Modern man strives to be successful everywhere - both at work and in his personal life. Career, family, friends - all these are components of life, and effective communication allows you to establish all areas and come to maximum agreement. Everyone should strive to improve their social skills. Even if difficulties initially arise, over time this knowledge will bring well-deserved results - reliable interpersonal relationships.
Definition of Communication
Different methods of transferring information from one people to another are called communication. It includes all the variety of transmission channels and decryption of signals and it happens:
- verbal
- nonverbal;
- written;
- pictographic;
- spatial-symbolic, etc.
Communication is considered effective when the sender of information communicates on the same wavelength as the recipient. However, even communication in a single sign system does not guarantee that the message will be correctly decrypted.
Effective communication minimizes the loss of message meaning. For a successful business promotion, for maintaining friendly relations, for a bright personal life, it will be useful for any person to improve their communication skills.
The Basics of Effective Communication
Communication as a banal exchange of information is already present in simple animals. Man in the process of evolution brought communication to perfection. Conversational and sign language developed and gradually expanded to written, symbolic and figurative. However, this process has complicated understanding, and effective communication becomes a separate object of study.
The communicative process includes five elements:
- A communicator is one who conveys information.
- The content of the message.
- The method of transmitting information (how it is carried out).
- The audience, or recipient, to whom the message is intended.
- The final stage of communication, allowing to understand whether effective communication took place. It is possible only if the previous four are satisfactory enough.
Principles of Effective Communication
Without positive communication, it is impossible to achieve mutual understanding on any issue. In order to make sure that other people correctly perceive outgoing information, it is necessary to observe a number of requirements.
First of all, you need to pay attention to the principles of effective communication:
- Communication should be two-way. When all participants are interested in a positive outcome of the conversation, and it is equivalent for them, the necessary effect arises.
- The recipient should make every effort to correctly perceive the message.
- The message should be clear, structured and concise.
- The recipient must trust the speaker, respect his opinion and not question his competence.
- Effective communication is always emotional, to the extent that is acceptable in a given situation.
- Patience and condescension to other people's flaws. Acceptance of people as they are, without trying to correct or correct anything.
Below we discuss the basic conditions for effective communication.
How to achieve a positive effect from communication?
In order for communication to be considered effective, certain conditions must be met:
- Speech should be consistent with the original purpose of the conversation, be adequate. You should not talk too much or touch upon issues that are not related to the topic under discussion. This improves effective communication skills.
- The words used must be logical and lexically accurate, it is very important to achieve the goal of communication. It is achieved through constant self-education, reading various literature and attentive attitude to the native language.
- The narrative itself should be logical and literate. A clear presentation structure creates favorable conditions for students and increases the chances of a positive outcome.
Effective Communication Techniques
Any person lives in a society and is dependent on it. Even the most desperate couch potatoes, perhaps not directly, but enter into interpersonal relationships. Efficient communication will be useful for both work and domestic social ties. Receptions and communication skills can be developed and improved - this will make the life of any person much easier.
Do you want to get positive in the process of communication? It will be useful for you to learn some techniques to improve communication efficiency:
- Learn to listen carefully to what they say. You should not just look at your interlocutor during a conversation, but also bend over slightly, nod your head, and ask relevant suggestive questions. This technique will allow you to accurately understand the point of view of the interlocutor.
- Speak clearly, concisely, and to the point. The clearer the idea is formulated, the greater the likelihood that it will be understood and perceived correctly.
- Include in your arsenal not only verbal, but also non-verbal communication. Take the same pose as the person you are talking to, try to use only open gestures, do not touch your face during a conversation.
- Watch out for the emotional coloring of speech. It should be moderate, but so that the interlocutor understands your interest in the issue.
- Master the techniques of oratory. The ability to own a voice allows you to accelerate the development of effective communication. Clear articulation, the right timbre and adjusted volume will make any message positive.
- Master the technical means of communication. Any adult should be able to use a telephone, fax, Skype, e-mail. Written communication skills should be developed regularly.
These are just basic techniques designed to facilitate and improve interpersonal communication.
Rules for effective communication
Any interpersonal communication must comply with certain standards. Their violation leads to a lack of understanding between the interlocutors, conflicts and even to severance of relations.
Rules for effective communication:
- Speak the language of the interlocutor. This rule should be understood as the need to take into account the level of education, social status, age and other parameters. To be heard and understood, you need to formulate your thoughts, based on the characteristics of the audience.
- Get ready for communication. If the conversation is not spontaneous, you should know in advance with whom, and for what reason to meet. Take visual materials and technical equipment. Develop a conversation plan.
- Learn the techniques of active listening, this will help to locate the interlocutor and better understand his point of view.
- Speak clearly, moderately loudly and confidently, do not stretch the words, but do not part.
- When writing a letter, stick to your chosen style.
- Before calling by phone or Skype, make a plan of the conversation and questions that need to be discussed in advance.
Ways to communicate effectively
To achieve mutual understanding in the process of communication, it is necessary to create conditions and take into account possible ways of effective communication. In total, six distinguish them:
- Strive to express your thoughts as convincingly as possible. Always speak briefly and to the point, avoid excessive piles of words, omissions and possible double interpretations.
- Use terminology and professionalism only in those cases, the code they are appropriate.
- Even in everyday communication, slang and slang expressions should be avoided, especially with regard to intergenerational communication.
- Avoid excessive emotional stress, both positive and negative.
- Try to apply personally, by name, by scientific or military rank, or by uniting a group of interlocutors with a universally significant word.
- Always respect the rules of courtesy and etiquette.
Nonverbal Signals for Better Communication
The interlocutors perceive each other not only by ear. Verbal exposure can be enhanced or reduced with various non-verbal signals. Our body sends them in large numbers, and other people read and interpret them on a subconscious level.
To improve communication skills, it will be useful to master the techniques of positive non-verbal reinforcement:
- Be always clean and tidy: even if the clothes do not quite match the dress code, the overall impression of the conversation will be positive.
- Try to control facial expressions and emotions. Facial expression should be neutral-positive and respond with changes depending on the course of the conversation.
- Avoid touching your face during a communicative act - it is subconsciously perceived as an attempt to cover your mouth, respectively, your statement is false.
- Learn to “mirror” the body position of the interlocutor. It is important to do this delicately, without undue zeal, so as not to look caricatured.
- Avoid "closed" poses - crossed arms and legs. This position of the body indicates a lack of readiness for effective communication. While open palms and a benevolent smile are capable of arranging any interlocutor.
Conditions for effective communication using technical means
Technological progress has given us new tools to facilitate communication. These are telephones, faxes, the Internet. Communication using technology should be based on the same rules and principles as interpersonal. You must follow all the rules of etiquette, the principles of conducting business and personal conversations.