Communication

The key ingredients for successful communication:

1. Clarity: Your message is clear and easy to understand. Use concise language, avoid jargon, and structure your message.
2. Active Listening: It isn't just about talking! Actively listen to the other person. Pay attention to their words, body language, and tone of voice. Reply with questions and show them you're engaged in the conversation.
3. Empathy: Put yourself in the other person's shoes. Try to understand their perspective and feelings. This will help you write your message and approach the conversation in a way that will positively engage them.

Communication must be started with a clear message for active listening and empathy to happen! One cannot expect listening, empathy, and feedback unless the original message was clearly expressed. Shyness is a big obstacle to communication.

The Building Blocks of Communication:

Communication is like a bridge connecting you to others. An good bridge has strong pillars and a clear pathway. Here are the key building blocks that make communication work.

1. The Sender: This is you! The person who has a message or idea to convey.
2. The Message: This is the information you want to share. It could be words, ideas, feelings, or even nonverbal cues like body language.
3. The Channel: This is how you deliver your message. Is it a face-to-face conversation, a phone call, an email, or a social media post?
4. The Receiver: This is the person you are reaching. They need to be able to understand your message and respond accordingly.
5. Feedback: This is the receiver's response to your message. It lets you know if your message was received and understood as intended.

Communication Breakdown:

Unfortunately, communication doesn't always flow smoothly. Here are some common problems to avoid.

1. Unclear messages: The message is confusing, or missing context, or is incomplete.
2. Channel mismatch: Choosing the wrong channel, like sending a complex message via text instead of email, can make it difficult to understand.
3. Poor listening: The receiver might not pay close attention or is distracted, overlooking the message's content or intent.
4. External distractions: Noise, interruptions, or environmental factors can disrupt the communication process.
5. Misinterpretations: Cultural differences or personal biases may cause the receiver to wrongly understand the message or its intent.

Example: Clear messaging

“Let’s meet tomorrow”

When? Where? With whom? For what?

“Let’s meet tomorrow 5pm at the Blue Cafe on Main street. Nat will join us. Casual, nothing fancy”

• ✅ Tomorrow 5pm
• ✅ At the Blue Cafe on Main street (not everyone may know where Blue Cafe is!)
• ✅ With Nat
• ✅ No need to dress up.

Example: De-escalating Conflict

Imagine a couple having a disagreement.

• ✅ Effective Communication: Each partner takes turns expressing their feelings and concerns calmly and respectfully - clear messaging. They actively listen to each other, trying to understand the other's perspective - active listening. They focus on "I" statements ("I feel hurt when...") rather than accusatory language ("You always..."). This allows for empathy and problem-solving.
• ❌ Communication Breakdown: One partner yells and interrupts the other (unclear message - aggression). They focus on blaming each other (negative communication). This can escalate the conflict and make it harder to find a solution.

Communication is a skill that takes practice. Don't be discouraged if you don't getresults overnight. Keep practicing, and you will improve your communication skills over time.