Communication Skills: The Basics Of Effective Communication

1. The Basics of Communication skills

1.1. Concept of Communication

The need for every individual to communicate effectively cannot be underestimated. While it is undeniable that communication is an essential component in our daily lives, we tend to ignore the very basics of effective communication. It is important that we must keep refreshing our skills from time to time to avoid embarrassing situations. Often, we have seen important personalities caught on record saying one thing today but denying it the next day claiming they were misquoted. We need to communicate effectively at our places of work, within the family and even with our friends. We must be equipped with the tools to communicate effectively, so as our intended message is delivered promptly and understood. Communication involves both speaking and listening and if one speaks and listens well, then there is little or no room for misunderstanding. Misunderstanding and miscommunication is mainly created due to the inability to speak well, or listen effectively. Communication is not limited to speaking and listening, human beings have other forms of communication and even animals and birds do have some form of communication that human beings find unintelligible.

What is Communication?

The word communication is derived from the Latin word ‘communicate’ which means to make common, to

Feedback is the last stage in the communication process. It is the action or reaction of the receiver to the message. It helps the sender know that the message was received and understood. The feedback that goes to the sender makes it clear whether the receiver has accepted the information and filed it in his/her memory or rejected it. He or she may ask for more information or clarification. Response is, thus, the key to communication as the effectiveness of communication depends on how congruent a receiver's response is with the meaning intended by the