In any setting, formal or informal, there must be a known structured way of communicating information to all members. Yes this is crucial, as relying on the “grape-vine” is not an option. Communication requires a sender, a message and a recipient. The receiver does not need to be present or aware of the sender’s intent to communicate at the time of communication. Consequently, communication can occur across vast distances in time and space. Communication requires that the communicating parties share an area of communicative commonality. Effective communication occurs only if the receiver understands the exact information or idea that the sender intended to transmit. “Many of the problems that occur in an organization (and other social groups) are either the direct result of people failing to communicate and/or processes, which leads to confusion and can cause good plans to fail” (Mistry, Jaggers, Lodge, Alton, Mericle, Frush, Meliones, 2008).
Hearing and listening are not the same thing. Hearing is the act of perceiving sound. It is involuntary and simply refers to the reception of aural stimuli. Listening is a selective activity which involves the reception and the interpretation of aural stimuli. When we talk to others, we assume that they understand what we are saying because we know what we are saying. But this is not the case. usually people bring their own attitude, perception, emotions and thoughts about the topic and hence creates barrier in delivering the right meaning. So in order to deliver the right message, you must put yourself on the other side of the table and think from your receiver’s point of view. Would he understand the message? How it would sound on the other side of the table?
People communicate with each other in a number of ways that depend upon the message and its context in which it is being sent. Choice of communication channel and your style of communicating also affects communication. So, there are variety of types of communication. The two basic types of communication are:
1. Verbal Communication
2. Nonverbal Communication
Verbal communication refers to the form of communication in which message is transmitted verbally; communication is done by word of mouth and a piece of writing. Nonverbal communication is the sending or receiving of wordless messages. We can say that communication other than oral and written, such as gesture, body language, posture, tone of voice or facial expressions, is called nonverbal communication.
Nonverbal communication helps receiver in interpreting the message received. Often, nonverbal signals reflects the situation more accurately than verbal messages. Sometimes nonverbal response contradicts verbal communication and hence affect the effectiveness of message.
Effective communication is essential for the success of any type of business. Informally too, nothing can be achieved without proper communication. Therefore, developing communicative skills is a must. One must understand that all types of communication are equally important and one must develop communicative skills in all the mediums. Communicative media is growing day by day to ensure clarity and to eliminate the ambiguity in communication.
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Sandy Moore of RovingAssistant.Com
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