Effective Communication Can Rule the Nation
Have you ever engaged in a conversation with someone that has a lot to say but ain’t saying nothing? You find yourself losing focus during the conversation.
Too often when people try to communicate with others something goes wrong with hearing the message. You say one thing, the other person hears something else, and misunderstandings, frustration, and conflicts occur. This can cause problems in getting points across to assist with important matters especially with leaders.
What is communication? It should be a simple process to convey information about experiences, express opinions, facts, and emotions. Merriam Webster defines communication as “a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.”
Occurring Societal events has constantly proven that there is a need for better communications for everyone. The way you communicate will often give power to the perception of the audience. Public perception of a given situation can be unrealistically positive or negative. Knowing how to effectively communicate will reduce providing conflicting information. Do you find yourself becoming emotionally overwhelmed when you are trying to communicate with people? Do you struggle with being a good listener? Do you know what type of non verbals you are showing when you communicate with people? Do you have communication barriers that you are challenged with?
Having effective communication is a very important process of making decisions.
Without effective communication changes cannot be made or take longer to implement. Effective communication should be the first priority for people that have influence on other people.
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‘A Political View’ By Sherry Holliman SHERRY HOLLIMAN (cont.)
If you are an influencer, you should always concentrate on your voice tone, body language, and be a good listener. Remind yourself that negative body language will cause the other person’s message to be refused, such as crossing your arms, avoiding eye contact, or tapping your feet or an object. You don’t have to agree with, or even like what’s being said, but to communicate effectively and not put the other person on the defensive, it’s important to avoid sending negative vibes.
Also, sometimes when you are communicating with others, you may often find yourself focusing on what you should say. However, effective communication is less about talking and more about listening. Listening well means not just understanding the words or the information being communicated, but also understanding the message the speaker is trying to convey.
When you are engaged with what’s being said you will hear the subtle intonations in someone’s voice that can tell you how that person is feeling and the emotions they are trying to communicate. As an effective communicator, always be the engaged listener, not only will you better understand the other person, you’ll also make that person feel heard and understood, which can help build a stronger, deeper connection between you.
By communicating in this way, you will help to achieve a positive outcome for the situation or matter of concern. You must always understand your audience and that everyone communicates differently.
But at the end of day effective conversation will rule the nation.
Sherry Holliman is a concerned citizen of Crittenden County and has some views on a variety of topics that she wants to share with her neighbors. She serves on the Marion City Council.
