Introduction:
Communication is a two-way process that requires both speaking and listening. Communication is an active process. The sender of the information will initiate it. You still have to listen to the replies and make clarifications whenever needed. The recipient will be the listener. Therefore, they have to listen carefully, understand it, and have the right to reply and ask questions whenever needed.
What Do You Mean by the Term Communication?
Communication is the act of transferring information. It enables us to share information and understand what the other person said.
It can be:
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Vocal (voice).
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Written (books, magazines, emails, website).
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Visual (logo, maps, charts).
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Non-verbal using body language, tone, and gestures.
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Combination of them.
One may communicate through phone, emails, face to face, in meetings, and by releasing orders and commands. One must learn how to convey and receive messages effectively by any means.
What Are the Types of Communication?
Communication is mainly of two types.
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Verbal - can be both written and spoken.
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Non-verbal - includes personal skills such as body language, facial expressions, positive attitude, gestures, and improving self-esteem.
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Other Types of Communication Skills - Presentation and writing skills.
What Are Communication Skills?
It is the ability to be understood and to understand. To develop such skills, one must be an excellent observant listener and speak well. These skills are required for better communication, a confident attitude, public speaking, and progressive life.
What Is the Importance of Communication Skills?
Effective communication is most important as it improves morale and efficiency. Making a clear point makes sense for all. Different types of communication skills can be used depending on the situation.
The important ones amongst them are:
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Active listening.
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Feedbacking - giving and receiving feedback.
Role of Communication Skills in Different Aspects of Life:
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Professionally: To get a good job or promotion, one must demonstrate good communication skills. Maintain eye contact, speak appropriately, use a varied vocabulary, actively listen, present your ideas clearly and concisely, and lead group work. All of these skills are essential for a successful profession.
Communication skills ensure that you can handle businesses and other associations effectively.
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Career: To become a good leader and develop a successful career, one must establish a habit of speaking, listening, questioning, writing, and delivering a speech in a clear, concise manner.
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Personal Life: Good communication skills have a lasting impact on your personal life. It helps you to understand others and to be understood. Failing to talk results in the failure of relationships. Listening and communication skills are essential elements.
Developing Good Communication Skills:
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Good communication skills: It improves the way you perform in life and smoothes your relationships with others.
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Poor communication skills can harm your personal and professional life and take away your ease.
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Some people face difficulties while communicating and find it difficult to express themselves. Others communicate flawlessly without even trying. They can easily modulate their tone, language, and way of conveying messages. They have developed self-awareness and work well on their own.
How to Become a Clear Communicator?
Preparing for a poster presentation, interview, or being at a family reunion, everywhere you need an ability to speak or write clearly. Plain language is used for ease of understanding.
Using common words that everybody can understand, using an active voice, and keeping the sentences short and crisp make communication better.
Tips to Improve Communication Skills:
1. Be a Good Listener:
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To start effective communication, one has to listen actively.
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Being a good listener is the best way to be a good communicator.
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Nobody likes communicating with those who do not take the time to listen to others.
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Take time to practice active listening.
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Active listening is listening with one's eyes and ears. Pay close attention to what others are saying. Understand what they are conveying and respond appropriately.
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Very little communication occurs through content. The rest happens through body language and tone of voice.
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Try to create a mental and emotional connection with the speaker. If you are thinking/planning about the next thing while listening, you are not listening actively.
2. Effective Verbal and Non-verbal Communication:
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Communication is a process that requires paying attention to everything and not just the content.
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Keep a watch on your attitude, emotions, body language, and knowledge as they color the message you want to convey.
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Different cultures have a different meanings for the same gestures, for example: In Asian culture, looking into the eyes is considered disrespectful to women, but it is interpreted as a lack of interest in the United States. Thus your body language speaks more than your words.
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You are more approachable when you have a calm expression and a friendly tone.
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Eye contact is essential. It demonstrates how focused you are.
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Non-verbal communication conveys what a person is saying.
3. Body Language - Yours and Others:
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Hand movements: Our hands are the most expressive body parts. Hand movements such as moving them behind your head reflect a negative mood. Clasping both hands reflects dominance.
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Blank face: It displays a do not disturb message, sometimes anger or disapproval.
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Smiling: It is a courteous way to greet someone and shows happiness.
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Head movements: Chin lifting and looking down the nose are used as a sign of arrogance and superiority.
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Lips movements and parting: Lip compression shows anger, grief, and sadness.
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Many non-verbal cues are well understood in our society, such as laughing, shoulder shrugging, and gagging.
4. Clear and Concise:
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Speaking a lot and speaking less is not justifying. Speaking as much as required is all that is needed.
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Try to convey the message most shortly and efficiently possible.
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Think about what you want to say priorly. It will bypass undue speaking and confuse the audience.
5. Politeness and Friendliness:
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A friendly tone encourages an honest and open conversation.
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Politeness reflects the ease with which one can talk to you without hesitating.
6. Confidence:
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Confidence reflects that you trust your words and commit to what you promise.
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It instills a ray of hope in others.
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It is rightly said - one can achieve anything by being confident and non-judging self-worth.
7. Empathy:
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Showing respect for other's points of view and considering their opinions demonstrates how actively you listen to them.
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Even if you disagree with their thoughts, at least give importance to what they say and patiently act on it.
8. Open-mindedness:
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To become a good communicator, one must become open enough to listen to others' views and what they convey and not simply put your thoughts across without considering anyone.
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This directs you towards an honest and productive conversation.
9. Respect:
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Give respect, take respect.
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If you respect others and their ideas, they will also return the same by respecting you.
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Simple gestures such as eye contact, active listening, and avoiding distractions reflect your respect for that person.
10. Feedback: Always accept and encourage feedback. They might lead you to betterment.
11. A Right Medium:
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One should know which means of communication is to be used and when depending upon the situation.
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Serious communications are best-done face to face.
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Formal routine conversations can be made via email.
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Informal discussions can be done via call, text message, or face-to-face.
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Depending on the situation, one has to pick a suitable medium to carry forward communication.
Conclusion:
Communication is the skill by which one transmits and receives information. It should be clear, concise, and adequate. Being able to communicate effectively is a key to mastering. Unfortunately, it may take a lifetime to achieve one. There are various ways to improve communication skills and make a good communicator. Anyone can practice improving these skills at any point—this investment and effort pay back.
