EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
To grow as an individual or a company effective communication is needed to expand on the extent of reach. Communication is simply the act of transferring information form one source to another. This transfer can be achieved through verbal or non verbal means such as gestures, written words, behavior, spoken words, lip movement and signals. For communication to occur there has to be three main elements of which are the senders, the recipient and the message sent. Communication is not limited by time or distance, as it can occur over long distances and delivery does not have to be immediate. For effective communication to be established the audience has to be the primary object of focus. The audience has to be carried along in a humorous way while giving them what they want and what they need to learn in a way they can easily understand and relate to. In relating to the receiver, the sender must be able to see the message from the receiver’s point of view and anticipate the reaction the message will generate. The medium used in the conveyance of the message between he sender and the receiver is also important. To communicate effectively knowing which medium to use is important. The receiver of written documents is most likely to focus on the headlines to draw a conclusion about the message. An interesting heading will captivate the audience and well structured content will carry the reader along. Written communication differs from audio and visual communicating as the audience can see the gestures, the tone of your voice and a stronger argument can be driven. Oral communication can be interactive through dialogue or one way as in a seminar.
In order to draw the attention of the receiver to the details of the message respect for the receiver has to be shown by not belittling them with technical jargon. Clearly state the facts in easy to understand language and the respect of the receiver will be won. By making the message complicated, receivers will be distracted and bored as they cannot relate with the topic. To effectively communicate, barriers that hinder smooth communication have to be identified and overcome. Some of these barriers include selective perception, filtering, emotions and language. It is essential that the right expression is used to convey the right message. Other barriers to effectively communication include: -
Physical barriers, which are often due to the environment in which the communication process is conducted in, outdated equipment, background noise and other environmental factors. Attitude of the sender is important to effect smooth communication. This might arise due to personality, lack of consultation and poor training. Language barriers affect the ability to communicate effectively. This could also be due to a thick accent Perception could be a barrier when communicating. The receiver has to have a respect for the sender in order to appreciate the message. Perception can be due to discrimination or other factors. Complexity of the message hiders the accurate interpretation of the message. Ambiguity should be avoided to facilitate effective communication.