Communication- What Why & How
Communication was even there when the languages were not developed even. People used signs, symbols and art to convey their message and emotions. Communication is an old civilization. Aristotle exalted communication to a level of study and came out with the 'Rhetoric'.
Communication is defined as the exchange of ideas, thoughts, emotions or feelings through verbal or non verbal medium to satisfy one's physical , social and emotional needs. As already mentioned in the definition, Communication can be done in two forms, i.e., verbal and nonverbal which have various tools to be effectively used by the communicator.
Components of communication:
- source or sender
- message
- Channel or medium
- Receiver
- Feedback
we often think that communication ends up at the message being received by the receiver but the communication is said to be the two way process. Think, for example, you are talking with someone on the phone and you are talking about you life. Will you continue talking if the other person keeps the receiver down or if the other person does't reply? well, I wont! I always make sure that the other person is listening and responding to me as well. This is what makes a communication process complete. If the feedback reflects that the receiver has got the desired response from the receiver, we can say that the communication has achieved its purpose.
Seven principles of communication:
- Clarity
- Conciseness
- Concreteness
- Completeness
- Correctness
- Credibility
- Consideration
The first five principles are very much what they say themselves. But someone will ask me why credibility? Whats credibility in a communication process? Lets say, for example you are sitting with your classmate with whom you barely talk, and you started talking about life on Venus or anything like that. First of all that person doesn't have a good rapport with you so he will be least bit interested what you say or do. Second of all, he will believe you only if you sounds true or makes sense. Thats exactly what credibility do to your communication process.
Why consideration? Some may ask. Well, while communicating your focus should not be you but it should be your audience. Its very important to keep the interest and profile of your reader or listener in order to communicate perfectly.
Forms of communication:
There are two forms of communication categorized on the basis of it's channel.
- Formal
- Informal
Good communicators are not born, indeed. The skills of communication can be acquired through conscious effort and practice.
