Communication
Communication is ultimately a crucial tool of survival! In order for us to successfully survive we need to understand and engage with our environment so we are able to adapt accordingly. People are a fundamental part of our everyday life (at least for most of us); each with their individual personalities, needs, requirements and idiosyncrasies. This significantly complicates the process of communication. Hence it is paramount to understand the dynamics and mechanisms of constructive communication.
Communication is relaying and conveying something to others. It can be directed at a particular individual or a group of people. Communication has always a purpose i.e. we want others to know something. This could sometimes mean that we expect a particular response or at other times we may just want to deposit something with someone. Either way, it is important to deliver the message as intended. We tend to that on two levels hence there are two types of Communication, verbal and non-verbal.
Language is the prerequisite of verbal communication. However simple it may sound, it is precisely the factor that can significantly complicate matters. This is due to the fact that individuals may have different understanding and experience of words. Quite often, whilst words sound the same to everyone, they can have different emotional connotation for different people. I am sure, we are all familiar with occasions when we thought ‘what was it that I said?’ or ‘I didn’t mean it like that?’ That’s because the person associated a different meaning with what you said than what you actually did or wanted to convey. People always say to be mindful of the power of words but what they don’t seem to be aware of is that Non-verbal communication i.e. body language is even a more powerful mode of communication without and yet not a single word is spoken.
We use body language all the time to such a degree that a large part of it is automated and as result largely a subconscious process. We even send signals and messages about ourselves whilst asleep. Too often, even without our awareness, non-verbal communication overrides verbal messages. These are the occasions where there is a discrepancy between what a person is saying and what they are displaying. Interestingly, we almost always respond to what they are displaying. Where non-verbal communication can become complicated and tricky is when dealing with people from different cultures and ethnicities.
How to communicate successfully
The following are the top tips for efficient communication:
- Be mindful of both, verbal and non-verbal aspects of communication
- Get the balance right between relying on past experiences and being completely open and free from prejudices
- Allow yourself to engage with the moment
- Interpret messages in the context of your relationship with the person
- Interpret messages in the context of the situation
- Consider your frame of mind and your mood
- Be clear about what you want say, why and the how
- Ensure that your verbal and non-verbal messages are consistent
- Make sure you are not just listening but also hearing the other person
- If in doubt, “listen” to the body language rather than the “words”
This is just a brief summary of essential aspects of communication. As you can guess, there is so much more to be said on this crucial subject, so please feel free to ask me any questions that you may have.
