NEED FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

“The art of communication is the language of leadership, it opens the doors of opportunity, helps you to design
and implement effective strategies, and makes sure that you don’t miss any potential changes that might cross your
path at any point in the future.”

Communication is one of the important tools that aid us to connect with people. Either you are a student or a working
professional, good communication is something that will connect you far ahead. Proper communication can help you
to solve a number of issues and resolve problems. This is the reason that one must know how to communicate well.

The communication is said to be effective when all the parties in the communication, assign similar meanings to the
message and listen carefully to what all have been said and make the sender feel heard and understood.

Human communication is sharing of knowledge and experiences which includes sign language, speaking, writing
and broadcasting. Communication with respect to human communication may be of two types-one is
INTRAPERSONAL communication and the other is INTERPERSONAL communication.

The societies focus on interpersonal communications which involves the information, ideas, and feelings being
exchanged verbally or non-verbally between two or more people. They tend to neglect the vital Intrapersonal
communication, the communication of what we are saying unto ourselves.
In order to work well with others, you need interpersonal skills such as listening, empathy, and leadership. Those
skills are amplified by greater development of intrapersonal skills such as compassion, self-concept, and
visualization.

Good communication skills are the abilities that assist you to become effective at sharing information with others.
While some communication skills come naturally, you need to develop other essential skills to be able to leave a
mark on the people with whom you converse. There are generally four main areas of communication skills that most
of us would do well to improve.

These are listening, non-verbal communication, emotional awareness and management, and questioning.

1. Learn to Listen

The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand. We listen to reply. We all have a tendency to
forget that communication is a two-way process. We fall into the trap of ‘broadcasting’, where we just issue a
message, and fail to listen to the response. It’s important to make sure that we’re talking with each other in a way
that heals, not in a way that wounds.

2. Studying and Understanding Non-Verbal Communication

Nonverbal communication is an elaborate secret code that is written nowhere, known by none, and understood by
all. One can ensure that your message is conveyed more clearly by ensuring that your words and body language are
consistent. The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said.

3. Emotional Awareness and Management

We are dangerous when we are not conscious of our responsibility for how we behave, think, and feel. None of us
can leave our emotions at home—and nor should we try to do so. An awareness of emotions, both positive and
negative, can definitely improve communication. When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with
creatures of logic, but with creatures of emotion.

4. Questioning Skills

Questioning is a crucial skill to ensure that you have understood someone’s message correctly. It is also a very good
way of obtaining more information about a particular topic, or simply starting a conversation and keeping it going.
Those with good questioning skills are often also seen as very good listeners, because they tend to spend far more
time drawing information out from others than broadcasting their own opinions.

One should always engage in DIALOGUE which is a cooperative two-way conversation rather than DEBATE,
DISCOURCE OR DIATRIBE.

Never forgotten words of Plato-

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.”

Khushi Sharma

B.A 3rd year