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8 Ways You Can Improve Your Communication Skills

The following eight points present a series of strategies designed to enhance communication skills.

The following text constitutes a guide to the establishment of superior communication habits, with a view to achieving success within the workplace.

The capacity of a leader to communicate in a clear and effective manner with employees, within teams, and across the organisation is a fundamental aspect of a successful business.

In the contemporary business environment, characterised by its complexity and rapid evolution, the significance of effective communication has reached unprecedented levels. This is further compounded by the proliferation of diverse communication tools, the prevalence of fully or partially remote teams, and the emergence of multicultural teams that span multiple time zones. Consequently, the challenges associated with effective communication have never been more pronounced.

Consequently, the capacity to communicate effectively is arguably the most critical skill for a manager to possess.

It is encouraging to note that the acquisition and mastery of these skills is indeed attainable.

The following eight points are designed to assist individuals in optimising their communication skills, thereby contributing to the success of their organisation and career.

1. It is imperative that the text is clear and concise.

The crux of effective communication lies in the judicious selection of words. In relation to word choice, the principle of parsimony is to be preferred.

The cornerstone of efficacious and persuasive communication, in both its written and spoken forms, is clarity of expression. When circumstances permit, brevity is also to be recommended.

Prior to embarking on any form of communication, it is imperative to define one's objectives and the target audience.

It is imperative to meticulously and explicitly delineate the intended message and its underlying rationale to ensure the comprehensive inclusion of all pertinent information. This process will also facilitate the elimination of irrelevant details.

It is important to avoid unnecessary words and overly ornate language, as these can distract from the core message.

While repetition may be necessary in certain cases, it is important to employ it judiciously and sparingly. The reiteration of a message is known to ensure its reception by the intended audience; however, excessive repetition can result in the complete disengagement of the audience.

2. It is recommended that preparation be undertaken in advance.

It is imperative to have a clear understanding of one's intended message and the manner in which it is to be conveyed prior to engaging in any form of communication.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that adequate preparation for a presentation encompasses more than mere rehearsal.

Preparation entails consideration of the entirety of the communication, from its inception to its conclusion. It is imperative that the necessary information is thoroughly researched in order to provide a robust foundation for the message. It is imperative to consider how one will respond to questions and criticisms. It is important to attempt to anticipate unanticipated events.

In preparation for a performance review, it is advisable to compile a dossier of concrete examples of the employee's behaviour, which can then be used to support the evaluation process.

Prior to engaging in salary or promotion negotiations, it is imperative to have a clear understanding of one's desired outcomes. It is imperative to be prepared to engage in deliberations concerning potential ranges and the identification of compromises. It is essential to have a clear understanding of the boundaries of one's own tolerance and those that are not willing to be crossed. It is imperative to have specific details to support one's case, such as relevant salaries for one's position and one's location. However, it is crucial to ensure that one's research is based on publicly available information, rather than company gossip or anecdotal evidence.

Prior to engaging in any discourse, it is imperative to engage in a brainstorming session to identify potential inquiries, requests for further information, or clarifications. This preparatory step ensures that you are equipped to address these potential challenges with composure and clarity.

3. It is imperative to be mindful of non-verbal communication.

The assertion that our facial expressions, gestures, and body language can, and often do, convey more information than our verbal utterances is one that has been well-documented.

Research has demonstrated that non-verbal cues can exert a significant influence, with their impact often ranging from 65 to 93 percent more than that of spoken language. Furthermore, non-verbal signals are more likely to be believed than spoken words, particularly when there is a discrepancy between the two.

It is imperative that leaders possess a high level of proficiency in the interpretation of non-verbal cues.

Employees who may be reluctant to articulate their disagreements or concerns may demonstrate their discomfort through gestures such as crossed arms or an apparent reluctance to engage eye contact. It is posited that those who are cognisant of others' body language may be able to adapt their communication tactics accordingly.

Concurrently, leaders must also demonstrate an aptitude for the regulation of their own non-verbal communications.

It is imperative that non-verbal cues consistently support the message being conveyed. In the most favourable scenario, the presence of conflicting verbal and non-verbal communication can result in a state of perplexity. In the most unfavourable circumstances, this can have a deleterious effect on the message being conveyed, as well as on the confidence of the team in the speaker, the organisation, and indeed themselves.

4. Watch your tone

The manner in which one articulates their thoughts and ideas can be of equal significance to the content itself. As with other non-verbal cues, the tone of voice can add power and emphasis to the message, or it can undermine it entirely.

In the context of workplace disagreements and conflicts, the issue of tone assumes particular significance. The judicious selection of a word with a positive connotation has been shown to engender good will and trust (Smith, 2023). The judicious selection of vocabulary is of paramount importance in order to avoid potential misunderstandings, which can be engendered by the use of words that are ill-chosen, vague or of a pejorative nature.

The study of rhetoric encompasses various elements, including but not limited to: volume, projection, and intonation, as well as the deliberate selection of vocabulary. In real time, it can prove challenging to regulate tone in a manner that aligns with one's intended intention. However, if the recipient perceives that the tone is inappropriate, they will be able to modify it accordingly.

The ability to regulate tone in one's writing is a crucial skill that can be developed and refined through practice. It is imperative to read your communication carefully at least twice, giving due consideration to both tone and message. It may be advisable to read the text aloud or to request that a trusted colleague performs this task, provided that confidentiality is not breached.

Furthermore, when engaging in a heated dialogue over email or other written medium, it is advisable to exercise caution and not respond too hastily.

In the event that this is feasible, it is recommended that a written response be prepared, but that this be held for a period of one or two days before being dispatched. In many cases, it has been demonstrated that re-reading a message after a period of emotional cooling allows the individual to moderate their tone in a manner that is less likely to escalate conflict.

5. It is imperative to engage in active listening.

The act of communication is frequently observed to transpire between a minimum of two parties.

It can thus be concluded that, in the context of effective communication, the act of listening is of equal importance to that of speaking. However, the act of listening can be more challenging than is commonly perceived.

In her blog post entitled "Mastering the Basics of Communication", communication expert Marjorie North makes the observation that in any given conversation, individuals tend to perceive only half of what the other is saying.

The objective of active listening is to ensure that one comprehends not only the words articulated by the interlocutor, but also the underlying message. The following recommendations are provided for effective active listening:

It is imperative that the speaker is given one's undivided attention.

The process of achieving mental clarity necessitates the elimination of distractions, preconceived judgements, and counter-arguments.

It is important to resist the temptation to interject with one's own thoughts.

It is imperative to maintain an open and positive body language to ensure optimal cognitive function and to demonstrate to the speaker that one is attentively listening.

It is imperative that the content of the response is consistent with that which was previously articulated.

The utilisation of open-ended inquiries is recommended in order to facilitate the acquisition of further information.

6. The cultivation of emotional intelligence is of paramount importance.

The cornerstone of effective communication is rooted in emotional intelligence. In essence, effective communication with others is predicated on the capacity to assess and comprehend one's own emotional state.

As Margaret Andrews asserts in her article, "How to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence," effective management of emotions and behaviours is contingent upon the ability to recognise and understand one's own emotional state and the subsequent actions it prompts.

Leaders who possess a high level of emotional intelligence will inherently find it more straightforward to engage in active listening, maintain an appropriate tone, and utilise positive body language, for example.

The ability to comprehend and regulate one's own emotional responses constitutes merely a fraction of what is encompassed by the concept of emotional intelligence. The other component — which is equally important for effective communication — is empathy for others.

Empathising with an employee, for instance, has been demonstrated to facilitate challenging conversations.

While it remains incumbent upon the individual to deliver unfavourable communications, actively engaging with the recipient's perspective and demonstrating comprehension of their emotional state can significantly contribute to the mitigation of emotional distress or the prevention of misinterpretations.

7. The development of a workplace communication strategy is imperative.

In the contemporary workplace, there is a constant flow of information across a wide variety of formats. It is imperative that each individual communication is comprehended within the broader context of the prevailing flow of information.

Even the most effective communicator may encounter difficulties in conveying their message without a workplace communication strategy.

A communication strategy may be defined as the framework within which a business conveys and receives information. It is imperative that this document delineates the manner and substance of communication with customers, clients, stakeholders, managers and employees.

In order to initiate proceedings, it is imperative to establish the fundamental principles of the strategy. Primarily, it is essential to determine the recipients of the message and the timing of its delivery. This approach is designed to ensure that all parties receive the correct information at the optimum time.

The level of detail can be tailored to the specific needs of the user, and may include the definition of the tools employed for the collection of information. For instance, it may be determined when it is suitable to utilise a group chat for the entire team or organisation, or when a meeting should have been summarised in an email instead.

The creation of fundamental guidelines has the potential to facilitate the dissemination of information. This approach will facilitate the dissemination of essential information while ensuring that significant knowledge is not overshadowed by superfluous details.

8. The creation of a positive organisational culture is of paramount importance.

The corporate culture in which communication takes place is also of crucial importance to the effectiveness of that communication.

In a positive work environment, characterised by transparency, trust, empathy and open dialogue, communication is rendered more straightforward and efficacious.

Employees have been shown to be more receptive to the communication of their manager's message if they have confidence in the manager's trustworthiness. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that those in managerial roles are better equipped to engender both buy-in and constructive criticism if they foster an environment in which their employees feel at ease with voicing their opinions, offering suggestions, and providing feedback.

In a blog post entitled "Six Tips for Building a Better Workplace Culture", Lorne Rubis asserts that "the most dangerous organisation is a silent one". Effective communication, in both directions, is predicated on a foundation of trust and psychological safety.

It is evident that authoritative managers who demonstrate a reluctance to disseminate information, exhibit an unwillingness to consider suggestions, and evade accountability for their errors are likely to encounter a response characterised by defensiveness or even complete disregard when their suggestions and criticisms are conveyed.

In the absence of a foundation of trust and transparency, even the most mundane of communications has the potential to be misconstrued, resulting in misunderstandings and unnecessary conflict.

The act of communicating with colleagues and employees is an inevitable aspect of any professional environment and is subject to inherent challenges. It is inevitable that misunderstandings and miscommunications will arise, necessitating resolution. Regrettably, corporate communications are not always aligned with our expectations, a phenomenon that is particularly salient during periods of adversity.

However, the cultivation of efficacious communication skills will facilitate one's role as a leader, including during challenging interactions. The investment of time in the cultivation of these competencies is undoubtedly a judicious use of resources.

Essential Conversation

Conversations are of pivotal significance to the maintenance of our well-being. The scientific study of the factors contributing to the potency of psychologists is a subject that is currently being explored by researchers in the field.

A plethora of studies have indicated that posing enquiries which demonstrate active engagement can serve as an optimal method to facilitate the progression of a dialogue.

Conversations have been shown to be a source of immense power. The formation of new connections and the deepening of existing ones are facilitated by these mechanisms.

However, it is important to note that conversations do not always proceed in a satisfactory manner. The initiation of conflict, harm, or resentment is often the consequence of a failure to engage in discourse, due to a reluctance to confront the discomfort or rejection that may ensue. Conversations have long remained a mystery to psychologists due to their inherent complexity.

As Thalia Wheatley, PhD, a professor of psychological and brain sciences at Dartmouth College, observes, conversation represents an ancient technology for aligning our brains so that we can be on the same page. Wheatley's research focuses on neural, biological, and other markers of connection during conversations. "It is the most pervasive social behaviour that we engage in, yet we possess a paucity of knowledge regarding it."

In recent years, novel theoretical frameworks and methodological tools have begun to reveal significant insights into these critical social interactions, encompassing a wide range of contexts, from informal conversations to political disagreements and negotiations between neighbours, businesses, and nations. In order to gain new perspectives, psychologists are utilising sophisticated approaches, including natural language processing algorithms and a neuroimaging technique known as hyperscanning. This involves the simultaneous scanning of two or more brains as they interact. Furthermore, these findings are disseminated to facilitate the enhancement of quotidian interactions among strangers, the more productive management of disagreements, and the optimisation of outcomes for a range of professionals, including mediators and suicide crisis negotiators.

Michael Kardas, PhD, an assistant professor of management at Oklahoma State University's Spears School of Business, has conducted research into the reasons why people avoid deep conversations. He states that "people's well-being is determined in large part by the quality of their social relationships, which rely heavily on conversations that they have with each other". As the conversation progresses and individuals learn to navigate disagreements, the formation of connections that engender contentment becomes evident.

The following discourse will explore the reasons behind the human tendency to eschew conversation.

Conversations represent the primary means of social interaction, and as such, they are fundamental to our well-being. However, there is a tendency to eschew the most fulfilling activities, such as profound discussions and the establishment of new connections with individuals with whom we have no prior acquaintance.

One reason for this is that people incorrectly predict that conversations will become less enjoyable over time, said psychologist Juliana Schroeder, PhD, an associate professor at the University of California, Berkeley's Haas School of Business. She, Kardas, and their colleagues have demonstrated that individuals perceive conversational interactions in a manner analogous to other hedonic pursuits. This perspective posits that the fifth chocolate bar will not elicit the same level of enjoyment as the first, and conversely, the quality of conversation will undergo a decline over time. Despite engaging in constructive dialogue, study participants demonstrated a preference for periods of silence during 30-minute sessions, opting to sit in quiet for a portion of the time rather than to continue conversing with an unfamiliar individual. However, those who were randomly assigned to talk for 30 minutes reported a more positive experience in comparison to those who chose to conclude their conversations prematurely (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 123, No. 4, 2022; Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Vol. 26, No. 5, 2022).

As Schroeder asserts, individuals are curtailing interactions with others in anticipation of diminished satisfaction and a paucity of subjects to discuss.

Furthermore, it is predicted that individuals will encounter greater difficulty in engaging in meaningful discourse, particularly with individuals with whom they have no prior acquaintance, than they actually will. In the study, Kardas and his colleagues implemented a methodology involving the pairing of participants with strangers for the discussion of either superficial topics or profound ones. The superficial topics included inquiries into frequency of attendance at specific locations, while the profound topics encompassed more complex subjects such as personal beliefs and life aspirations. The purpose of this enquiry is to ascertain whether the participant has previously experienced a situation in which they shed tears in the presence of another individual. A study was conducted in which participants completed pre- and post-surveys. The results indicated that deep conversations were perceived to be less awkward than expected and led to increased feelings of connectedness and happiness. These findings were published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 122, No. 3, 2022).

It is important to acknowledge that the perception of risk associated with deep conversations is often understated. A reduction in the perceived risk may serve to facilitate the initiation of such dialogues.

Kardas further elaborates on this point, emphasising the value of probing questions and leveraging insights from the conversation to formulate more personal inquiries. It is not necessary to escalate the depth of the conversation at a rate that would be considered optimal by most.

Mismatched goals have been identified as a contributing factor to the reluctance of individuals to engage in conversations, or to participate in effective communication. The utilisation of conversation is multifaceted, serving a variety of purposes, including the impression of others, the expression of flattery, the provision of assistance, the infliction of pain, the act of persuasion, the pursuit of understanding, and the dissemination of deceit. Michael Yeomans, PhD, an assistant professor of strategy and organisational behaviour at Imperial College London, Alison Wood Brooks, PhD, of Harvard Business School, and their colleagues developed the "conversational circumplex" as a means of conceptualising the varied and often competing goals that can motivate and shape conversations (Current Opinion in Psychology, Vol. 44, 2022). The present study has the potential to assist researchers in comprehending the functionality of goals in conversation and to identify methods to enhance the efficacy of interactions.

[Related: Conversations have been shown to be a potent medium for communication (Jones, 2019). The following methods have been proposed as a means of embracing the awkward and deepening relationships.

In some cases, goals may be in opposition to one another within an individual. For instance, an individual may wish to seek counsel yet hesitate to do so out of concern that it may appear as an indication of their lack of competence. Recent research by Brooks (Management Science, Vol. 61, No. 6, 2015) has demonstrated that seeking advice has a positive impact on perceptions of competence. Furthermore, goals can also be subject to interpersonally-based conflict: In the context of a company meeting, the desire to provide candid feedback is present, yet the superiors of the individual expressing such sentiments are averse to the idea of their own ideas being subjected to public scrutiny.

"A significant proportion of our dialogues pertain to the coordination of collaborative initiatives, which invariably entail various forms of negotiations,"

Making conversations click

As psychologists continue to investigate the intricacies of effective social interaction, it has become evident that certain conventional wisdom, such as the practice of posing questions, may in fact be too ambiguous and potentially detrimental to the quality of conversation.

In the context of "boomer asking," defined as the act of a speaker posing a question and subsequently providing their own answer, Yeomans and his colleagues have demonstrated that listeners perceive such behaviour as insincere (article under review). The speaker's intention to include their conversation partner by means of a question is commendable, yet the manner in which this is achieved merely serves to estrange the listener.

Conversely, the utilisation of follow-up inquiries has been demonstrated to enhance the quality of discourse. Research by Yeomans, Brooks, social psychologist Julia Minson, PhD, an associate professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and their colleagues (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 113, No. 3, 2017) has indicated that speed daters who asked more follow-up questions were more likely to be granted a second date.

Minson (2023) posits that the act of posing questions engenders a more favourable impression in others, yet the crux of the matter lies in demonstrating active listening. It has been demonstrated that the efficacy of interrogation is diminished when the enquiries posed by the interlocutor are not germane to the subject under discussion.

Research by Wheatley, her postdoctoral fellow Emma Templeton, PhD, and their colleagues has indicated that effective listening tends to result in brief intermissions during conversations, which is associated with increased satisfaction among participants. The findings of the study indicated that brief intermissions between speakers, whether acquaintances or strangers, were associated with an increased sense of connectedness (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 119, No. 4, 2022). The presence of extended periods of silence during interactions with unfamiliar individuals can often be perceived as uncomfortable or awkward. However, in the context of friendships, these pauses can, in fact, serve as a signal of emotional connection and intimacy. A notable example of this phenomenon can be observed in the following scenario: if one friend shares a personal anecdote or experience, and the other takes a moment to reflect before responding, this can be indicative of a strong emotional bond between the two individuals (Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Vol. 378, No. 1875, 2023).

Wheatley further elaborates on this point, stating that an individual's response to a personal matter, whether it be too hasty or too delayed, can be indicative of an ineffective interaction.

Wheatley and others are now exploring new frontiers in order to delve deeper into the nature of human conversation. Hyperscanning enables researchers to scan two brains concurrently while participants engage in interactive tasks. At Princeton University, Diana Tamir, PhD, a professor of psychology, and her colleagues created a decoding model using years of neuroimaging data. This model linked brain activity to various mental states that occur during conversations. Subsequently, functional neuroimaging data was collected from participants during unstructured conversations, with patterns of conversation both between strangers and among friends being mapped out.

In collaboration with her postdoctoral researcher Sebastian Speer, PhD, and their colleagues, Tamir ascertained that strangers' neural patterns become more similar over the course of the conversation – they spend their time finding common ground, she said. However, friends engage in a wholly divergent set of activities. Initially, the participants' mental states are found to be more similar, but as the conversation progresses, they begin to diverge, exploring an increasing number of novel states. This pattern has been shown to result in more effective conversations, including in situations where strangers engage in discourse and their neural patterns begin to resemble those of acquaintances (PsyArXiv Preprints, 2023).

"Our primary conclusion is that, during a conversation, it is essential to be aware of the interlocutor's location, while simultaneously steering the discourse towards unanticipated and captivating subjects," Tamir stated.

[Related: The process of establishing new interpersonal relationships and maintaining existing ones can be challenging. The following recommendations are supported by scientific evidence and have been designed to assist individuals in this regard.

The process of managing conflict

Effective conversations are defined not only by the sense of connection and contentment they engender in their participants, but also by their ability to stimulate cognitive engagement. Disagreements can arise, yet if managed effectively, they can also yield positive outcomes.

As Yeomans asserts, "Disagreement is inevitable, and the success or failure of relationships is often contingent on one's ability to navigate such disagreements effectively and establish trust despite them."

Conflict is challenging to resolve if the linguistic tools employed are the same ones that are effective in straightforward, factual corrections, such as "Taxes are due on April 15", and not the ones that are better suited to discussing values and matters of opinion, such as "We should raise taxes", as Yeomans has observed. Consequently, Minson and their colleagues are conducting a study on conversational receptiveness, defined as the demonstration of openness to engaging with divergent viewpoints during a discussion. The researchers utilised a natural language processing algorithm to analyse the words and phrases that predict receptiveness in a listener, and have summarised their findings with the acronym HEAR—hedging, emphasising agreement, acknowledging, and reframing (Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Vol. 160, 2020).

Hedging statements are characterised by the introduction of sufficient uncertainty to ensure that the interlocutor does not respond in an automatic manner, according to Minson. For instance, rather than asserting the universal necessity of vaccination for the virus, it would be more appropriate to suggest that for most individuals, vaccination is advisable. The process of emphasising agreement entails the identification of a modicum of common ground, for instance: The aspiration to establish a just world is a shared objective.

Minson's assertion that, regardless of the extent to which interlocutors may find themselves at odds, there is always a certain degree of consensus to be found, is a noteworthy contribution to the field of conversation analysis.

Acknowledgement, which is in accordance with standard family therapy advice, involves restating the position of the counterpart, with the intention of demonstrating that the counterpart has been heard and understood ("You just said..." or "I understand that..."). Finally, reframing statements using positive emotion words and avoiding negation words (e.g. "no", "don't", and "won't") can be beneficial. For instance, instead of "I hate it when people interrupt me", one could say "I really appreciate it when people let me finish my sentences".

Minor alterations in the choice of vocabulary can have a significant impact, even in circumstances characterised by the utmost importance. Following a comprehensive analysis of 31 hours of suicide crisis negotiation dialogues, researchers identified that specific linguistic elements were more effective than others in maintaining engagement with individuals at risk of suicide. The phrase "I'm just here to speak" garnered more traction than "I'm just here to talk," while the word "sort" proved more effective than "help" in statements such as "Let's sort this out together." This article was published online in 2023 in the Journal of Language and Social Psychology.

Elizabeth Stokoe, PhD, a professor of psychological and behavioural science at the London School of Economics, who studies conversations in a variety of contexts and is an author on the wording study, stated that the insights gained were fed directly into training programmes, which was a fantastic outcome. Subsequent police reports indicated that officers achieved superior results by utilising the terms 'sort' and 'speak' in lieu of 'help' and 'talk'.

Conversations have been identified as a potential means to enhance the efficacy of public health campaigns. Christin Scholz, PhD, a communication scientist and an assistant professor in persuasive communication at the University of Amsterdam, is conducting research into how young adults experience and share anti-alcohol messaging, including during conversations with their peers, and how this may ultimately influence behavior. This phenomenon is referred to by the author as the "social life" of a public health message.

As Scholz asserts, conversations wield considerable influence over health behaviour, yet they are not infallible and can, on occasion, have unintended consequences.

For instance, young adults have been observed to engage in favourable discourse concerning alcohol, a tendency that has been associated with increased consumption (Health Psychology, Vol. 38, No. 7, 2019). However, preliminary experiments have indicated that these conversations may be susceptible to external influences.

In one study currently under review, Scholz disseminated anti-alcohol messages to adolescents (for example, an image depicting a car crash accompanied by a warning about drunk driving), and subsequently instructed them to plan a conversation about the images. Conversations held with peers in later years concerning alcohol were found to be more negative. While the result is encouraging, the intervention had no direct effect on alcohol consumption, indicating the need for further research.

As she explained, the utilisation of conversations for the optimisation of the design of these campaigns has not yet been employed. However, she did acknowledge that social interaction constitutes a significant component in the efficacy of these messages.

A new paradigm for the scientific study of conversation.

Notwithstanding the utilisation of conventional methodologies by researchers, such as the use of audio or video recordings of participants within a laboratory setting, the analysis of conversational data introduces unique logistical challenges that are not often encountered in other experimental settings. For Minson, the primary challenge lies in persuading two individuals to attend concurrently and engage in discourse on a subject that they hold divergent views on. The progression of a conversation is inherently unpredictable, as its trajectory is dependent on the dynamic interplay of its participants and the subjects that are broached.

"Conversation can be considered to be an infinitely complex space. It is imperative to acknowledge that no two conversations are identical," stated Yeomans. It is evident that the number of words that can be employed is infinite. Furthermore, the order, timing, structure and non-verbal elements can vary in infinite ways.

Consequently, natural language processing has become a significant asset for conversation scientists, as it facilitates the analysis of extensive transcripts to identify patterns and associations. However, guidance on the utilisation of natural language processing in the social sciences is predominantly focused on single-author documents, such as news articles or product reviews, according to Yeomans. He, Brooks, and their colleagues are constructing a guide that demonstrates the qualitative distinction of dialogue, whereby elements such as word order, turn order, and timing become salient. Additionally, they offer guidance on the processes of data recording, transcription, and analysis, along with the dissemination of such data in a manner that respects the privacy of the subjects involved.

Hyperscanning also promises to reveal new insights about how we communicate. Wheatley is undertaking a project that involves the collection of data on the alignment of brains during improvisational storytelling tasks. Tamir, on the other hand, is planning to commence a project that will involve the exploration of the neuroscience behind persuasion. For example: The question therefore arises as to whether a skilled persuader can influence the neural activity of another person in order to promote their own agenda. The question of whether they achieve the optimal compromise in brain alignment is a salient one. Or is there an alternative explanation?

As Tamir asserts, behavioural methods enable the observation of individuals prior to and following verbal communication. However, contemporary technological advancements now facilitate the acquisition of a continuous measurement of an individual's behavioural tendencies throughout the entirety of a conversation. This development has the potential to significantly expand our capacity to analyse the dynamics of phenomena such as conversation, persuasion and compromise.