Why Is Effective Communication Important?
Communication is the essential tool for doing a good job, as it is through communication that we must explain our company’s objectives and how to achieve them with the help of our employees.
This communication must be bidirectional, meaning not only should the company communicate, but employees should also communicate with their superiors to show their progress, express their concerns, or propose improvements for the business.
There are many ways to communicate, but today we are going to talk about effective communication.
If you’re not familiar with it, effective communication is the process of sharing ideas, thoughts, knowledge, and information in the most understandable way so that the recipient of the message comprehends the content without difficulty.
Therefore, many aspects need to be considered, such as the channel (through which the message is transmitted), the sender, the recipient, the environment, etc.
To put all this information into practice, there are a series of elements you can consider to achieve good effective communication.
5 Keys to Effective Communication
1. Active Listening
Though it may seem simple, one of the most common communication errors is turning a dialogue into a monologue.
It’s essential to listen attentively, not just to hear, but to genuinely listen and show interest in the conversation.
This is a skill that can be trained and will significantly improve communication.
2. Clear and Concise Message
The role of the sender is fundamental, as they must have communication skills to convey information correctly.
But for this person to do their job properly, the message must be clear. The company needs to set its objectives and define how it will communicate them to employees or the public.
Additionally, it is advisable to use easily understandable vocabulary, avoid ambiguity, and try not to use too many technical terms.
If the message is not clear and concise, the information will never be conveyed correctly.
3. Non-Verbal Communication
When communicating, you must consider your gestures and movements, as these need to align with the message you are conveying, thereby transmitting security and coherence.
Key aspects to consider include eye contact, gestures, and voice.
It’s crucial to maintain eye contact during a conversation, but it should be done naturally and with interest, never forced or obligatory. Avoiding eye contact can seem insecure or deceptive, so maintaining eye contact is fundamental.
Regarding voice, remember that depending on the context, the situation, and the message, you should adopt an appropriate tone of voice.
4. Feedback
Effective communication will only be achieved when it is bidirectional. For this, it’s important to show interest in what the other person is saying, listen actively, and more.
Moreover, you must respect speaking turns and not interrupt the other person’s speech. If this is not respected, communication will not flow and will become uncomfortable and slow.
It’s necessary to respect the other person’s time and contribute when they have finished speaking. To keep track of the conversation, you can take notes on what they have said, but jot down key words and points. If you spend too much time writing, it may seem like you’re more focused on note-taking than on the message being conveyed.
5. Empathy
Empathy is a very positive capacity for achieving effective communication, as people appreciate when you can put yourself in their shoes and understand what they are explaining.
Not everyone naturally has this quality, but it can be trained, and once developed, you’ll notice a significant improvement in communication relationships. It will create a climate of trust and understanding, and the recipients will see the sender as someone approachable with whom they can speak.
In line with these tips, a popular technique is the “sandwich technique,” which helps to express criticism or negative feedback in a way that is not negatively received by the other person.
It prepares the ground so that the person adopts a positive disposition.
How to Use This Practice?
It’s relatively simple if you follow this order: first, give a compliment about the other person. Next, communicate the criticism. Finally, end with a positive message or proposal.
As we can see, this is a very easy technique to implement and will yield good and effective results.
