Carine Landau advises you on 10 exercises to improve your communication
Communication is a constant exchange of arguments, a dance of words, gestures, and expressions to be captured and understood at the right moment.
It’s a powerful negotiation tool. That’s why it’s so important to improve your verbal communication skills
What if you approached each conversation as a potential negotiation?
Every exchange is, in essence, a stage, and you are the hero. You step onto this stage for a phone call, a meeting, a conference, your weekly team discussion, or when you address an audience. You have the opportunity to engage in dialogue, not only to persuade but to adapt, to listen, to find a compromise, and to leave the exchange with a satisfying, win-win outcome.
Whether you realize it or not, unless you stay hidden away in bed every day, every word you exchange, every shared glance or gesture, is a chance to persuade, to progress, to create a connection, to find common ground – in short, to help build the society of tomorrow.
⭐️ Improving your communication is now an essential skill for any manager who wants to have a greater impact within his or her company.
⭐️ In this article, I’ll be giving you 10 exercises to make your communication even more grounded, stable and committed.
To improve your communication, start by observing
Victor Kiam said :
“A negotiator must observe everything. You need to be part Sherlock Holmes, part Sigmund Freud.”
Discover my analysis checklist. I invite you to observe yourself – because you are being observed:
- Posture: associated calm, serenity, stability, comfort, a composed, open, and kind demeanor.
- Gestures: natural, meaningful, clear, precise, logical, lively, vibrant, generous, open.
- Expressions: kind, friendly, sincere, calm, either serene or, at times, tense and agitated.
- Eye contact: natural, kind, gentle, connected.
- Appearance: style, body type, colors, dress codes.
- Voice: steady, calm, with natural pauses and breathing, passionate, engaged.
- Environment: logical, serious, orderly, calm, well-lit, and clear.
It’s your turn to investigate! Review your last video and take notes. These points apply to both you and your interlocutor.
10 exercises for effective communication
1. To relax
Close your eyes. Name five things you can see, four you can feel or touch with your hand, three you can hear, two you can smell and finally, one thing you can taste.
2. To find your anchor point
Stand with your back straight, legs stable, and feet slightly apart at hip-width. Bend your knees and squat down, then return to a standing position. Start from your center and rock backward, then return to the center. Rock forward, then return. Sway from side to side, first right, then left. You’re turning around a central axis, known as your center of gravity. This anchor works when you’re standing or sitting. When stressed, focus your strength on this anchor point to maintain your composure. In a team, you can try this exercise together, testing each other’s balance.
3. To connect:
Your head aligns with three possible axes:
The rotational or relational axis, suggested for connection - upright and honest.
The sagittal or hierarchical axis, used to dominate, projecting superiority (typically seen as looking upward) and often used by shorter individuals. I recommend to avoid that one to create a stable relation.
The lateral or empathy axis, where the head tilts left for openness or right, which can convey tension - this should be avoided in professional settings.
4. To welcome
A sincere smile originates from the eyes. Look for slight wrinkling around the eyes that accompanies a genuine smile. Practice in front of a mirror.
5. To show interest
Your eyebrows reflect your engagement. Like a highlighter on a post-it, they emphasize and draw attention.
Move them in rhythm with your emotions to show involvement.
6. To convey honesty
Your eyes are the mirror of your soul.
They reveal your feelings, which fall into six universal emotions identified by Paul Ekman:
Joy
Sadness
Fear / Surprise
Anger / Disgust
Tips for communicating with your eyes
To guide your gaze in a crowded room, move your eyes in a W then an M pattern, focusing on smaller groups.
For a smaller audience, offer direct eye contact to each person, one by one.
7. To command presence
When stepping onto a stage, stand straight, as if a thread is pulling you up toward the ceiling. Walk calmly, each step deliberate. Face the audience and hold your position without speaking. Find friendly faces in the crowd. Wait for complete silence. You’re there, present, and expected. Then, begin.
8. To release tension
Stress often accumulates in your hands.
To relieve tension, stretch your arms up toward the sky, hands facing each other.
Lengthen your spine as if pulled by a thread.
Then open your arms, stretching your muscles in a circular motion to expand your breathing capacity.
Repeat and then let your hands naturally rest along your body.
9. To illustrate your point
Your gestures say a lot. Find an expression that matches your argument. A word or phrase often has a corresponding gesture. Your gestures might be:
- Figurative: descriptive gestures, like showing the size of a house.
- Symbolic: culturally significant gestures, such as thumbs up, the OK sign, or the V symbol.
- Engram gestures: where your thumb touches your index and middle fingers to recall a memory (or signal lying).
- Geo-spatial: indicating a location in space (for instance, naming Berlin and New York logically).
- Projective gestures: unique to you, expressing your mood or personality.
10. To speak with depth
Breathe. Start by breathing quickly through your nose. Catch your breath. Repeat. Now, calmly breathe. Feel your passion as your breath quickens, or maintain a neutral tone as you prepare to make an announcement without emotion.
Position your voice by placing your hand on your throat and yawning loudly. Repeat vowels, then vary your tone. First, talk to yourself: "I forgot my keys." Next, address a neighbor: "I enjoy working in a team." Finally, engage with your audience: "Welcome!"
Ready to try these?
The benefits of communication training
My clients have tested and approved it. By getting to know themselves better, their message becomes 100% congruent. Surrounding yourself with professionals enables you to master every dimension, every signal, and harmonize your messages.
Well-calibrated communication increases productivity, improves interpersonal relationships, and builds the trust necessary for lasting results.
My clients discover themselves, gain confidence in themselves and their team, and recognize the value of their talents and achievements.
Getting to know yourself to communicate better
You reach out to me for yourself and for your teams. Working together is a challenge.
Your daily routine demands results, and sometimes, outside support allows you to take a moment to pause.
This training for public speaking, sales, and internal and external communication is a (re) discovery of your own strengths and those of your team. You leave surprised: “So that’s why!” “I just couldn’t get you to understand this.”
Between exclamations, revelations, and surprise, you understand your own communication style and that of your colleagues.
You start a new chapter as a team, allowing you to better connect with that so-called “difficult” colleague. Taking a day together allows you to learn about yourselves, starting with yourself to better engage with others.
You now know your communication style.
To build self-confidence
You tell me about your blocks, stress, and doubts. Stress can either inhibit your talents or release new energy.
Feeling nervous is normal; losing control, however, means losing the opportunity to speak up. Some say, “Stress is a thief,” but it can also be a driving force!
Knowing yourself, understanding, and analyzing yourself is about realizing your potential and uncovering areas for improvement.
You observe, you understand, you connect – with your strengths and your audience.
Whether it’s about your digital image or public speaking, we define your goals together to reveal what makes you unique. We highlight your emotion.
An authentic and empathetic manager can bring teams together, listen, and engage sustainably. When teams feel heard and valued, they are more motivated, productive, and innovative.
Numerous studies confirm this, including one from Catalyst, which found that 76% of employees led by empathetic managers reported higher engagement and innovation, compared to only 32% under less empathetic managers.
You gain self-confidence and, finally, the right to be heard.
Value yourself and value your team
The virtuous circle of “recognition, listening and unity” is highly valued by my clients. Your request for training is about empowering your team, giving them a voice and fully showcasing their talents.
You know your strengths and those of your team. By recognizing these, you interpret, adapt, and increase your effectiveness.
A team that feels valued, listened to, and united improves its performance. Who better than you and your team to represent this?
You become the best ambassadors of your projects, results, and ambitions. You are true to your commitments. You do what you say. You are aligned and consistent.
You carry your performance from the stage into everyday life.
You take a stand to recognize and celebrate your achievements. Bravo!
Communication lies at the heart of your relationships, your team interactions, and the visibility of your work.
As the driving force behind the impact and success of your projects, communication supports your achievements.
To ensure effective, authentic, and unifying communication, build your future actions on a strong foundation, both individually and as a team. I am here to support you.
I am Carine Landau, Style & Empowerment Advisor, trained in negotiation and experienced in supporting decision-makers from international companies, large and small.
Your life is a stage – whether in the office or on a public area, you are the hero! I support you to become your own best communication tool, with a concrete approach. My commitment to your authenticity ensures that you remain true to who you really are.
