What makes communication effective?

Whether you talk of personal relationships or work place interactions, success is largely dependent on a person’s ability to communicate well. Communication involves a lot more than just verbalizing thoughts. Just as a child builds a vocabulary and learns to talk, adults must also build on their communication skills. Here are a few aspects of effective communication.

Attention

When talking to a person, he or she should have your complete attention. Thus typing a message while talking to someone is not considered effective communication. Not only does this make the other person feel disrespected, it also increases the chances of missing out on a part of the conversation. Hence, just as it is important to use the right words, it is also important to look at the other person while talking to them. Similarly when listening to a person, they should have your complete attention. Listen not just to have something to reply with but to understand what the person is trying to say.

Clarity

When communicating a thought or an instruction, it is important for you to have a clear idea of what you want to say and them to deliver that message clearly to the recipient. By focusing on communicating one idea at a time, the message is easier to understand and there is a low risk of misunderstandings.

Body Language

Effective communication courses focus not only one the verbal aspect of our communications but also the nonverbal aspect of communication.  This includes the tone of your voice, your posture, your line of vision etc. When conversing with another person, your body language should ideally be confident and at ease.

Respect

Whether you are talking to a senior or a junior, it is important to always be polite and respectful in your choice of words and the tone of your voice. When listening to someone else, avoid interrupting the speaker and pay attention to what is being said. A respectful conversation takes into account the viewpoints of both the speaker and the listener and is intended not to offend either party.

To the Point

When communicating a message, one should be as crisp and concise as possible. Diverting your conversation from one topic to another is a sign of ineffective communication. Try putting your message across with the least possible words without missing out on anything and avoid repeating yourself. This saves time, helps you keep your audience’s attention and is more easily understood.