI chatbots make communication easier than ever.
Still, there are definitely drawbacks to this tech, too. We’ll give you the overview on what you need to know about this specific type of technology, from the common subtypes to the benefits and drawbacks, and which tools are worth trying out.
What Is Communication Technology?
Communication technology refers to tools and programs that allow people to give and receive pieces of information. In a nutshell, this type of technology allows and improves communication.
There are tons of examples of communication technology, and not all examples are digital. For example, something as simple as a pen and a piece of paper still counts as communication tech, as it aids in successful communication.
However, other communication technology examples that are newer could include things like:
Phones, including telephone calls and text messaging
There are tons of types of communication technology. Anything that can be used to benefit or boost communication should be considered.
Here are some of the most common types of communication technology.
Telephones
The most common type of communication technology today is phones — particularly smartphones. They’re a tried-and-true communication tool that allows for long distance connection.
Though telephones have changed a lot since their conception, the purpose behind them remains the same.
Instant messaging
For the past two decades, instant messaging has been a huge area of communication technology. For example, AOL instant messenger was a very popular method of communication in the late ’90s and 2000s. Microsoft’s MSN Messenger was another common tool during this time.
Today, instant messaging is available in many channels, such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook Messenger, Google Chat, Instagram, and other platforms.
Email
In a similar vein, email is another example of communication technology introduced decades ago that’s still going strong today.
For example, Hotmail was an email platform from Microsoft that was rebranded over time to Outlook. Still, it offers the same general services. Other common email platforms include:
Gmail
Yahoo Mail
Apple Mail
Windows Mail
Social media
It’s hard to imagine a world without social media, but before social media, connecting with others outside of a person’s usual circle was pretty difficult. Social media platforms — namely Facebook (Meta), X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Snapchat — are a great example of communication technology.
It helps people communicate from all over the world, instantaneously. For example, people can share photos, videos, and other information to better connect with others.
Video conferencing
Video conferencing is an extremely powerful communication technology tool that gives others the chance to talk with each other face-to-face, no matter where in the world they are. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of video conferencing apps like Zoom and Google Meet exploded in popularity. Because people could no longer have as many face-to-face meetings, Zoom meetings became the new normal, leading to unexpected side effects, such asZoom fatigue.
The internet
The concept of the internet — the World Wide Web — revolutionized communication. Since its conception, people have been able to talk to anyone across the globe online. Finding information became even more accessible and more efficient, especially with the introduction of Google’s search engine.
Other types of communication technology
There are also other types of communication technology that are less common or not considered as often. These include things like:
Printers
Wearable devices, like smartwatches such as Apple Watch or Fitbit, or other fitness trackers
Scanners
GPS devices
Fax machines
Radio
Television
9 Communication Technology Tools Worth Exploring
Within the past 100 years, communication technology has absolutely exploded. Today, there are so many options when it comes to tech tools to use for communication.
Here are the nine best communication technology tools you should be using.
In terms of communication technology — especially when it comes to improving your communication skills — Yoodli is the top pick.
This speech coach app relies on AI to aid users in building a foundation for their communication skills. It’s perfect for both professional environments and for personal use. As such, there are loads of solutions Yoodli can offer its users.
Some of the most common ways people use Yoodli include to:
Practice and prepare for interviews
Improve their public speaking skills
Prep for corporate or school presentations
Practice impromptu or conversational speaking
For example, you can record or upload a video of yourself practicing your upcoming presentation on DEIB and Yoodli will provide instantaneous data and metrics to help you improve.
You’ll get data like your speaking rate, filler word usage, word choice, talk time, for example. Yoodli uses this data to give actionable tips and feedback on how you can improve. If you struggle with inclusive language, Yoodli can identify instances of noninclusive language and provide you with alternatives to use.
Check out the overview video below to learn more about how to use Yoodli to your advantage:
Yoodli is one of the best communication technology examples on our list, as it helps the user improve their speech immediately.
One of the best instant messaging apps available is WhatsApp, a cross-platform, freeware service owned by Meta Platforms. With WhatsApp, you can send instant messages, voice and video messages, and media like documents, locations, and images. In addition to that, this app also allows users to make voice and video calls.
WhatsApp is available all over the world, making it one of the most common solutions for global communication. No matter where you are, you should be able to connect with others through WhatsApp.
It’s also extremely versatile, as it can be used in professional environments like at work or school, or in personal spaces, like a family group chat. It’s free to download and use, too.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed both educational and work environments all over the world as people shifted to virtual communication. As a result, Zoom became more popular than ever.
Zoom is a video conferencing app that allows people to participate in video calls. You can connect with your phone or your computer and join voice or video calls. You can also send instant messages in the chat box during calls.
This app revolutionized communication and collaboration, especially in professional settings. Things like Zoom interviews weren’t as common pre-pandemic, for example. It’s free to use, although there are paid plans that give users more features.
If you’re in the gaming community in any capacity, you’ve probably heard of Discord. It’s a tried-and-true instant messaging app released in 2015 that’s especially common with people who play computer games.
With Discord, you can set up private chats with friends or servers, which are usually larger chat rooms that can house topic-based channels and online communities. As a communication technology app, people who use Discord can send instant messages, media, and other files, as well as participate in video or voice calls.
It’s available in 30 different languages and is free to use.
One of the most well-known examples of communication technology is Slack, the messaging app targeted toward business teams.
Slack uses cloud-based technology to allow for instant messaging. Although it’s ideal for communication within businesses, companies, and other professional environments, Slack has definitely evolved as a more versatile platform.
On Slack, you can do things like:
Message coworkers within your organization
Create channels for teams to have a space for communication
Even though it was originally created for business environments and team communications, Google Chat has now expanded its audience to include virtually anyone. Developed by Google, this chat service allows users to instant message each other on the platform.
Still, Google Chat is most commonly used in work environments and other environments where teamwork and collaboration is the focus.
On the platform, you can do things like:
Instant message coworkers in real time
Create group chats for instant messaging or casual collaboration
Although it was previously known as Flipgrid, the creator of this popular web and mobile app (Microsoft) rebranded it as simply “Flip.” Flip is a free app targeted toward students and teachers to improve communication education and literacy.
For example, educators can use it to form online groups for their students who can then answer questions and provide feedback through various means of communication, like audio, text, or video messages.
To do so, teachers and professors invite students and create a group. Next, they may post a topic for discussion or an assignment that students can respond to. With Flip, the educator can see student responses and offer comments and feedback as well.
The app is pretty useful and as such, it’s one of the best educational communication technology examples out there.
Snapchat — recognizable by its iconic ghost logo — is a popular multimedia app for instant messaging. Users who have the app can find their friends and send instant messages, pictures, and videos to communicate. On the app, you can also upload “stories” which are photos or videos that are featured on your profile icon for about 24 hours.
During the past few years, Snapchat has released several updates, the latest being its introduction to My AI, the user’s personal generative AI chatbot assistant.
There is one drawback to Snapchat, depending on who you ask. The messages, videos, and pictures are usually only available for a few seconds. After you receive and open a message, it’ll typically disappear soon after.
Snapchat was launched in 2011 and is still going strong, more than a decade later.
One of the best note-taking apps, if not the best, is Evernote. It’s an app that helps with both note taking and task and project management. It’s a great communication technology tool, especially as it allows for online collaboration.
With Evernote, you can create notes (or archive them later) and include elements like audio, scans, web content, PDFs, documents, or photos. These notes can be edited, tagged, annotated, and exported, as well. Your notes live in online notebooks which can be searched for ease of access. They’ll automatically sync across your devices, too.
This app is especially beneficial if you’re a student or a corporate employee, since you can organize your schedule and tasks right on Evernote. It can help you make sure you don’t miss deadlines and it can even sync up to your Google Calendar. If you’re a student, make sure you check out Evernote’s student discount.
Benefits of Communication Technology
Because communication technology is meant to help people communicate with each other, there are naturally loads of benefits. For example, some of the main benefits to using communication technology are:
Increased efficiency
More access to global services and information
Better connection to friends and family members
Easier collaboration
Increased efficiency and convenience
Work across all industries have seen more efficiency and convenience thanks to communication technology. This type of tech can automate some tasks, similarly to how HR technology does, and this makes employees more productive. They can work on other, more pressing tasks and let their tech handle smaller things that can be streamlined. It’s more convenient this way, too.
More access to global services and information
Because the internet has made the globe a little smaller in terms of connectivity, people have more access to global services and information. Instead of being limited to the research and information nearest to you (whether that’s word-of-mouth or at your local library), you now have easy access to info on any topic.
It’s easier now than ever to learn about current events, research a certain subject, or learn a new skill entirely.
Better connection to friends and family members
Today, it doesn’t matter where your friends, family members, or coworkers are based — you’ll be able to connect with them through communication technology like phone calls, texts, and email.
This is one of the most significant benefits to this type of tech. It’s particularly helpful for people whose friends, family members, and coworkers live farther away from each other and for those who live in remote areas.
Easier collaboration
Despite the push for employees to return to the office after working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, communication technology has boosted collaborative efforts and made collaborating easier than it’s ever been.
People all over the world can brainstorm together virtually using videoconferencing apps or email, for example. Students, corporate employees, and anyone else can use this type of technology to connect with each other and throw ideas around.
Even in in-person settings, communication technology has facilitated teamwork and collaborative efforts.
Drawbacks of Communication Technology
That doesn’t mean this type of technology exists without any disadvantages. Although there are tons of benefits, there are definitely some drawbacks to communication technology.
Leads to privacy violations
People say once something’s posted on the internet, it never truly goes away, even if you delete it. This is certainly true to an extent, which is one of the reasons why communication technology can lead to privacy violations and concerns over personal (and even governmental) security.
AI has had similar consequences, as scammers can use it to imitate a person’s voice — say, a friend or family member — and pretend to be in an emergency situation that warrants you to send money to them, for example.
Your data can be mined from the internet and used against you and without your consent. Cyberattacks are a common but unintended consequence of this technology.
Spreads misinformation, quickly and efficiently
As the world witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation and disinformation spread rapidly on social media platforms and the internet in general. Because information is so much more accessible, misinformation and disinformation are just as widely available.
Common myths begin on the internet and tend to crop up in topic areas like politics, social and cultural subjects, and health.
Can be distracting and addictive
If you’ve ever had a smartphone or a social media account of any kind, you probably have an idea of how distracting phones can be. Communication technology uses lots of different notifications, whether that’s a phone ringing, an instant message ping, or a push notification on your phone.
Unfortunately, these types of notifications can be very distracting. Communication technology can even be addictive in some circumstances. Many people are tempted to continuously check their phone. It’s the first thing they do when they wake up and the last thing they do before they go to bed, oftentimes.
Feeds social inequality
Although this wasn’t an intended consequence of communications technology, it can definitely lead to new forms of social inequality. For example, some, if not most, of communication technology is considered a privilege, not a right. Even though information is more easily accessible than ever, not everyone has access to a computer or smartphone.
In addition to that, not everyone has the same level of digital literacy. Some people are unfamiliar with the inner workings of the internet or other communication tools which can put them at a disadvantage, such as when applying for various jobs.
Just as communication technology can spread misinformation, it can also promote hate speech and discrimination, especially on social media. This leads to a greater divide amongst groups of people, which directly feeds into social inequities.
Algorithmic biases are also another consequence of this kind of technology that helps fuel inequality. A social media platform may promote one user over another, or boost the posts of someone over another person based on biases. This leads to echo chambers — a concept that leads to confirmation bias as it shows content that aligns with a person’s pre-existing views instead of all types of content.
Communication Technology Trends
It’s no wonder that communication technology trends are constantly changing as the tech itself evolves. The trends are endless, but there are a few in particular that have begun to grow in popularity.
One such trend, for example, is the use of AI in this type of tech. Machine learning (ML) has also grown extensively. Tools like ChatGPT and Bard are great examples of communication tech that falls into this trend.
As mentioned above, videoconferencing has exploded in popularity thanks in part to the recent pandemic. The concept of telepresence is such a significant trend that it’s touched multiple industries. Not only can people work from home when they need to, but they can also schedule telehealth appointments or even virtual social hours.
Mobile-first technology is yet another trend seen among communication technology tools. This has been a shift to devices like tablets and smartphones. In order to cater to the mobile-first shift, apps and websites are specially designed for mobile interfaces.
The Key Takeaway
Communication technology isn’t new, but its uses, applications, popularity, and trends continue to evolve. Using technology like Yoodli, Zoom, or Gmail all improve efficient communication among others to foster connection and collaboration.
This kind of tech has a whole host of benefits and drawbacks alike, though new advantages and disadvantages continue to crop up every day.
Speaking passionately is a powerful and persuasive communication skill that transcends mere words. Passionate speakers leave a lasting impression, whether they’re addressing a room full of people or engaging in one-on-one conversations. We’ll discuss what passionate speech is and share practical advice on how to speak passionately.
What Is Passionate Speech?
If you wanted to find another phrase that pairs well with “passionate speaking,” you might use “how to speak eloquently,” as they often go hand-in-hand. But, it’s difficult if not impossible to find an exact substitute. Passion when speaking is a quality that can be hard to describe — a je ne sais quoi. But, you know passion when you read it; you know it when you hear it.
Passionate communication can refer to spoken (public or interpersonal) or written language. It’s the art of using language in a fluent, ardent, and emotionally impactful way. Passion often involves the skillful use of rhetoric, including techniques such as metaphors and similes to create a compelling and memorable message.
Passion in speaking isn’t restricted to a specific vocabulary or accent. Instead, it’s about how you convey your message. It’s a quality that entails using language in a way that resonates with your listeners — making complex ideas accessible and evoking emotions when needed. A person who knows how to speak passionately possesses the ability to inspire, persuade, and engage their audience — leaving them not just informed but moved.
In short, passionate speaking is a work of art. It’s not merely uttered; it’s crafted. It’s not a blaring car horn; it’s a symphony.
#1: Learn from Passionate Speaking Examples
Examples of passionate speaking will demonstrate what it is and help you know how to speak passionately yourself. So, if you want to be a passionate speaker, read a lot of well-written material. Listen to speeches that are crafted and delivered brilliantly.
To get you started, let’s take a look at a few examples of passionate speech from public speaking as well as interpersonal communications. We’ve contrasted each example with alternative language to drive home the difference. Read these examples aloud to get the full effect.
Passionate speaking examples from speeches
“Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.”
Repetition of “Now” at the beginning of each sentence
Alliteration with dark/desolate and segregation/sunlit
Imagery of “the dark and desolate valley,” “the sunlit path,” “the quick sands,” and “the solid rock”
What if King had used these words instead?
“The present time is appropriate for the realization of the pledges associated with democracy. It is also the time to transition from segregation to racial justice, as well as to relocate from racial injustice to brotherhood.”
It’s the same message, but it doesn’t hold the same passion. Let’s look at an example from another icon in public speaking.
“Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’”
Notice how clear Churchill is about the grave reality they face. He doesn’t mince words; he doesn’t present a rose-colored vision. While he uses figurative language, it serves to make reality concrete rather than obscure or soften it. Imagine that Churchill had said this instead:
“Hitler is aware that he must defeat us on this island or face defeat in the overall war. If we can successfully resist him, there’s a chance that all of Europe could become free, and the global situation may improve significantly. However, if we don’t succeed, the entire world, including the United States and everything we cherish, will face a prolonged and darker period, exacerbated by the misuse of scientific advancements. So, we should prepare ourselves for our responsibilities and conduct ourselves in a way that, even if the British Empire and its Commonwealth endure, people will still remember this as a noteworthy moment in our history.”
Informative, but not as passionate.
Passionate speaking examples from interpersonal communication
Passionate speaking isn’t limited to public speeches; it can occur in conversation. If you want to learn how to speak passionately, read material such as literary fiction that’s strong in dialogue. Let’s look at some examples from fiction.
“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves; it is not my nature.”
Jane Austen • Northanger Abbey
Imagine if Austen had written it this way:
“I’d do anything for my real friends. I wouldn’t even think of partially loving people; that’s not like me at all.”
Are you starting to get the hang of it? Let’s look at another example from Austen.
“Oh! Do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch.”
Jane Austen • Mansfield Park
Are you reading these aloud? Listen to this alternate wording:
“Please spare me the lectures about time constraints. Watches are unreliable, and I won’t let one be the boss of me.”
Now, you might be thinking that the difference is between 19th-century and modern language. So, let’s look at some examples of passionate speech from more recent works.
“So, how, children, does the brain, which lives without a spark of light, build for us a world full of light?”
Anthony Doerr • All the Light We Cannot See
What would that beautiful sentence sound like if it weren’t as passionate? Perhaps like this:
“A brain is stuck inside a dark skull. So, how can it generate a bright reality?”
Let’s consider another example from modern dialogue:
“‘Loving someone is like moving into a house,’ Sonja used to say. ‘At first you fall in love with all the new things, amazed every morning that all this belongs to you, as if fearing that someone would suddenly come rushing in through the door to explain that a terrible mistake had been made, you weren’t actually supposed to live in a wonderful place like this. Then over the years the walls become weathered, the wood splinters here and there, and you start to love that house not so much because of all its perfection, but rather for its imperfections.’”
Fredrik Backman • A Man Called Ove
Now, what if Sonja weren’t as passionate?
“Loving someone is like moving into a house. First, you’re in love with everything that’s new. You can’t believe it’s yours, and you worry every day that someone will tell you they’ve made a big mistake and it’s not yours after all. Over time, things in the house get old and start to break, and you end up loving the house because it’s not perfect, not because it’s perfect.
By now, you should notice that passionate language isn’t boring; it isn’t clunky. It gets the message across, for sure, but it does more than inform. It’s elevated in some way. And, you don’t have to be Martin Luther King Jr. or a character in a celebrated work of literature to speak with passion. Let’s look at some dialogue from the fabulous flick “The Princess Bride.”
Inigo Montoya asks Westley who he is. Westley could respond, “Nobody.” Instead, he says, “No one of consequence.”
When Inigo shows Westley his sword, Westley could say, “I’ve never seen anything like it.” Instead, he remarks, “I’ve never seen its equal.”
Count Rugen tells Westley, “Come, Sir. We must get you to your ship.” Westley could say, “We’re individuals who prioritize taking practical steps and decisive measures. We don’t lie.” Instead, he offers this retort: “We are men of action; lies do not become us.” (This is a good example that shows that wordiness isn’t a feature of passionate speaking; often, passionate speech is concise.)
When Buttercup tells Westley that she’ll never doubt him again, he could say, “You won’t have to.” Instead, he says, “There will never be a need.”
These examples should help you get into the habit of noticing the differences between language that’s ho-hum and language that’s full of passion.
#2: Broaden Your Vocabulary for Passionate Speaking
People who know how to speak passionately have fairly broad vocabularies. Passion often involves choosing just the right words for the occasion. So, it helps to have more words to choose from.
Again, it helps to be an avid reader. Read widely; explore different genres and eras. Take note of words that are new to you, look up their meaning, notice how they’re used, and practice using them yourself.
In addition to reading a lot, you can use vocabulary-building apps, play word games, keep a vocabulary journal, create flashcards, and write more.
Keep in mind that building your vocabulary is an ongoing process. Gradually, you’ll find yourself using a broader range of words in your everyday communication, making your language more expressive and nuanced.
Also, remember that passionate speaking isn’t about using big and fancy words that most people don’t know; it’s about using the right words. The more words you know, the more options you’ll have.
#3: Embrace the Power of Rhetoric for Passionate Speaking
Rhetorical devices add depth and beauty to your language. Several of the examples above include techniques such as metaphors, similes, alliteration, and parallelism. The more you’re exposed to rhetorical devices, the more you’ll recognize them and find ways to use them yourself. So, listen to speeches and debates, and read rhetorical works. Study the techniques. Practice using them. (You can practice creating metaphors with the fun online game Metaphor Mania.)
Wrapping Up
Speaking passionately is a valuable skill that can elevate your personal and professional life. It’s not about sounding posh; it’s about connecting with others through the art of language. By mastering the basics, expanding your vocabulary, and practicing the techniques of rhetoric, you can become a more effective and impactful communicator.
Remember, passionate speaking is a journey. And, with dedication and practice, you can transform your speech into a powerful tool that leaves a lasting impression on your listeners.
Note: This post was created in partnership with artificial intelligence.
