Communication is the spice of life, we can communicate with our family, our coworkers, our neighbors, and when we decide to go shopping with the cashier, or if we go to the bank with the bank clerk, or with the bank manager . We can even communicate with our pets. Communication is part of our everyday lives, thus the great importance we need to place in the way we communicate.
We communicate in many levels, depending on what kind of relationship we have with the other individual. Some research indicates that words are only a small part of our communication, which seems to tell me that we communicate a great deal with our body language, nonverbal cues.
To have a productive communication with anyone we must connect with the other person’s thoughts and feelings, this creates mutual understanding, providing the other person does the same, then problem solving and creative thinking can emerge.
It is imperative that we sharpen up our communication skills if we want to have a better day at work, at home, just every place we go. Good communication allows us to be more assertive, not aggressive, and keeps the avenues open for both parties to disagree agreeably.
How can we communicate effectively? Some ideas that can lead you in the right direction are using , using common sense approach, listening to the other person, show genuine interest in what the other person has to say, ask for clarification if needed, to make sure you have heard correctly. Obviously every situation is unique and it requires case specific response, however if you develop your own style to communicate effectively and use a systematic approach depending on the case by case basis you will acquire a repertoire for most situations. After you practice, it will seem effortless, and people will feel comfortable around you.
Think or create in your mind different scenarios of every day real events where you and another person are active participants, for instance: you notice that your son or daughter drives too fast when going to school, you may try saying something like, ” I am concerned about your safety, please follow the speed limit signs” you notice in this statement you are not being judgemental, only expressing concern, and giving direction.