Effective Communication

Communication plays an essential part in our daily life. Almost everything we do will require us to communicate with others in a way or another. Communication also acts as a medium for us to build relationship with others and exchange knowledge, ideas and thoughts. With effective communication skills, we will be able to comprehend better and reduce unnecessary misunderstandings. This will definitely help in fostering relationships and building trust.

Before joining ES2007S, I have always thought effective communication as being able to pass your intended message to the audience with clarity and conciseness. After the first few lessons, I realise that effective communication is not just about the verbal or written message that is passed between the speaker and the listener. Nonverbal communication also plays an important part in effective communication.  Our actions, tones and facial expressions act as some form of nonverbal communication media. The tones we use and body gestures we do as we speak will send signals to the listener. The nonverbal message that we send instead of been perceived similarly to our verbal messages. This will not only cause confusion, it will also lead to suspicion. Many will usually choose to believe the nonverbal message as it is considered to be a more natural and unconscious language of communication.  Situations like these will most likely lead to mistrust and high occurrence level may deteriorate their relationship in the long term.  Therefore it is important to be sensitive and careful of the nonverbal signals that you are sending out.