Mastering the Art of "Communication Recipe"

Communication can be termed and considered as the one skill which matters most in our professional and personal life .One of the major reasons why people are not able to express their point of view , abilities ,talents and expertise as well as not able to build good relationship and rapport with other people is due to poor communication skills.

Knowing and mastering the communication components and practicing them regularly will not only enable us to communicate in a manner which resonates with other people but will also improve our social likeability and acceptability. Following are the key ingredients of "Communication Recipe" which i am going to share with my Linkedin connections enabling them to communicate better and to have better personal and professional life.

CLARITY OF MESSAGE

First and foremost component of Communication recipe is to have clarity of the message which we are trying to disseminate ; until and unless we are not clear about the topic we are communicating how come the readers or listeners will be able to comprehend and follow the message. Clarity of the message comes from the confidence which in turns comes from subject matter expertise and a clear understanding of the subject / issue on hand. In order for the message to resonate with the audience ; understand the needs , expectations and emotions of the people and try to align with them.

If you want that the people value what you communicate ; gain the attention of their Heart and Imagination and not just the ears .

Therefore before communicating ask yourself the following question.

Do I have the clarity regarding the topic, I am communicating ?

If the answer is NO; then try to gain more knowledge and understanding before speaking or writing on the matter.

Is the content appropriate and well suited to the audience needs and expectations ?

If the answer is NO ; try to deliver the content which is suited to the needs and expectations of the people to whom you are delivering the message .The content must be appropriate to the understanding level of the listener / receiver of the communication .

Do I believe and practice what I am communicating ?

If the answer is NO ; then you will not have the high moral ground and hence the message is not going to touch the people on an emotional and spiritual level since it is not coming from your heart with feelings and emotions. Moreover , if the people know that what you are saying ; you are not practicing yourself, then it is not going to leave an long lasting impact.

Until and unless you don't speak from the heart, the message is not going to work well with the listeners as well.

SIMPLICITY OF MESSAGE

Some people believe that using complex and difficult technical terms , jargon and choice of difficult words will make them look more technically competent and an authority on the subject; however in doing that they miss the key point that the purpose of communication is to make other people understand what you are trying to say in a simple and easy manner. Therefore , try to use simple and easy words as much as possible while communicating with people.

Wisdom is related with just saying enough to prove your point of view with clarity.

Ask following question to ascertain the simplicity of the message.

Is the message simple enough ;that every person with whom I am communicating will be able to understand , acknowledge and follow ?

If the answer is NO ; practice & rephrase until and unless you come to a point where you feel that now the content is simple enough to the extent that every person will be able to understand. Speaking very difficult language ,terms and words with people who dont have a clear understanding or in-depth knowledge of the subject ; doesn't make you look competent and technical ; in fact if you do so you miss the very purpose of what communication is.

BODY LANGUAGE AND TONE OF VOICE

One of the most important point in effective communication is body language and tone of the voice. Sometime the message we are trying to communicate is positive ; but our body language and tone of the voice doesn't indicate the same for the listener.

During verbal communication always try to use relevant gestures and good tone of voice so that others receive the message as you desire to deliver it. Try to develop the skills of self awareness ; so that you are well aware of your own emotions while communicating with people.

Always chose words sensibly and rationally ; and not let the mouth get ahead of the brain ; otherwise you may have to regret later on.

LISTEN ATTENTIVELY

Most of us like to talk and want others to listen ; but miss the important point that others value , like and appreciate us when we reciprocate and listen to their point of view with full attention , respect and honoring their point of view.

Furthermore, never try to frame in mind that what you are going to answer to another person while the person is communicating .If you remain focused on giving the answer part you will not be able to comprehend and analyze in depth what the person was trying to communicate and that out of focus may lead to conclusions and outcomes which may not be true.

ASKING GREAT QUESTIONS

Communication is not only about making nice statements and providing good facts and shortcut information; in fact the best trainers and masters never give straight answer ; they ignite the desire in the people to search for meaning ,truth and value themselves .

Ask Good Questions to ignite the fire of rational thinking and creative imagination in the listeners and people we are having a communication / conversation.

I do believe that if we understand the critical components of what communication is ;and follow and practice accordingly ; it will enable us to express with more clarity and with better results. Please feel free to comment and share the article if you like it.