# data[].attributes.body
“ A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword” –Robert Burton

Living in an atomic world, we are well past an age when the blow of a sword would pose any considerable threat to us. Today, verbal blows appear mightier than the physical ones. Not just that, words-both written and spoken – have acquired a significantly crucial and an almost decisive force in contemporary times.

Essentially, ours is a society that moves on the wheels of communication. Particularly in the field of professional world, it is communication and its related skills that decide a person’s career curve. The better one’s communication skills, the higher are the chances for him/her to touch the zenith of success.

Definition Of Communication

The word communication originated from the Latin word “communico” or “communicare” which means “to share” various researchers and analysts define the term communication in their own way. Despite their different versions, it can be briefly summed up that” Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one place, person or group to another.” Every communication involves (at least) one sender, a message and a recipient. This may sound simple, but communication is actually a very complex subject.

The transmission of the message from sender to recipient can be affected by a huge range of things. These include our emotions, the cultural situation, the medium used to communicate, and even our location. The complexity is why good communication skills are considered so desirable by employers around the world: accurate, effective and unambiguous communication is actually extremely hard.

The Communication Process

A message or communication is sent by the sender through a communication channel to a receiver, or to multiple receivers. The sender must encode the message (the information being conveyed) into a form that is appropriate to the communication channel, and the receiver(s) then decodes the message to understand its meaning and significance. Effective communication involves minimizing potential misunderstanding and overcoming any barriers to communication at each stage in the communication process.

An effective communicator understands their audience, chooses an appropriate communication channel, hones their message to this channel and encodes the message to reduce misunderstanding by the receiver(s). They will also seek out feedback from the receiver(s) as to how the message is understood and attempt to correct any misunderstanding or confusion as soon as possible. Receivers can use techniques such as Clarification and Reflection as effective ways to ensure that the message sent has been understood correctly.

# data[].attributes.body
Importance Of Communication Skills

1. Valued in the workplace

2. In demand by businesses

3. Helps your career progression

4. Allows you to speak concisely

5. Builds better rapport with customers

6. Influences how you learn

7. Enhances your professional image

8. Stronger decision-making and problem-solving

9. Upturn in productivity

10. Convincing and compelling corporate materials

11. Clearer, more streamlined workflow

12. Sound business relationships

13. Successful response ensured

Different Forms Of Communication

Verbal communication
The Verbal Communication is a type of oral communication wherein the message is transmitted through the spoken words. Here the sender gives words to his feelings, thoughts, ideas and opinions and expresses them in the form of speeches, discussions, presentations, and conversations. It can be further divided into two:

Oral communication

Written communication

# data[].attributes.body
Non verbal communication
Non-verbal communication includes facial expressions, the tone and pitch of the voice, gestures displayed through body language (kinesics) and the physical distance between the communicators (proxemics).These non-verbal signals can give clues and additional information and meaning over and above spoken (verbal) communication.

# data[].attributes.body
Intrapersonal communication
Intrapersonal communication is communication with oneself using internal vocalization or reflective thinking. Like other forms of communication, intrapersonal communication is triggered by some internal or external stimulus. We may, for example, communicate with our self about what we want to eat due to the internal stimulus of hunger, or we may react intrapersonally to an event we witness. Unlike other forms of communication, intrapersonal communication takes place only inside our heads.

# data[].attributes.body
Interpersonal communication
Interpersonal communication is the process of exchange of information, ideas and feelings between two or more people through verbal or non-verbal methods.
It often includes face-to-face exchange of information, in a form of voice, facial expressions, body language and gestures. The level of one’s interpersonal communication skills is measured through the effectiveness of transferring messages to others.

# data[].attributes.body
Extra personal communication
The Communication between human beings and non human entities is called as extra personal communication. For e.g. your parrot responding your greeting. In this type of communication understanding is required between sender and receiver. Receiver responds in sign language.

# data[].attributes.body
Mass and media communication

Mass communication is a process in which a person, group of people, or an organization sends a message through a channel of communication to a large group of anonymous and heterogeneous people and organizations. Channels mass of communication include broadcast television, radio, social media, and print. The sender of the message is usually a professional communicator that often represents an organization. Mass communication is an expensive process. Unlike interpersonal communication, feedback for mass communication is usually slow and indirect. Examples of Mass communication are advertising, news, public relations etc.
Mass media means technology that is intended to reach a mass audience. It is the primary means of communication used to reach the vast majority of the general public. The most common platforms for mass media are newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the Internet. The general public typically relies on the mass media to provide information regarding political issues, social issues, entertainment, and news in pop culture.

# data[].attributes.body
Barriers to Communication
The communication barriers may prevent communication or carry incorrect meaning due to which misunderstandings may be created. Therefore, it is essential for a manager to identify such barriers and take appropriate measures to overcome them. The barriers to communication in organizations can be broadly grouped as follows:
1. Semantic Barriers
These are concerned with the problems and obstructions in the process of encoding and decoding of a message into words or impressions. Normally, such barriers result due to use of wrong words, faulty translations, different interpretations, etc.
2. Psychological Barriers
Emotional or psychological factors also act as barriers to communication. The state of mind of both sender and receiver of communication reflects in effective communication. A worried person cannot communicate properly and an angry recipient cannot understand the message properly.
3. Organizational Barriers
The factors related to organizational structure, rules and regulations authority relationships, etc. may sometimes act as barriers to effective communication. In an organization with a highly centralized pattern, people may not be encouraged to have free communication. Also, rigid rules and regulations and cumbersome procedures may also become a hurdle to communication.
4. Personal Barriers
The personal factors of both sender and receiver may act as a barrier to effective communication. If a superior thinks that a particular communication may adversely affect his authority, he may suppress such communication.

# data[].attributes.body
How to Improve Your Communication Skills
Here are some pointers to look out for when looking to improve your ability to effectively communicate with others:
1. Listening
To become a good communicator, it is important to be a good listener. It is important to practice active listening – pay close attention to what others are saying and clarify ambiguities by rephrasing their questions for greater understanding.
2. Conciseness
Convey your message in as few words as possible. Do not use filler words and get straight to the point. Rambling will cause the listener to tune out or be unsure of what you are talking about. Avoid speaking excessively and do not use words that may confuse the audience.
3. Body Language
It is important to practice good body language, use eye contact, utilize hand gestures, and watch the tone of the voice when communicating with others. A relaxed body stance with a friendly tone will aid in making you look approachable by others.
Eye contact is important in communication – look the person in the eye to indicate that you are focused on the conversation. But make sure to not stare at the person as it can make him or her uncomfortable.
4. Confidence
Be confident in what you say and in your communication interactions with others. Being confident can be as easy as maintaining eye contact, maintaining a relaxed body stance, and talking with concision. Try not to make statements sound like questions and avoid trying to sound aggressive or demeaning.
5. Open-Mindedness
In situations where you disagree with what someone else has to say, whether it be with an employer, a co-worker, or a friend, it is important to sympathize with their point of view rather than simply try to get your message across. Respect the opinion of others and never resort to demeaning those who do not agree with you.
6. Respect
Respecting what others have to say and acknowledging them is an important aspect of communication. Being respectful can be as simple as paying attention to what they have to say, using the person’s name, and not being distracted. By respecting others, the other person will feel appreciated, which will lead to a more honest and productive conversation.
7. Using the Correct Medium
There are several different forms of communication to use – it is important to choose the right one. For example, communicating in person about serious matters (layoffs, salary changes, etc.) is more appropriate than sending an email regarding the matter.
To sum up, barriers which are caused due to fear, ecstasy, joy, threat etc. can easily overcome by increasing self awareness, careful listening, and a desire to share and build empathy towards others. moreover, by knowing more about the receiver’s background and the level of knowledge or language proficiency, we can achieve the desired result in communication.