Essential Skills for Effective Communication on the Job and in Life

Can you remember playing the game 'telephone' as a child? A member of the group would whisper a sentence, word or phrase to the individual next to them and it continues on to the next person. Finally, once the message gets to the last person, they are then asked to say the message aloud. Can you recall the distorted final message, which use to be so hilarious?

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But isn't that exactly what happens at times when communicating with others? Somewhere along the communication process, there happens to be a breakdown, which can be avoided with these three effective communication skills: listening, understanding your audience and empathy. 

I'll talk, and you respond, sounds simple and easy to undertake. So why is there so much room for error and misunderstanding? Communication is a two-way process that involves the sending, receiving, interpretation and feedback of a message. This process involves listening.

Hearing is the act of perceiving sounds while listening requires focus and paying close attention 

to what is being said and

how it is being said. Listening entails you giving the speaker your full attention, avoiding interrupting and minimizing distractions. 

To be an effective listener one should show interest in what is being said by asking probing questions for clarification and additional information as needed. To confirm understanding of the message try paraphrasing what was said to make sure you are both on the same page. Also, try to set aside judgement of the speaker and what is being said. But most importantly pay attention to what is being said and not what you wish your response to be.

Another aspect of being an effective communicator is knowing your audience and tailoring your speech for your target crowd. If you are speaking with your peers/coworker, who happen to have a similar background go on and use that unique jargon for your career field. Otherwise try and skip the terminology or at least use it in a manner that will be understandable.

 http://theredcarpetacademy.com/2015/01/21/how-to-read-your-audience/

Another key component of effective communication is empathy, which is the ability to understand or share someone else's feeling. Once you accomplish empathy you are able to better comprehend what the speaker is trying to say as well as to minimize conflict. 

Criticism, one form of communication, would benefit greatly from empathy whether you are on the giving or receiving end. It is normally considered a negative action, but if both parties where to think of how the sender might be feeling delivering that message, and vice versa, how the receiver maybe feeling listening to that message. Delivering and receiving said message would be smoother and more receptive.

Communication is needed in all aspects of our lives, professional, personal and scholarly. If we utilize our listening skills, being aware of our audience and making the message appropriate for them as well as emphasizing; we lower the number of conflict and misunderstanding. On a positive note we would improve our ability to work as a team, improve on our decision making and problem solving skills. Master these skills and we are well on our way to becoming expert communicators.