The Importance of Communicating Effectively: Good Communication Skills

In life and in our dealings with people, how we communicate matters a great deal. There is a way you can use words (and other tools of communication) and you will end up passing the wrong message. Effective communication skill is an art that should be mastered by all. In relationship for example, lack of communication and wrong communication have crashed a lot of relationships. There is a need to master the art of communication in order to make for effective interpersonal relationship.

I read a humorous story about a man that travelled and sent his wife a message but omitted the last "e" and it caused a serious problem in their marriage. He wrote her; "I am really having fun in this place, I wish you were her" instead of "I am really having fun in this place, I wish you were here." Looking at the two sentences, just the difference in the words: "her" and "here" was what caused a problem. He portrayed himself as a cheat simply because of an error in communication. This shows how powerful the tool of communication is.

In order to communicate effectively, there are few things we need to understand. Firstly is the choice of words. Your words are among the primary tool to communicate with people. Of course, no one knows what you have in your mind because they are neither mind readers nor telepath. In order to let people know what you have in mind or your intentions, etc, you need to speak up. When you master how to use words to relate your intentions to people, you will realise how easy living life will be. It will also limit the events of assuming wrongly or in error. Even in relationships, you do not have to think that your partner knows what you have in mind or your intentions if you do not let them know through your words.

When you close your mouth, you do not expect others to know what you intend. However, when speaking, you have to also know that there are many things involved. Timing is also important. Knowing when to speak and when not to speak is also as important as knowing what to speak. You will be surprised that the same thing said at different times may mean different things. There are things you need to say at a particular time and another thing at a another time. Take this instance: If someone says "I am sorry" to you, it could mean that the person is apologizing for what they did. But if a doctor says the same thing to you in a critical condition, it may mean doom. Same words, entirely different meaning.

Apart from considering timing in communication, you have to also consider tone and other emotions. Change in tone can create an entirely different meaning of words. There is a way you will use a particular tone and apply some emotions and a "yes" that you intended could be perceived as a "no." There was a time I was about seeking for permission from my former boss in the place where I did my internship, and the way he said his "yes" simply showed "Sammy, you are on your own." I advised myself not to proceed. It was later that he told me that if I had gone, I would have been on my own. I read it from his tone even though his words did not say it. So in effective communication, you have to also consider tones and emotions and tools to achieve it.

The final point to consider as the tool for effective communication is body languages. There are some things that may not be said but the body languages, which includes facial expressions, can pass it across. A lot can be said by not using words. I remember when I was small, a visitor came into the house. While the visitor was trying to offer us a candy, I looked at my mum's face and I could literally tell from her expression that we should not take it. She did not say anything but we already picked the answer from her face. This shows how powerful body languages can communicate. When you combine all these effectively, communication will be a lot easier.

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