• Are your messages concrete and clear in content?

• Do you convey what you want with simplicity and clarity of ideas?

• Do you get to the point without wasting time in detours and ambiguities?

• Do you approach conversations clearly, honestly and effectively?

• Do you look for the right moments to say things?

• Do you choose the right communication channel?

• Is the communication bidirectional? Do you transmit the message and listen to the interlocutor?

• Do you actively listen while a person is speaking, without interrupting?

• Do you adapt your language and style to the people you talk to?

• Do you make sure that the interlocutor has understood the message?

• Do you know how to accept criticism or comments with an attitude of improvement?

• You do not think before you speak. You do not have a clear outline before expressing an idea or reasoning.

• Your messages are ambiguous and you fail to convey your ideas clearly.

• You do not express yourself clearly, you "beat around the bush".

• You don't finish a sentence or reasoning started.

• You are inopportune at the time, place or way of conveying an idea.

• You are ethereal and not concrete by giving examples.

• You are not flexible enough to adapt speech to the audience.

• You interrupt the interlocutor while he/she is speaking or you think in advance of an answer without having reached the end of his/her reasoning.

• You get distracted, you think about something else when your interlocutor speaks.

• You have no sensitivity to interpret people's problems.

• You do not look at the interlocutor while speaking.

• You don't grasp the substance of a message; you get caught up in the details instead of perceiving the problem that is being conveyed.

• You do not listen to the arguments of others or you interpret them according to your own point of view.

• You use an inappropriate tone for what you want to communicate.

• You don't communicate your ideas because of shyness or personality traits.

• Name one person you admire for his or her communication skills. What makes you think he or she is a good communicator? Specific things you could learn from him or her? What things does he or she do that you do as well?

• Do you think you are a good communicator? What are your strengths and weaknesses when communicating with others?

• Are you able to put your thoughts and feelings into words?

• Are others able to understand what you really want to express? Do they understand your ideas and arguments?

• In what situations would you like to know how to communicate better?

• Do you regularly read good books and articles that enrich your vocabulary and expressive resources?

• When you talk to a person, do you try to pay attention to what they are saying?

• When you speak or give a presentation, do you look into the eyes of your listeners? What do you do with your hands? Do you keep them in your pockets, arms folded or behind your back?

• Do you interrupt a conversation by looking at your cell phone every time you get a notification?

• When you are about to have an important conversation, do you put your cell phone on airplane mode to avoid interruptions?

• Do you ask people you trust to tell you how you communicate? Do you know how others perceive you when you speak? For example, are you approachable, aloof, haughty or simple?

• Before communicating with someone, do you think about the most appropriate channel for communication (in person, phone, e-mail, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)?

A complex but affordable communication exercise is the elevator pitch, or what is the same, the speech you would do if you only had the time it takes to go up an elevator (one minute) to sell yourself or your product.
Prepare an elevator pitch in which you summarize who you are and what you do. Then, perform it in front of a camera (webcam, cell phone...). See where you can improve by watching the video.
Do this exercise once every two days for two weeks (or once a day for a week) and notice the changes you have made.

Among the extra-curricular activities, some can be seen as an opportunity to improve communication, besides being very good for establishing new friendships.
These include, for example, theater, discussion, film club, UNMUN, congress FORUN and even some electives (in 3rd and 4th grades) that deal with these subjects. Choose which of them to join according to the time you have available and the time they require.
Participate actively in them, contributing your ideas to improve them.

For a good communication, it is necessary to have a deep -but not exhaustive- knowledge of the topic that is being discussed, whether in a exhibition, in a discussion or in other circumstances, the important thing is to be clear about what you are talking about.
Therefore, before you speak, do your research from reliable sources so that you can convey confidence. Diversify your sources for greater impartiality and develop a critical spirit to give your opinion and not repeat what others say for you.
If it is a controversial topic , write down those sources so that later there is no confusion and others can check.

Isn't it true that some teachers capture our attention? How do they do it? Why do TED Talk speakers engage? What did the great communicators do?
Whenever you are in front of a talk, class or a moment when someone is communicating to an audience, notice how they do it: gestures, changes in tone of voice, hand movements, etc.
Watch videos on the Internet that discuss why some of the world's most famous leaders communicated so well.

Great communication is usually preceded by good communication staff, making yourself understood by your environment can cost more than an audience falling for your words.
To do this, you must first learn to listen well. Listen by putting 100% of your attention on what the other person is saying. This is a fundamental step for true communication. Try to put yourself in their shoes to understand why they are saying that. Like goal, you can make a point of remembering average hour after you have spoken to someone how the conversation has evolved, so you will know if you have been listening or not.
The next goal is the correct understanding of the information you convey. If there are often discrepancies between what you mean and what is understood (for example, if a team work is unclear), ask those who misunderstood your words what led to the confusion and correct it.

You should always have topics of conversation at hand so that communication in a group or in a conversation staff. Therefore, it is a good goal to be informed about current issues and to develop your own criteria about them.
Spend ten minutes a day reading the newspaper (online or in print), focusing on the news that may have the greatest impact. Then, do some research about them in other media to get more information and perspective.
Think about controversial topics (immigration, politics, legislation, etc.) so that when they come up or are brought up in conversation, you can speak your own mind.

Read the document Aprendiendo a escuchar by Professor Rodriguez Porras to learn more about how to listen effectively.
With what you now know, set out (as the document says) to have a long conversation with a person with whom you have confidence and exercise yourself in listening properly. It doesn't have to be forced, just care about him or her. If you do this often, the advice will be internalized.

A good exhibition is enhanced by good supporting elements such as videos, images or a Power Point presentation that enhances the quality of the presentation.
Ask professors about how to make high-impact presentations, and get together with creative people to learn from them. Take charge of preparing the next presentation PowerPoint you have to defend.
Research and select copyright-free image files, videos, and vectorized images so you'll never lack for visual support.
Learn how to create graphics in such a way that they will be understood by the audience without extensive explanation from you.

When the topic is a tricky staff or professional issue and you feel that you have been hurt, do not answer immediately, because what will occur to you to answer is to get on the defensive. Once the first argument has passed, do not answer either, as you must avoid the retort that only leads to an escalation.
When you notice that you have more control over yourself, answer calmly and, if the aggravation has been strong and you see that you do not get over it, say directly that you are not in a position to speak objectively and change topic calmly.
If you tend to take many things too much to heart, think about the last times you were angry, why you were angry and when you see the reasons, laugh at your thoughts. With this system you will improve the control of your answers and you will gain in communication.

Take a really long time to explain the topic of your talk.
Speak slowly and dramatically - why be a talker when you can be a speaker?
Make sure others realize in a roundabout way how important you are.
Connect with your book repeatedly. Better yet, quote it.
Cramming your slides with bulleted enumerations and various text sources.
Use a lot of technical jargon without explaining it so you sound appealing.
Talk for a long time about the history of your organization and its glorious achievements.
Not bothering to look at how long you've been talking.
Sound like you are reciting from report.
Never, absolutely never, look anyone in the audience in the eye.

How to Give a Killer Presentation
The founder of the TED Talk program outlines on article the advice he gives to people who are asked to give a TED Talk; advice that has been refined over the years.

Barriers to communication, Alfonso Aguiló
In an extensive way and sprinkled with anecdotes, the problems that occur in personal relationships when we do not know how to listen, or when we try to impose our criteria, are exposed here.

Learning to listen; J. M. Rguez Porras
The article exposes the conclusions of a small study of this teacher with his students, after having sent the exercise of having a conversation for an hour focusing on attentive listening.

Stop Googling, Let's Talk; Sherry Turkle
The famed researcher explains in the article a summary of her book "In Defense of Conversation", in which she exposes and demonstrates that the conversation staff, face to face, is of the most important in the relationship with others, and the danger that mobiles are bringing to this field.

Structure your presentation like a story, Nancy Duarte
Without going deeply into subject, the author sample a method for presentations based on the comparative "what is" and "what could be".

12 tips for Public Speaking, Conor Neill
With a dozen indispensable actions to keep the audience in your pocket and an extra committee to master the art of public speaking, this article sets out the instructions of the presentation and the exhibition

You have an "e-mail", J.M. Rguez Porras
Contains a description of insomnia, as well as a "sleep decalogue" to help you sleep better.

Don't get defensive: Communication tips for the Vigilant; Mark Goulston
The importance of listening when the first reaction is to feel like an attack staff actually makes us better later. And how do you not get defensive? Mark Goulston explains

Logos, Pathos, Ethos; J.M. Rguez Porras and N. Chinchilla
In a succinct way, the authors expose the relationships between the three Aristotelian divisions of oratory.

The King's speech , Tom Hooper
Addresses the skill of communication as the protagonist, George VI, is initially unable to express himself due to his stuttering and lack of self-esteem. As the sessions with Lionel Logue progress, he learns to develop his skills as he opens up inwardly to the therapist. His topics are: interpersonal communication, self-confidence and some skills related to oral presentation . IMDB profile

Selma, AvaDuvernay
Centered on the events surrounding the march to Selma led by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1965, the protagonist depicts the communication skills possessed by the late reverend, such as the ability to persuade and active listening. It is a good example of how to deal with interpersonal communication, in this case in moments of great tension, and oral communication in front of a crowd of people. IMDB profile

Invictus
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Steve Jobs
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10 ways to have a better conversation, Celeste Headlee
Great talk outlining ways to speak and listen in such a way as to have a real conversation.

The power of a conversation, Álvaro González-Alorda
speaker makes us reflect on the importance of conversations: both the ones we have and the ones we never have. It is a talk that moves us to speak in a deep and sincere way to build a better life.

Do you want to sound like a leader? Start by saying your name right; Laura Sicola
This TED Talk explains and teaches how we should modulate our voice according to different circumstances, and the power this has on the impression on others, the understanding of our message and the memory we leave.

The Power is in the palm of your hands; Allan Pease
A talk exclusively dedicated to the position of the hands and their meaning, and why train them to suit what we want to say or how we feel.

Body Language, the Key for your Subconscious; Ann Washburn
Drawing from her own experiences, speaker explains why posture can change the way we think and receive information.

How to kill your body language Frankenstein and inspire the villagers; Scott Rouse
In an entertaining way, this researcher demystifies some body language postures and explains the true meaning, as well as presents what others really mean by their postures.

How to build genuine confidence, Russ Harris
In this talk, Russ Harris explains the positives of feeling insecure and how to deal with anxiety.

Communicate and you will see
Francisco "Paco" Grau's blog about communication in speeches and public speaking.

Moving people to action
Connor Neill's blog about communication in general.