Good communication is essential for success in almost every area of a person’s life. There is no way to get around the need for these skills unless you’re a hermit.
We are not born with communication skills. We learn them throughout our lives. As children, we acquire them by observing and imitating those around us. Later, we refine them as part of our socialization, education, and career training.
You may have heard about one of those extremely rare cases in which a child has been locked away in a closet, basement, or shed from birth to late adolescence or early adulthood. When rescued, the child was incapable of speaking or communicating. According to linguistic experts, this proves that communication skills are learned.
Some people seem to have a natural talent in this area, and that may be true to some extent. But I’ve witnessed too many amazing transformations (including my own) during Dale Carnegie courses and Toastmasters meetings not to be convinced that skills like public speaking can be learned.
Good communication is not just about speaking well. It includes many areas that, together, can lead to communication mastery. Here are the top communication categories, along with descriptions and comments.
1. Verbal Communication
The ability to express your thoughts, feelings, and ideas so that another person or group can understand them as you intended.
Whether a person understands what you are saying is almost entirely your responsibility. Many people mistakenly assume it is up to the listener to decipher what they are trying to say. This is not true. You are responsible for ensuring that the listener receives and comprehends your message.
In situations where the person you are speaking to is a poor listener, it is up to you to get and hold their attention if what you are trying to communicate is important. Otherwise, it’s not worth your efforts.
2. Communication Acknowledgment
Seeking verbal and non-verbal signals that your communication has been received and understood as intended.
Short verbal responses like “Yes” and quick non-verbal replies like a “nod” are familiar acknowledgment signals.
When communication is important, a more precise way to determine if your messages have been received and understood is to ask questions. Key points of your communication may be converted into short questions. Doing this is a way of taking responsibility for your communication.
3. Non-verbal Communication
Facial expressions and other body movements that indicate specific emotional reactions to your communication.
We are all familiar with the looks, gestures, and body language movements that send certain messages. Many people don’t appreciate the important role these messages play in communication.
Developing the ability to tune into these messages and trust your intuition (or gut feelings) about how to respond will give you a significant advantage in your communications.
4. Public Speaking
The process of delivering a prepared speech to a group of people to inform, influence, or entertain.
Public speaking is popularly known as the number one fear for most people. I could list 10 reasons people fear it, but each one applies to other areas of a person’s social life. Perhaps that’s why you simultaneously improve other communication skills when you become competent in public speaking.
Public speaking may be the most challenging communication skill to acquire, but it has multiple benefits. Mastering it will improve other communication skills simultaneously, enhancing your social skills and job performance.
5. Written Communication
The ability to express your thoughts, feelings, and ideas in writing so that another person or group can understand them as you intended.
With written communication, there is no instantaneous verbal or nonverbal feedback, which can be a disadvantage or an advantage, depending on the circumstances.
It can be a disadvantage in complicated business and personal situations when immediate verbal and nonverbal feedback is needed to avoid harmful misunderstandings. However, it can be an advantage when used to repair a relationship to avoid confrontation and ensure that full communication is received without disruption.
6. Listening
Giving your complete attention to a speaker without interruption.
Listening is an undervalued communication skill. People with poor listening skills miss a lot of important information. The information that they miss could significantly improve their knowledge, relationships, and effectiveness in their career.
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The benefits of mastering communication skills greatly outweigh any fear, uneasiness, or frustration you might experience during the early stages of learning. Once you develop these skills, which can happen rapidly, you’ll hardly remember any awkwardness. And a new, exciting world will be opened up to you.