Communication is the act of developing meaning among entities or groups through the use of sufficiently mutually understood signs, symbols, and semiotic conventions.
Wikipedia
Being able to effectively communicate is a very vital part of existence. We have to communicate every day in our lives, with our friends, family, siblings, even ourselves. This is inherently embedded in us--the ability to communicate. We always have to communicate.
However, when we communicate with others we also have to ensure that we are understood. Sometimes miscommunication is the root of conflict. When ideas are not conveyed properly it causes not only conflict but also confusion.
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Effective communication is making sure that your message is well understood by the receiver. We also have to accommodate the fact that even when our communication process is clear and concise people may tend to misunderstand the reason behind it.
That is because people perceive things in different ways. I may get offended by a word you say when in all honesty you meant absolutely no offense. Our perception of a thing and another person's perception is often different.
If I am a minute late to an appointment I often apologize for my tardiness, there is a 70% probability that the other person did not notice I was a little late. However, I apologize because if the tables were turned and the other person was a minute late to the appointment, I would get offended and require an apology.
Communication is both verbal and non-verbal. People tend to take note of your gesture, the tone of your voice, the expression on your face, your body language etc when trying to interpret a message that is being passed across.
LISTENING
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Processing information is as important as sending it. This is why it is almost important to develop good listening skills.
Listening is not just hearing what the other person is saying but also understanding the message that is being passed across. What is the whole essence of communication if we both do not understand each other?
One of the effective ways of being a good listener is by giving feedback. Summarize the message you receive. This way you mitigate any room for miscommunication.
Communication is part of our daily lives and we must all ensure that we are effective communicators. We can achieve this by learning and practicing effective communication skills.
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