While the month of June came to a quick end, it’s important to note that June was also Effective Communications Month. The foundation to every relationship, whether it’s personal or professional, Effective Communications Month is meant to bring awareness to an individual’s ability to express his or her self clearly in an understandable manner that reduces confusion, misinterpretation and conflict.
Effective communication does not only apply to the month of June, but rather every single conversation you have every single day of the year. In order to communicate effectively, you must be willing and able to understand your own emotions and intentions as you speak and actively listen when others are speaking.
According to Dr. Whitney Lehmann, assistant professor of communications at NSU, “Communication is defined as creating shared meaning using verbal and nonverbal messages within specific contexts. I think effective communication starts with being mindful of the messages we are creating and being mindful of how our audience will receive them. We should also be aware of the context or specific settings we are communicating in and have a sensitivity to all types of culture.”
The reason effective communication may seem difficult to some individuals is because oftentimes there appear to be barriers to communicating effectively. These barriers may include stress and out-of-control emotions, lack of focus and inconsistent and negative body language.
“Even the best communicators can improve upon their communication. We should all continuously strive to improve in our communication, whether it’s in our writing, in interpersonal situations, in public speaking settings or even when communicating with ourselves,” said Lehmann.
The first step in communicating effectively is becoming an engaged listener. Rather than thinking about what to reply to the person you’re speaking to, actively listen to what they’re saying. There’s a big difference between engaged listening and simply hearing, and when you’re an engaged listener, you not only understand the other person better, but also make them feel heard and understood, strengthening the relationship.
With over 90% of our communication being nonverbal, in order to communicate effectively, it is also important to pay attention to nonverbals. Nonverbal communication can include body language and movement, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, posture, tone of voice and even muscle tension and breathing. Be aware of individual and cultural differences and how they play a role in nonverbal communication. Don’t just become aware of the nonverbals of the person you’re speaking to, but your own as well.
Use nonverbal signals that correspond with your words and match the content of what you’re saying. Also, try not to engage in negative nonverbal signals like sitting with your arms crossed, averting your eyes or slouching. Instead, try standing up straight and tall with your shoulders back, smiling and maintaining eye contact. These techniques may not only allow you to communicate more effectively, but will also help you to feel more self-confident.
Assertiveness is another key step in communicating effectively as direct and assertive expression aids in clear communication and can help boost your self-esteem and decision-making skills. Being assertive means expressing your thoughts, feelings and needs in an open and honest way, while standing up for yourself and respecting others — not being hostile, aggressive or demanding.
“I tell my students to write [and speak] clearly, concisely, factually, persuasively and with a sensitivity to diversity. I think these are great strategies for effective communication in general,” said Lehmann.
Communicating effectively is not about winning an argument or forcing your opinions on others, but rather understanding the other person and bettering the relationship. It’s important to value yourself and your opinions and the values and opinions of other people.
As Lehmann says, “Clear and effective communication is the foundation of all personal and professional relationships. We all need it to be successful in our everyday lives.”
