Communication affects every part of our daily lives. It would be nice if we were all given rules for authentic communication, which could achieve a multitude of goals, including conveying the information we intend, maintaining respectful relationships, and problem-solving. But many people struggle with communicating in the workplace.

For example, when was the last time you said, “I thought he meant…” or “I misunderstood what you said”? If so, you may want to consider your communication style and the impact on others.

And in today’s world, where the social media lifestyle forces people to fake their lives and act as if everything is excellent, authentic communication is more critical than ever. Today, more people appreciate those who choose to be original than those with rehearsed, cookie-cutter communication styles.

Ready to begin going through some rules for authentic communication? Consider these rules:

1. Learn to incorporate storytelling into your communication style. Storytelling and the use of analogies and metaphors to convey messages are powerful tools for helping others understand your message.

• Stories are memorable because they stick in our minds – and by sharing your account, you are the first to help others remember your message. As everyone has personal experiences, there’s never a shortage of stories to share. There are a few things to note when using stories to communicate.

• First, you must ensure that your story has a clear purpose or point. Relate the stories you share to your message and let that story become the focal point of your message.

• Second, use stories in a way that’s consistent with your overall objectives, be it for your company or through ordinary professional conversations. And always include some call to action with your stories to make your audience aware of the next step they should take.

2. Understand that people have differences and respect these differences. If you run a business, your customers are likely to be varied people. Each person’s values, beliefs, and experiences will be different.

• So, it’s natural to think that a person’s preferences will be no different when it comes to how they like to communicate.

• However, when it comes to communication in the workplace — or business in general — it’s not the differences themselves that complicate communication, but rather how these differences manifest.

• Because different people have different experiences, their preferences for how they prefer to communicate may differ.

3. Work more on your listening ability than your speaking ability. Everyone can talk, but how well do you listen? And how well are you listening to others? Listening is not something you do passively.

• Good listening means focusing not only on what the speaker is saying but also on what he’s not. In the case of business communication, what cues are you missing? Good listeners take note of facial expressions, tone, pitch, emphasis, and body language.

• They make an effort to understand the message through more than just words. Their goal is to understand the other person, not just determine what to say in response.

• A critical part of good listening is asking questions. Clarify, probe, and explore other people’s ideas and feelings. That helps you connect with your audience and enables you to think through what they’re saying.

4. Communicate from your heart. Allow yourself to feel moved and inspired. Passion draws people in and catches the eye. A passionate speaker is usually an attention-getter.

• Even more powerful is the ability to communicate compassion to others. Communicating empathy to others communicates that you are a genuinely caring person. When you share your story, you demonstrate your willingness to connect and empathize with others.

• We communicate with others not for what they can do for us but for what we can do for them. When we speak from our hearts, both the speaker and the listener benefit.

Communication is an everyday activity, and we all can use these rules for authentic communication to help others better understand our messages. Regardless of your role, communicating with authenticity and compassion is always a good decision, whether you speak to a colleague, customer, or team member.