essay about effective communication skills

ESSAY SAUCE

FOR STUDENTS : ALL THE INGREDIENTS OF A GOOD ESSAY

Essay: The Importance and Development of Communication Skills

Essay details and download:.

• Subject area(s): Sociology essays
• Reading time: 4 minutes
• Price: Free download
• Published: 17 November 2019*
• Last Modified: 25 July 2024
• File format: Text
• Words: 1,200 (approx)
• Number of pages: 5 (approx)

Text preview of this essay:

This page of the essay has 1,200 words.

Communication skills are all around us, from the day we are born until the rest of our lives. How many times have you seen communication skills required for a job in the classifieds and wondered what it actually means? A communication skill is some type of skill used in communication, from talking, body language to even listening. Many things can affect the way one can convey his or her communication skills to others. All of these skills are very personal to one another. Everyone has different ways of expressing some kind of communication skill within them.

Speaking: The Most Important Communication Skill

One communication skill is speaking, by far one of the most important skills we possess. To be a good speaker, one must be able to convey ideas clearly and briefly. Clear and concise communication is crucial in ensuring that the intended message is understood accurately by the listener. Moreover, one must also have a clear and pleasant tone to his or her voice. This makes the person you are talking to more attentive, thus, more interested in the conversation. The speaker must also be aware of his environment and the people he is speaking to. Environment plays a significant role in what you say and try to convey to people. For example, if you hear a bird chirping, you might incorporate it into what you were just about to say. This makes the person you’re talking to even more comfortable with what you are trying to convey with your thoughts and ideas. This is how different things can affect one’s communication skill, specifically speaking.

The Role of Context in Effective Speaking

Context, both physical and social, can greatly influence the effectiveness of spoken communication. According to communication theory, the context can determine the appropriateness of the message, the tone, and even the choice of words. In different contexts, the same message can have varied interpretations. For instance, discussing a serious topic in a casual setting may require a different approach than discussing the same topic in a formal meeting.

Body Language: Nonverbal Communication

A second communication skill is body language, a very personal way of expressing oneself without words. One’s body language can carry a whole conversation without even saying a word. Sign language is an excellent example of this; one can spend their whole life communicating only with their body. Still, one can be able to understand exactly how a person is trying to express themselves. Speaking and body language go hand in hand; without gestures when talking, one cannot truly explain certain things to someone. Also, there is no visual effect for the person listening. When there is sound as well as some kind of visual movement, one is more interested in what someone is trying to say. Through body language, one can tell if a person is sad or happy, glad or mad. Body language conveys a lot of expression to our inner feelings and thoughts. Body language can show many things about you and the way you think. It can also show the way a person reacts to what you try to convey to them. If the listener isn’t responding, one must try and change the topic without losing the listener’s focus. One can only know this through the listener’s body language. Body language is essential to a good way of showing and conveying one’s ideas.

Understanding Body Language through Theories

Theories in psychology and communication studies, such as Albert Mehrabian’s model of communication, emphasize the importance of nonverbal cues. Mehrabian’s research suggests that 93% of communication is nonverbal, consisting of body language (55%) and tone of voice (38%), with only 7% relating to the actual words spoken. This highlights the critical role that body language plays in communication and how it can significantly affect the interpretation of messages.

Listening: The Key to Effective Communication

A third and final major communication skill is listening, one of the most useful communication skills. A good listener is someone who can concentrate and not lose focus on a subject. When someone listens to someone, they might start daydreaming or think of something else and lose focus on the speaker’s subject. Listening is what connects people together. One “cannot speak if no one is listening”; without a listener, there would be no need for a speaker. Listening is a skill that takes a long time to develop and to really understand how to listen. One can hear, but are they really listening to what is said? One way to make a listener’s job easier is to have a speaker who is clear and brief. This way, the listener won’t drift away, and the speaker has stated his or her point. This way, the listener has understood what has been said and can make his or her own interpretations. An active listener is a listener who is involved with what the speaker is trying to say. He or she, for example, may nod, lean forward, make eye contact, and also may take notes. This shows that the speaker has done his job successfully, and the listener is responding and being active to what has been said. A listener can be biased and not even listen; this does not affect the speaker because he or she may be responding to others. These effects show how important listening is to everyone and what an important communication skill it really is.

Theories on Listening

Active listening is often discussed in the context of Carl Rogers’ client-centered therapy. Rogers emphasized the importance of listening with empathy and understanding, which fosters a therapeutic environment where the speaker feels heard and valued. This concept is applicable beyond therapy, as active listening in everyday conversations can build stronger, more meaningful connections.

The Lifelong Development of Communication Skills

Communication skills will be around us forever and will continue to thrive and develop as time goes by. These effects on communication skills show that one can interpret different things through one’s communication skills. As one improves their communication skills, it shows us how to talk, listen, and communicate better with one another. As the world progresses, we will see more people taking more time to develop these skills to their fullest. One will understand how to control the effects communication skills cause and how to handle them.

Continuous Improvement and Education

The development of communication skills is a lifelong process that benefits from continuous improvement and education. Engaging in activities such as public speaking courses, workshops on nonverbal communication, and active listening training can significantly enhance one’s abilities. The application of these skills in various contexts, from personal relationships to professional settings, underscores their universal importance.

In conclusion, communication skills are integral to our daily lives and essential for personal and professional success. Speaking, body language, and listening are three foundational communication skills that, when developed, can greatly enhance our ability to connect with others and convey our ideas effectively. Understanding and improving these skills require ongoing effort and awareness of the theories and practices that underpin effective communication . By dedicating time to refining these skills, individuals can achieve better interactions and build stronger, more empathetic relationships.

About this essay:

If you use part of this page in your own work, you need to provide a citation, as follows:

Essay Sauce, The Importance and Development of Communication Skills . Available from:<https://www.essaysauce.com/sociology-essays/communication-skills-essay/> [Accessed 17-11-24].

These Sociology essays have been submitted to us by students in order to help you with your studies.

* This essay may have been previously published on EssaySauce.com and/or Essay.uk.com at an earlier date than indicated.

Essay Categories:

• Accounting essays
• Architecture essays
• Business essays
• Computer science essays
• Criminology essays
• Economics essays
• Education essays
• Engineering essays
• English language essays
• Environmental studies essays
• Essay examples
• Finance essays
• Geography essays
• Health essays
• History essays
• Hospitality and tourism essays
• Human rights essays
• Information technology essays
• International relations
• Leadership essays
• Linguistics essays
• Literature essays
• Management essays
• Marketing essays
• Mathematics essays
• Media essays
• Medicine essays
• Military essays
• Miscellaneous essays
• Music Essays
• Nursing essays
• Philosophy essays
• Photography and arts essays
• Politics essays
• Project management essays
• Psychology essays
• Religious studies and theology essays
• Sample essays
• Science essays
• Social work essays
• Sociology essays
• Sports essays
• Types of essay
• Uncategorised
• Zoology essays

Essay on Importance of Communication for Students and Children

500+ words essay on importance of communication:.

Communication is one of the important tools that aid us to connect with people. Either you are a student or a working professional, good communication is something that will connect you far ahead. Proper communication can help you to solve a number of issues and resolve problems. This is the reason that one must know how to communicate well. The skills of communication essential to be developed so that you are able to interact with people. And able to share your thoughts and reach out to them. All this needs the correct guidance and self-analysis as well.

Meaning of Communication

The word communication is basically a process of interaction with the people and their environment . Through such type of interactions, two or more individuals influence the ideas, beliefs, and attitudes of each other.

Such interactions happen through the exchange of information through words, gestures, signs, symbols, and expressions. In organizations, communication is an endless process of giving and receiving information and to build social relationships.

Importance of Communication

Communication is not merely essential but the need of the hour. It allows you to get the trust of the people and at the same time carry better opportunities before you. Some important points are as follows –

Help to Build Relationships 

No matter either you are studying or working, communication can aid you to build a relationship with the people. If you are studying you communicate with classmates and teachers to build a relationship with them. Likewise in offices and organizations too, you make relationships with the staff, your boss and other people around.

Improve the Working Environment 

There are a number of issues which can be handled through the right and effective communication. Even planning needs communication both written as well as verbal. Hence it is essential to be good in them so as to fill in the communication gap.

Foster strong team

Communication helps to build a strong team environment in the office and other places. Any work which requires to be done in a team. It is only possible if the head communicates everything well and in the right direction.

Find the right solutions

Through communication, anyone can find solutions to even serious problems. When we talk, we get ideas from people that aid us to solve the issues. This is where communication comes into play. Powerful communication is the strength of any organization and can help it in many ways.

Earns more respect

If your communication skills are admirable, people will love and give you respect. If there is any problem, you will be the first person to be contacted. Thus it will increase your importance. Hence you can say that communications skills can make a big change to your reputation in society.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Don’t Go Overboard With Your Point

The conversation is about to express your thoughts. And to let the other person know what you feel. It is not mean to prove that your point is correct and the other person is wrong. Don’t Overboard other With Your Point.

Watch Your Words

Before you say something to Watch Your Words. At times, out of anger or anxiousness, we say somethings that we must not say. Whenever you are in a professional meeting or in some formal place, where there is a necessity of communicating about your product or work then it is advised to practice the same beforehand

Communication is the greatest importance. It is important to sharing out one’s thoughts and feelings to live a fuller and happier life. The more we communicate the less we suffer and the better we feel about everything around. However, it is all the more necessary to learn the art of effective communication to put across ones point well.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

Essay on Effective Communication

Students are often asked to write an essay on Effective Communication in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Effective Communication

What is effective communication.

Effective communication is the process of sharing information in a clear, precise, and understandable way. It’s not just about speaking or writing. It includes listening, understanding, and interpreting too. It’s a two-way process that helps people to express their thoughts and feelings.

Importance of Effective Communication

Effective communication is very important in all areas of life. It helps in building good relationships, solving problems, and sharing ideas. Good communication makes learning easier, work environments better, and family relationships stronger. It’s a vital skill that everyone should master.

Elements of Effective Communication

There are four main elements of effective communication: sender, message, receiver, and feedback. The sender shares a message. The receiver gets the message and understands it. Feedback is the response from the receiver. All these elements need to work well for effective communication.

Ways to Improve Communication

Improving communication is easy with practice. Start by listening carefully to others. Try to understand their point of view. Be clear and concise when you speak or write. Use simple language. Show respect and empathy. These steps can make you a good communicator.

In conclusion, effective communication is crucial for success in life. It helps us understand others, solve problems, and build strong relationships. With practice, everyone can improve their communication skills.

250 Words Essay on Effective Communication

Effective communication is the art of sharing information between two or more people. It’s not just about speaking. It’s about making sure the other person understands what you’re saying. It’s about listening and understanding too. It’s like a two-way street.

Why is Effective Communication Important?

Communication is the key to learning, forming relationships, and working together. If we can’t communicate well, we may face problems. We might misunderstand others or feel misunderstood. This can lead to confusion, frustration, or even fights. So, good communication helps us avoid these problems.

How to Communicate Effectively?

Firstly, be clear and concise. Use simple words and short sentences. This makes it easy for others to understand you. Secondly, listen carefully when others speak. Show that you’re interested in what they’re saying. Nod your head or say “yes” to show you’re paying attention.

Thirdly, watch your body language. Your facial expressions, gestures, and posture can say a lot. They can show if you’re happy, sad, angry, or bored. So, make sure your body language matches your words.

Benefits of Effective Communication

Good communication can help in many ways. It can improve relationships with friends, family, and teachers. It can help you do better in school or at work. It can also make you feel more confident and happy.

In conclusion, effective communication is a valuable skill. It’s not always easy, but with practice, anyone can get better at it. So, start practicing today. You’ll be glad you did.

500 Words Essay on Effective Communication

Effective communication is the process of sharing information, thoughts, or feelings between people through speaking, writing, or body language. This process is successful only when both the sender and the receiver understand the same information.

The Importance of Effective Communication

Effective communication is important because it helps people understand each other better. It can help friends solve problems, help teachers explain things to students, and help family members share their feelings. It is also important in the workplace because it helps teams work together to achieve their goals. Without effective communication, misunderstandings can happen, leading to problems and conflicts.

Types of Effective Communication

There are two types of effective communication: verbal and non-verbal. Verbal communication is when we use words to share information with others. This can be done through speaking or writing. Non-verbal communication is when we use body language, facial expressions, or gestures to share our feelings or thoughts. Both types are important for effective communication.

Skills Needed for Effective Communication

There are several skills needed for effective communication. First is listening. It is important to listen carefully to what the other person is saying. Second is clarity. It is important to be clear and easy to understand when sharing information. Third is respect. It is important to respect the other person’s thoughts and feelings. Fourth is empathy. It is important to try to understand the other person’s point of view.

How to Improve Effective Communication

Improving effective communication can be done in several ways. One way is to practice active listening. This means paying full attention to the person who is speaking and not getting distracted. Another way is to use simple and clear language. Avoid using big words or complex sentences that can confuse the listener. Also, it is important to be aware of body language. Make sure that your facial expressions and gestures match what you are saying.

In conclusion, effective communication is a vital skill in our daily lives. It helps us understand each other, solve problems, and build strong relationships. By improving our communication skills, we can become better friends, students, family members, and workers. Remember, effective communication is not just about talking, but also about listening and understanding.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Effective Business Communication
• Essay on Effect Of Technology On Communication
• Essay on Effect Of Social Media On Youth

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Interpersonal Relationship — Effective Communication

Essays on Effective Communication

Effective communication is crucial in every aspect of life, whether it's in personal relationships, professional settings, or even in written form such as essays. It is important to understand the significance of effective communication and why it is a worthy topic to write an essay about.

When choosing a topic for an essay on effective communication, consider focusing on aspects such as verbal and non-verbal communication, communication barriers, the impact of technology on communication, cross-cultural communication, and the importance of active listening. These topics provide a wide range of ideas to explore and discuss in your essay.

For an argumentative essay on effective communication, you can consider topics such as the role of communication in conflict resolution, the impact of social media on interpersonal communication, or the importance of effective communication in the workplace.

If you're interested in writing a cause and effect essay on effective communication, you might explore topics such as the consequences of poor communication in relationships, the effects of miscommunication in the workplace, or the impact of technology on face-to-face communication.

An opinion essay on effective communication could cover topics like the importance of clear and concise communication in leadership, the role of empathy in effective communication, or the influence of body language in conveying messages.

For an informative essay on effective communication, topics could include the different types of communication styles, the benefits of effective communication in personal and professional relationships, or the strategies for improving communication skills.

In an essay on effective communication, a thesis statement could focus on the impact of good communication in personal and professional relationships, the importance of clear and effective communication in leadership, or the role of technology in shaping communication patterns.

In the of an essay on effective communication, you can engage readers by sharing a real-life scenario demonstrating the consequences of miscommunication and then lead into a thesis statement that highlights the importance of effective communication.

Effective communication is key in every aspect of life, and it is essential to convey messages clearly to ensure understanding and avoid misunderstandings. Effective communication is crucial for building strong relationships, fostering teamwork, and achieving success in personal and professional endeavors.

These examples provide a starting point for writing an essay on effective communication, allowing you to explore various topics and approaches to effectively communicate your ideas and arguments.

Effective Communication

Effective communication skills: self-analysis and self-understanding, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Common Barriers to Effective Communication

The important roles of the speaker and audience in effective communication, stress in our lives: effective communication in workplace under pressure, the importance of effective communication in the nursing profession, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Discussion on The Importance of Communication Skill

Team and the elements of the effective teamwork, expression of power through body language, achieving success through nonverbal communication, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

The Role of Effective Communication in a Team

The main barriers to communication across different cultures and languages, formal and informal communication in organization, evolution of communication: mankind tool that supports the development of human connection methods, the importance of soft skills in the workplace, soft skills reflections and learning, increasing communication between employees: the johari window, moderating discussion, and rhetoric model, developing effective communication in health and social care, euphemism - the power of communication, challenges in doing business across the border, the use of politeness theory in daily life, the pros and cons of communication, the importance of communication in the library field, shannon-weaver model as an example of social media communication, mastering effective organizational communication, purnell model for cultural competence: analysis, why is communication important in the workplace, situational context in communication, analyzing communication strategies in politics: topic avoidance and secret keeping, effective communication: the key to building strong connections, relevant topics.

• Interpersonal Communication
• Conflict Resolution
• Social Justice
• Sex, Gender and Sexuality
• Sociological Imagination
• American Identity
• Globalization
• Modern Society

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Bibliography

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Student Essays

3 Essays on Effective Communication – Need & Importance

A communication that lacks effectiveness does never serve the purpose. An effective communication is what we needed in life. Here we have written an Essay on Effective Communication, Meaning, Concept and Importance of Effective Communication in Life with examples and guidance for children and students.

Essay on Effective Communication | Meaning, Concept & Importance for Students

Communication refers to the process of exchanging information between two or more individuals. In order for communication to be effective, both parties need to be able to understand and interpret the information being shared. This can be done through verbal communication, such as spoken words, or non-verbal communication, such as facial expressions and body language.

>>> Related Post:   ” Essay on My Inspiration in Life ”

Meaning of Effective Communication

Effective communication is a two-way process, where both parties are able to understand and share information. It is important to remember that effective communication is not just about the words you use, but also about your tone of voice and body language.

Purpose of Effective Communication

The central purpose of effective communication is to exchange information in a way that allows both parties to understand and share the same understanding. Verbal communication is not always possible, and so non-verbal communication becomes very important in order for effective communication to take place.

Benefits of Effective Communication for Students

There are many benefits of effective communication for students. For instance, it can help to improve academic performance, as well as social and emotional development. In addition, effective communication can also help to reduce stress and anxiety levels.

There are a number of ways in which you can achieve effective communication. First and foremost, it is important to be clear and concise when communicating with others. Secondly, you need to make sure that you are using the correct tone of voice and body language. Lastly, you should always try to listen more than you speak.

Therefore effective communication is very important in order to exchange information and understanding between two or more people. It has many benefits for students and leads to a better academic performance, social and emotional development, and less stress levels. In all the an effective communication is crucial in personal and professional life.

Why Communication is Important in Life:

Communication is the foundation of human interaction and plays a crucial role in our daily lives. It allows us to share information, express thoughts and feelings, and build relationships with others. Without effective communication, misunderstandings can occur, leading to conflicts and breakdowns in relationships. In this section, we will discuss the importance of communication and how it impacts various aspects of life.

Importance of Communication

Effective communication is essential for personal growth and development. It helps us convey our ideas, thoughts, and emotions to others effectively. With good communication skills, we can establish connections with people from different backgrounds and cultures. This promotes understanding and empathy towards others.

In professional settings, strong communication skills are highly valued by employers. Being able to communicate clearly and effectively can help in job interviews, presentations, and team collaboration. It also allows for smooth communication within the workplace, enhancing productivity and efficiency.

In personal relationships, effective communication is crucial to maintain healthy connections with family and friends. It enables us to express ourselves authentically and understand others’ perspectives. Good communication skills also help in resolving conflicts and strengthening relationships.

Impact of Communication on Mental Health

Communication not only affects our external interactions but also has a significant impact on our mental health. Being able to communicate effectively helps in managing stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues. It allows us to express our feelings and seek support from others when needed.

On the other hand, poor communication can lead to misunderstandings, which can cause emotional distress and affect our mental well-being. It can also create barriers in seeking help and support from others, leading to isolation and loneliness.

Cultivating Good Communication Skills

Developing good communication skills requires practice and effort. Here are a few tips to improve your communication skills:

• Listen actively: Pay attention to what the other person is saying without interrupting or rushing to respond. This promotes understanding and helps in effective communication.
• Use appropriate body language: Nonverbal cues, such as eye contact, facial expressions, and posture, play a significant role in communication. Make sure your body language matches your words.
• Be clear and concise: Avoid using jargon or complicated language. Use simple and direct sentences to convey your message effectively.
• Practice empathy: Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and try to understand their perspective. This allows for open and honest communication.
• Seek feedback: Ask for feedback from others on your communication skills and work on areas of improvement.

In conclusion, effective communication is vital in all aspects of life, whether personal or professional. It promotes understanding, strengthens relationships, and enhances mental well-being. By cultivating good communication skills, we can improve our interactions with others and create a more positive and fulfilling life. So let’s make an effort to communicate effectively and connect with those around us.

Short Essay on Communication Skills:

Communication skills are essential in every aspect of our lives, whether it is personal or professional. It refers to the ability to convey ideas and information clearly and effectively to others. Good communication skills play a crucial role in building relationships, resolving conflicts, and achieving success.

One of the most important aspects of effective communication is listening. Listening involves paying attention to not just what someone is saying but also understanding their emotions and body language. Active listening shows that you are genuinely interested in what the other person has to say.

Another vital component of communication skills is non-verbal communication. Non-verbal cues such as gestures, facial expressions, and tone of voice can convey a lot more than words alone. Being aware of your non-verbal cues can help you communicate your message more effectively and avoid any misunderstandings.

In today’s digital age, written communication has become just as crucial as verbal communication. With the increasing use of emails, messaging apps, and social media platforms, the ability to write clearly and concisely is vital.

It is essential to pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and spelling while writing as it can significantly impact how your message is perceived by others.

Moreover, effective communication also involves understanding different cultures and adapting our communication style accordingly. In a diverse world, it is crucial to be mindful of cultural differences that may affect how someone interprets our words or actions.

Furthermore, good communication skills are essential in the workplace. They help in building strong working relationships with colleagues and superiors. Effective communication ensures that everyone is on the same page, leading to better teamwork and productivity.

In personal relationships, good communication can strengthen bonds and resolve conflicts. It allows individuals to express their feelings, needs, and concerns clearly without causing hurt or misunderstanding. Effective communication also helps in building trust and understanding between individuals.

>>>> Read Also : ” Essay On Importance of Communication Skills in Life “

In conclusion, communication skills are crucial for success in all aspects of life. Being a good listener, paying attention to non-verbal cues, having strong written communication skills, being culturally sensitive, and using effective communication in the workplace and personal relationships can greatly enhance our overall quality of life. Continuous improvement in these skills can open doors to new opportunities and help us build meaningful connections with those around us.

Q: What are the main points of effective communication?

A: Main points of effective communication include clarity, active listening, empathy, nonverbal cues, feedback, and adaptability to the audience.

Q: How important is effective communication?

A: Effective communication is crucial in personal, professional, and social interactions. It fosters understanding, builds relationships, resolves conflicts, and drives success in various aspects of life.

Q: What is effective communication and its benefits?

A: Effective communication is the clear and meaningful exchange of information between individuals. Its benefits include improved understanding, better relationships, enhanced problem-solving, increased productivity, and reduced misunderstandings and conflicts

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Communication Skills in Human Life Essay

Introduction, communication skills and strategies.

Communication has always been an essential element of every aspect of human life. Very much depends on the person’s ability to communicate with others and to apply efficient communicative skills to achieve their goals. In general, it is possible to state that the ability to communicate constructively shapes the major part of the individual’s success in his or her personal life, at work, and in other spheres.

There are many jobs that involve constant communication with clients, provision of some consultative or advisory services, which are almost solely built on the principles of communication and interaction with people. Business affairs are as well impossible to be accomplished without making business agreements, holding negotiations, and instructing the personnel on the goals to pursue. There is a great multitude of examples of the need for communication skills in daily life, so it goes without saying that business operations require well-developed communication abilities and demand their application on a daily basis.

It is enough to mention the ever-growing globalization of the world and business together with it, so interpersonal and cross-cultural communication acquires key importance in the contemporary world. It is for this reason that one needs to pay close attention to the issue of communication skills in the process of learning business communication and related topics.

Communication, no matter how simple and familiar it may seem, appears to be a complicated and multi-dimensional concept that needs thorough consideration and hard work in the process of acquiring the basic skills necessary for success. It does not correspond to a casual notion of talking as the communication process – it is much deeper in its goals and strategies to accomplish these goals. With the purpose of understanding the phenomenon of communication itself and communication skills in particular it is necessary to pay attention to the following concepts and terminology that will enhance the reader’s understanding of the issue: conscious and unconscious competence, reflective learning, motivation, motor skills, and social skills.

As for conscious and unconscious competence, Ellis (2003) believes that “it implies knowledge of the what (for instance, the core professional concepts) and knowledge of the how (the ways in which we put these concepts into practice)” (p. 2). It may be applied at both levels, as the definition suggests. Reflective learning is an essential element of the process of acquiring communicative skills – it implies not only fulfilling a certain set of tasks but reflecting on the results and trying to introduce change or improvement (Ellis, 2003, p. 3).

Motivation goes without saying – it is the innate wish of the person to act in an innovative way that makes him or her take steps forward in personal development. Motor skills, in the opinion of Hargie (1997), are organized and coordinated, learned actions serial in nature supposing the person’s making some physical actions, i.e. they are formed at the biological and subconscious level to be applied in life (p. 9). Social skills differ in nature and involve interpersonal actions, interaction with other people (Hargie, 1997, p. 9-10).

Motor skills are not the subject of the present paper because they refer to daily actions, routine, and mechanic activities of people they may not even realize. Social skills, on the contrary, have to be thoroughly thought over and trained, as a result forming a communicative personality being able to achieve his or her communication goal and succeed in communication. These skills are multiple; however, the present work will focus only on four of them: listening, negotiation, explaining, and self-disclosure. Listening is one of the most important skills of a good communicator because it has been proven to be a treasure too few people possess.

In the process of a constructive communicative act, it is important not only to clearly express one’s own thoughts and intentions but to give an opportunity to the communication partner to voice his or her opinion. Listening has been always neglected in the process of business communication as there have hardly been any doubts in the employees’ abilities to listen to others speak. However, the recently discovered notion that deserves separate attention and appears to be substantially different from the issue of hearing is active listening. As Ellis (2003) notes, “Successful listening (as opposed to the more passive hearing) is to do with actively processing the incoming information and doing some work – hence the term active” (p. 17).

No doubt active listening represents a challenge for a person willing to undertake it because it involves much extra work being done – first of all, the process of active listening, according to Ellis (2003), involves overcoming a three-stage task of recognizing the gap in understanding, locating it and trying to overcome it (p. 17). There is a set of barriers to active listening as well that prevent the listener to follow the guidelines of active listening and diminish the degree of mutual understanding, e.g. attention span, familiarity with material, negative or stereotyped attitudes to the matter or to the interlocutor, environmental considerations and physical inconvenience (Ellis, 2003, p. 18-19).

The second strategy that should be mastered by the communicator in order to conduct communication activities successfully is negotiation. There is no need to explain how important the process of negotiations is for any business organization – it goes without saying that it is the profitability and at times the very existence of an organization that depends on the result of negotiations with business partners. Thus, it is crucial to pay adequate attention to the way communication skills have to be developed to facilitate the negotiation skills of an individual. Negotiation is a comprehensive activity that demands a wide set of skills from the negotiator to be successful and accomplish the stipulated task. It involves active listening that has already been analyzed, assertiveness in actions and messages, and skillful questioning (Ellis, 2003, p. 57).

It is essential not to forget that negotiation first of all implies exercising certain influence on people with whom negotiation is conducted, which also depends on the ability to express one’s opinion and judgment in a specific way. Besides, as emphasized by Ellis (2003), negotiation is also a creative process including such elements as finding the balance between parties, finding the approach to the specific partners in the negotiation, conducting problem-solving activities, and engaging partners in long-term relations (p. 58). For these reasons, all efforts of the negotiator as well as his or her negotiation skills have to be focused on these major goals.

The third communication strategy implying the multi-aspect application of communication skills is explaining. Hargie (1997) speculates much over the topic of the importance of explaining in the process of communication and arrives at the conclusion that this skill has been widely neglected and underestimated recently (p. 183). The reasons he sees for this are first of all the unwillingness of people to accept the authority of other people mixing it with the imposition of someone’s opinion and limiting their personality, and secondly, the way explaining is perceived and taken for granted as an indispensable part of communication (Hargie, 1997, p. 183).

However, in the same section, Hargie (1997) underlines the importance of explaining as a necessary link between such aspects of human cognition as understanding, language, logic, rhetoric, critical theory, and culture (p. 183). As one can see from the following list, explaining appears to be a much deeper concept than anyone would have suggested. This is what causes particular attention to explaining in the recent business communication literature and research – its importance is being gradually recognized and should be not underestimated in the conditions of the contemporary business process.

There are the following types of explanation detected by Hargie (1997): interpretive, descriptive, and reason-giving (p. 185). Interpretative explaining gives the broad answer to the question ‘What?’ and defines concepts, events, and processes in such a way so that the person to who they are explained would obtain a detailed understanding thereof and would be able to apply them in further activities. Descriptive explaining gives the answer to the question ‘How?’ thus explaining the manner in which things are done. People who have acquired descriptive knowledge of certain things are likely to be able to produce some actions or some things in the future, knowing the procedure and the peculiarities. Finally, reason-giving explaining should be focused on the justification of certain actions, events or notions – it gives the answer to the question ‘Why?’ and explains to people what this or that thing, process, or event is necessary.

The last communication strategy to be dealt with in the present work is self-disclosure. As admitted by McKay, Davis, and Fanning (2009), self-disclosure is a key component of human communication. It is present in every communicative process and is unavoidable:

“Self-disclosure makes relationships exist and builds intimacy. It clarifies and enlivens. Without self-disclosure, you are isolated in your private experience” (McKay et al., 2009, p. 24).

Despite its seeming unavoidability the issue that should worry a person in the process of communicating with others is the extent to which they should disclose themselves for this act to be appropriate and effective (McKay et al., 2009, p. 25). There is a huge number of situations, partners, and circumstances that demand different patterns of behavior and cause problems or lead to success.

The authors distinguish four types of self-disclosure among which a communicator should choose according to the situation, the individual profile of character and behavioral peculiarities, etc. They are open self (known to self, known to others), blind self (discoverable by others, known to others), hidden self (known to self, kept from others), and unknown self (unknown to self, unknown to others) (McKay, 2009, p. 25). Judging from the situation and the pursued goals the individual may choose from these alternatives and define the measure for self-disclosure for him- or herself.

Communication is a key element of human interactions, which acquires specific importance in the context of conducting business affairs. Communication skills are multiple in nature and application, so they have to be paid particular attention to in all business processes and should correspond to the particularly stipulated business goals. There are several communication strategies that involve the implementation of different communication skills and their proper combinations, thus the aspect of establishing efficient business communication with the application of communications skills should become the central focus of every organization’s daily functioning.

Communication skills are learned skills and they can be acquired be means of an efficient training schedule established in an organization. The importance of communication skills in the business process is a matter of agile interest nowadays, so they should be never underestimated or neglected in the business process both by employers and the staff of every company.

Ellis, R 2003, Communication skills: stepladders to success for the professional, Intellect Books.

Hargie, O 1997, The handbook of communication skills, 2 nd edn, Routledge.

McKay, M, Davis, M, & Fanning, P 2009, Messages: The Communication Skills Book, 3 rd edn, New Harbinger Publications.

• Social Work Effective Communication
• Contemporary Communication in Modern Society
• Self Disclosure in the Counseling Process
• Review: “Close Encounters: Communication in Relationships” by Guerrero, Andersen and Afifi
• C. P. Ellis, One Writer’s Beginnings, and The Story of my Body
• “What Women Want” from Sociological Perspective
• Communication and Gender: Management Communications With Technology Tools
• Consumer Protection and Communication
• Double Binds in Human Communication
• The Pitfalls of Online Dating
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2021, November 7). Communication Skills in Human Life. https://ivypanda.com/essays/communication-skills-in-human-life/

"Communication Skills in Human Life." IvyPanda , 7 Nov. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/communication-skills-in-human-life/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Communication Skills in Human Life'. 7 November.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Communication Skills in Human Life." November 7, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/communication-skills-in-human-life/.

1. IvyPanda . "Communication Skills in Human Life." November 7, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/communication-skills-in-human-life/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Communication Skills in Human Life." November 7, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/communication-skills-in-human-life/.

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment