Communication Skills
It is about putting across or delivering a message to other people clearly and receiving messages sent by others with full understanding and without misinterpretation or alteration. Often communication skills are only perceived as only on the side of the sender. The part of the receiver is not given attention to or importance.
From the word communication itself, one could identify the need for two parties to be involved. Along the process though, communication conflict happens. Messages being mixed up, which when undetected and uncorrected right away could cause both parties waste of time, confusion and inefficiency.
Fear of Communicating
Communicating dilemma is often felt by a person especially the "sender" of the message. Hear are some situations which a person usually fails to show effective communicating skills:
- Fear of public speaking, unable to stand in front of an audience and express thoughts well for the fear of making a mistake.
- Unable to look at the other party with lack of self confidence especially if a question is being raised.
- Speaking clearly. Nervousness often causes a person to speak in lower or trembling voice and at times make one stumble on words.
- Not knowing what to do if an interference or interruption occurs. A question or a clarification perhaps if the message did not reach the receiver clearly or people talking at the same time, unable to identify course of action to stop them and listen again.
- Being uncomfortable with the full attention of the people listening to the every word delivered.
- Being asked an embarrassing or difficult question and not knowing how to end the conversation even if wanted.
- When the other party leads the topic away into the subject needed to be discussed.
Enhancing Communication Skills
Communication skills development can be easy and self taught. Learning the basics like the proper grammar can give one confidence and defining the objective before the report or presentation is an assurance of not saying anything wrong and out of the topic. Knowing the report or presentation well and listening to what the other parties are saying also helps especially on discussions to give them the right answers they seek.
Communication skills are an effective way to deliver and obtain significant message to and from other people with words, voice, clarity, tone, body language and eye contact. A communication can only be said to be successful when both parties sees or understand it the same way.