Communication comes from the Latin word for ‘to share’. From this, we get the word communication. So, communication is a kind of sharing.
Communication refers to the act of is sharing information, i.e., sharing of thoughts, words, ideas and more.
Communication is a two way process. It can be verbal or non-verbal (such as gestural), formal or informal. Speech, writing and body language are some key types of communication.
Importance of communication: Communication play a dominant role in our daily life. The importance of communication is expressed below in points.
- Expressing ourselves: making our thoughts known to others.
- Understanding others: letting them express their thoughts and feelings.
- Romantic relationships: good communication is vital here.
- Making requests: communication lets us ask for what we need.
- Making friends: communication skills are essential for forging friendships.
- Saying sorry and patch up: communication skills enable us to apologize and patch things up.
- Emergencies: here lives can be saved by good communication.
- Warning signs: these need to be clear.
- Politics: politicians need to be good communicators.
- Jokes: humor relies on the ability to communicate.
Some basic communication skills:
- Clarity: putting our ideas across clearly.
- Conciseness: being succinct and not wandering off topic.
- Listening: communication is about listening as much as speaking.
- Good intentions: it is important to communicate with a kind, open frame of mind.
- Open questions: asking questions that require more than a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer will help to encourage a dialogue.
Conclusion: We could all brush up on our communication skills a little.
Laura