Communication Skills

Communication is defined by Wikipedia as a kind of social interaction where at least two interacting agents share a common set of signs and a common set of semiotic rules. In a simplistic form, information is sent from a sender to a receiver. In a more complex form feedback links a sender to a receiver.

There are many specialized fields of focus in communication, including nonverbal communication, verbal communication, and symbolic communication. Nonverbal communication deals with facial expressions and body motions. 93% of “emotional meaning” we take from other people is found in the person’s facial expressions and tone of voice, the other 7% is taken from what the person actually says. Verbal communication is when we communicate our message verbally to whoever is receiving the message. Symbolic communications are the things that we have given meaning to and that represent a certain idea we have in place, for example, the American flag is a symbols that represent freedom for the Americans themselves, or imperialism and evil for some other countries.

Interpersonal conversation can occurs between individuals and in groups of various sizes and the size of the group impacts the nature of the talk. Small-group communication takes place in settings of between three and 12 individuals, and differs from large group interaction in companies or communities. At the largest level, mass communication describes messages sent to huge numbers of individuals through mass media, although there is debate if this is an interpersonal conversation.

For most of us, the purpose of verbal communication is to get your message across to others clearly and unambiguously.  It is a process that can be fraught with error and with messages often being misinterpreted. When this isn't detected, it can cause confusion, wasted effort and missed opportunity. 

By successfully getting your message across, you convey your thoughts and ideas effectively. When not successful, the thoughts and ideas that you send do not necessarily reflect your own, causing a communications breakdown and creating roadblocks that stand in the way of both personally and professional goals.

In spite of the increasing importance placed on communication skills, many individuals continue to struggle, unable to verbally communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively. This inability often results in many interpersonal problems. 

Problems with communication can occur at every stage of the communication process.  To deliver your messages effectively, you must break down the barriers that exist in each of these stages of the communication process.  If your message is too long, too complicated, is disorganized, poorly expressed, or presented too rapidly, you can expect the message to be misunderstood and misinterpreted. Use of poor verbal and body language can also confuse the message. 

Good communicators and good communication skills do not come naturally, and for many people these skills need to be consciously learned and practiced. Learning about the way you communicate with others and the barriers you unintentionally create can help you in your interpersonal communications.  You can learn to animate your voice and control its volume, learn to be more concise, make meaningful eye contact, to effectively use gestures, and avoid sending mixed messages.

You can also learn how to make a more positive first impression.  It takes just a quick glance for someone to evaluate you when you meet for the first time. In this short time, the other person forms an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how you are dressed.  These first impression are difficult to reverse or undo, so making a first encounter positive is very important since it frequently sets the tone for the all the relationships that follows. Accordingly, whether they are in your career or personal life, it’s important to know how to create a good first impression.

With the help of a psychologist or specially trained counselor, you can learn how your verbal and non-verbal communicationaffects your interactions with others, and you can learn to modify your communication skills.  The more you understand about  both verbal and non-verbal communication, the more effective you will be in communicating with other people. Reaching out for information and assistance can help you live a healthier and more fulfilling life. Help with communication skills is available from a mental health professional such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or clinical social worker. For more information about communication, please click on the linked websites listed below.

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