Guest Post: Are You Communicating Effectively?

Communication can be defined as the exchange of information between two entities. Peter Drucker (the father of American Management) observed that “60 percent of management problems results from faulty communication”.

Most of the time, we assume our listener or the receiver of the message understands the message, someimes we say “A” and our body languages say “B”. Effective communication is when both the giver (speaker) of the message (information) and the receiver (listener) comprehend the message, backed up with actions which yield fruitful results and perfect feedback.

Components of Effective communication

Majorly there are two parts: the Speaking part and the listening part

Speaking part: this can also be termed the sending part because communication is not restricted to speaking alone, other forms of communication include sending of mails, dancing and even anger, and from all of this, a message is sent. Majorly, the greatest hiccup to effective communication is from the Speaking/Sending part because people misinterpret the information so soon which may be due to facial expressions, gestures or gesticulations.

Listening Part: This is very active too, as active as the speaking part. This can also be termed the receiving part, this part is very vital because it determines how we interpret the message. The popular author of the book 7 habits of effective people , Steven R. Covey observed “We have been taught in school how to read and write but not how to listen”

Tips to effective listening

Clear all premonitions, misconceptions, perceived notions, previous knowledge, and familiarity with the subject or the speaker. There is always new information to be learnt.

Ask questions politely if you are not clear.

Smile and look at the speakers face, a hostile face is a no no.

Try to all block out all distractions, do not listen to two subjects at the same time, train your mind to be focused.

Listen to learn first and do not focus on what you will say next.

Do not mumble words.

To reassure the speaker, you may quote one or two of his lines, for example:

Olu: Overcrowding is very dangerous to man even to people born in the tropics

Sola: Did you mean “Overcrowding is destructive, even to people living in the tropical regions”?

Olu: You’re very correct!

From the above conversation, Sola’s use of words like “destructive, tropical” to buttress the subject (overcrowding) assures the speaker (Olu) that Sola was attentive.

It is not compulsory you paraphrase what the speaker is saying but you can nod in agreement, or utter simple phrases such as “ok”, “you’re right” etc while the message is been passed across.

Other components of effective communication include

Action

Result

Feedback

To illustrate, let us examine this statement between Eunice and Lydia on cooking of Jollof rice:

Eunice: I need the right seasoning for cooking Jollof rice

Note: the main part or subject is ‘Cooking Jollof rice”

For effective communication, the following must happen:

Eunice must speak expressly on her need in a way that Lydia will understand 

Lydia must understand the fact that Eunice needs a seasoning by listening

Lydia must take the action of getting the seasoning

Eunice must get the preferred taste (result) from the taste of the food

Eunice must give Lydia the perfect feedback if the jollof rice seasoning was the right one or not.

Any break in the above sequence will lead to ineffective communication which is very consequential. For any communication to be effective, neither of the party involved should make an error of assumption.

General guides to effective communication

Avoid speaking “jargons” or technical terms if you are not with your professional colleagues.

Do not speak to impress but to pass on the required information

Do not interrupt the speaker, it is unethical

Be respectful to all men

Do not just speak to feel the vacuum, if you are not sure of what to say, it is not compulsory you speak

Express appreciation and encouragement.

Peter Olufemi ELUDINI

@petfem001

eludinipeterolufemi@gmail.com

+2348060016615, +2348188488303


Cover image via Coachng3ps.WordPress.com