TiPs To BeTTeR CoMMuNiCaTion.

THE ability to communicate is the primary factor that differentiates us, humans from animals.
Also,effective communication distinguishes us from individual to another.Today effective communication have become a predominant factor especially when recruiting new employees. Most interviewers these days do not primarily judge candidates solely on academic performances but also based on communication skills.

According to the various dictionaries the definition of ccommunication skills is as follows :

• Communication skills includes lip reading, finger-spelling, sign language; for interpersonal skills use, interpersonal relations.
• Communication skills is the ability to us e language (receptive) and express (expressive) information.
• Communication skills is the set of skills that enables a person to convey information so that it is received and understood. Communication skills refer to the repertoire of behaviors that serve to convey information for the individual.

Communication skill is an ability to communicate effectively with friends, lecturers, future employers and clients. Most people consider themselves good and effective communicators simply because they are fluent in the language they speak. Speaking fluently is not the only requirement, it also involves listening effectively, well in writing, reading and also non-verbal aspects. All this is to be bear in mind in order to be considered adept in communication skills. The fact that one needs to constantly work towards developing effective communication skills, there is also barriers that which one should overcome.

7 BARRIERS TO GREAT COMMUNICATION

1. Physical barriers

Physical barriers in the workplace include:

• marked out territories, empires and fiefdoms into which strangers are not allowed


• closed office doors, barrier screens, separate areas for people of different status

• large working areas or working in one unit that is physically separate from others.

Research shows that one of the most important factors in building cohesive teams is proximity. As long as people still have a personal space that they can call their own, nearness to others aids communication because it helps us get to know one another.

2. Perceptual barriers

The problem with communicating with others is that we all see the world differently. If we didn't, we would have no need to communicate: something like extrasensory perception would take its place.

The following anecdote is a reminder of how our thoughts, assumptions and perceptions shape our own realities:

A traveller was walking down a road when he met a man from the next town. "Excuse me," he said. "I am hoping to stay in the next town tonight. Can you tell me wha

t the townspeople are like?"

Well," said the townsman, "how did you find the people in the last town you visited?"

"Oh, they were an irascible bunch. Kept to themselves. Took me for a fool. Over-charged me for what I got. Gave me very poor service."

"Well, then," said the townsman, "you'll find them pretty much the

same here."

3. Emotional barriers

One of the chief barriers to open and free communications is the emotional barrier. It is comprised mainly of fear, mistrust and suspicion. The roots of our emotional mistrust of others lie in our childhood and infancy when we were taught to be careful what we said to others.

"Mind your P's and Q's"; "Don't speak until you're spoken to"; "Children should be seen and not heard". As a result many people hold back from communicating their thoughts and feelings to others.

They feel vulnerable. While some caution may be wise in certain relationships, excessive fear of what others might think of us can stunt our development as effective communicators and our ability to form meaningful relationships.

4. Cultural barriers

When we join a group and wish to remain in it, sooner or later we need to adopt the behaviour patterns of the group. These are the behaviours that the group accept as signs of belonging.The group rewards such behaviour through acts of recognition, approval and inclusion. In groups which are happy to accept you, and where you are happy to conform, there is a mutuality of interest and a high level of win-win contact.Where, however, there are barriers to your membership of a group, a high level of game-playing replaces good

communication.

5. Language barriers

Language that describes what we want to say in our terms may present barriers to others who are not familiar with our expressions, buzz-words and jargon. When we couch our communication in such language, it is a way of excluding others. In a global market place the greatest compliment we can pay another person is to talk in their language.One of the more chilling memories of the Cold War was the threat by the Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev saying to the Americans at the United Nations: "We will bury you!" This was taken to mean a threat of nuclear annihilation.However, a more accurate reading of Khruschev's words would have been: "We will overtake you!" meaning economic superiority. It was not just the language, but the fear and suspicion that the West had of the Soviet Union that led to the more alarmist and sinister interpretation.

6. Gender barriers

There are distinct differences between the speech patterns in a man and those in a woman. A woman speaks between 22,000 and 25,000 words a day whereas a man speaks between 7,000 and 10,000. In childhood, girls speak earlier than boys and at the age of three, have a vocabulary twice that of boys.The reason for this lies in the wiring of a man's and woman's brains. When a man talks, his speech is located in the left side of the brain but in no specific area. When a woman talks, the speech is located in both hemispheres and in two specific locations.

This means that a man talks in a linear, logical and compartmentalized way, features of left-brain thinking; whereas a woman talks more freely mixing logic and emotion, features of both sides of the brain. It also explains why women talk for much longer than men each day.

7 Interpersonal barriers

There are six levels at which people can distance

themselves from one another:

1. Withdrawal is an absence of interpersonal contact. It is both refusal to be in touch and time alone.


2. Rituals are meaningless, repetitive routines devoid of real contact.


3. Pastimes fill up time with others in social but superficial activities.

1. Working activities are those tasks which follow the rules and procedures of contact but no more.


2. Games are subtle, manipulative interactions which are about winning and losing. They include "rackets" and "stamps".


3. Closeness is the aim of interpersonal contact where there is a high level of honesty and acceptance of yourself and others.

Working on improving your communications is a broad-brush activity. You have to change your thoughts, your feelings, and your physical connections.

That way, you can break down the barriers that get in your way and start building relationships that really work.

Body movement and gestures to avoid

According to the experts one can communicate effectively when they understand the stages the stages of interpersonal communication which are...

The phatic stage: the initial exploratory stage, w hich determines the course of the conversation.This begins with the greetings and accompanying gestur es such as eye contact, the smile, etc. This stage is also known as the warming up stage. There is no meaning and attention, just a setting for the next level of conversation.

The personal stage: this is the second stage where personal elements are brought into the conversation. During this stage one tends to lower down their social guard and begin to interact more openly. They are ready to have an open co nversation about them and vice versa also the hesitation decreases. Interpersonal interactions generally move into a third stage otherwise professional conversation are confined on this stage.

The intimate stage: this stage is mainly meant for conversations between friends, family, relatives, where those conversation share a higher level of intimacy. Thi s conversation is not part of professional conversation as it involves sharing intimate details which is not a part of professional conversations.

keeping in mind of these stages, one becomes aware of how their conversation should progress, how to end it and to extend it. Effective communication calls for awareness and attentive listening.

Presentation skills are important when every time you present yourself to an employer, to market yourself even in everything that relate to your success. Anyway here are some input:

Presentation skills involves certain aspects including non-verbal skills , etiquette and grooming also the same factors listening and speaking. In order to ensure effective presentation skills one needs to keep in mind:

Avoid ambiguity
Accept feedback in order to gain confirmation and rule out confusion

Non-verbal Factors:

Voice: This implies the tone- sarcastic or sincere; warm or cold; rich and expressive; or dull and flat. The other voice aspect is the volume- shouting, barely audible o r medium volume.

Speech pattern: slow, hesitant, jerk, abrupt, or even-steady pace.

Eye contact:Whether the speaker is looking at listener/audience

Gestures: This includes hand movements

Postures: Shows how interested the speaker or the listener

Body movement: This includes the the movement of the body such as shrugs or shuffles, arm crossed or left lose, strides or standing in one position.

this is what happens when you don't have
good communication skills

This is just a little something I pick up in the net, so if its educational for you I am very glad that this little piece of info is helpful....