Communication – The Key to Everything!

For the last few months or may be even more I have been experiencing moments where communication plays a vital role. I can’t emphasize enough on how important and critical “ better communication” is. So really wanted to write about “Communication” and its aspects from my experience and understanding.

There are several types of communication and the most common ones are – verbal, writing and body language.

I had worked with the offshore teams for the last 2 years and my main mode of communication with them was through Phone or IM or Email. That phase really helped me to rethink my communication ideology. People always assume that communication skills mean their English speaking skills which is not correct.

There are few other aspects to it and I want to elaborate on each of them little bit. This is applicable both personally and professionally J.

Lend your Ears – Listening is the KEY. Communication is not only we saying something, it’s about we listening to others too. During any conversation or discussion or meeting, listen first. Because there could be times that you do not need to talk as you got the required information by listening. So, lend your ears!

Judge your Audience - One of the most important thing is, understanding your audience before you speak or write. The same message/content can be conveyed in variety of ways based on your audience. Keep that in mind.

Arrange your Thoughts  - I define Communication as “Expression of thoughts”. If you keep your thoughts straight and clear, you should be able to communicate better verbally or through writing. I came across few people who think and talk at the same time. It would either confuse the audience or make the audience lose focus on your content/message.

Select your Words - Effective & efficient communication is not about using fancy words, it is about saying/writing things clearly. Keep it simple J.

Show your Confidence – If you are not sure about something, do not try to overrule the meeting or discussion rather ask questions and understand better. If you are sure about what you are conveying, do it with confidence. That will surely create a positive impact.

Keep up your Body Language – 50% of effective communication happens through body language. So, when you meet someone in person for a discussion or meeting, be attentive, look into their eyes when they talk, take notes – show them you care and speak by looking at their face. Be conscious about crossed arm gesture – it shows that you are defensive and not even listening. Also do not browse through your phone and text during the meeting or discussion. That will create a huge negative impact.

Be Open & Honest – During any kind of communication, be it verbal or writing please be open & honest to feedback and criticisms. Not everyone like your ideas or suggestions, it is ok for someone to say negative comments. Understand why, learn from it and move on. Do not get stuck on it.

I had seen several smart and technical people, but they struggle to convey what they are capable of. I think giving importance to “Communication” is really critical both personally and professionally. If you insist that from the early age it helps the kids tremendously.

As far as my personal experience, I love to listen to people and I think that is the big win for me. Be it personal or professional, I love to hear when others talk. Does not mean that I talk less J. I talk more but at the same time I love to listen too. So it gives me the opportunity to learn more, show empathy and build relationships. As far as the other aspects, I try really hard and am still working on them. Hope I get to build those aspects in my communication and make things better & easier.

Please remember that communication is the key to everything in this world – to maintain your personal relationships, to express your thoughts, to market yourself, to develop professional relationships, to show your confidence, to show your character, to show your values, to define who you are and so on.

Remember - your communication defines YOU.

Express Yourself with Better Communication and Build Strong Relationships!