Communication skill or communication skills

Communication simply do not refer to the way in which we communicate with another person. It includes many other things - the way in which we respond to the person we are speaking, body gestures including the facial ones, pitch and tone of our voice and a lot of other things. And the importance of communication is not just limited to the management world, since effective communication is now required in each and every aspect of our life. First, let us concentrate on the importance of communication in business. We can measure the importance of good communication in the business secto r when we take a look at job advertisements. There is little chance that you will come across an advertisement which does not mention that candidates should have good communication skills. Perhaps this is the only criteria which creates a positive impact w hen a person goes for a job interview. This is because technical qualifications are likely to be more or less the same for the cand idates. Without effective communication, a person may find it impossible to climb up the corporate ladder. Promotions come to those w ho can communicate effectively at all levels, from senior management level to the lowest employee. Communication is generally classified into following types. These are : Verbal and non-verbal,Technological and non-technological ,Mediated and non-mediated ,Participatory and non-participatory However, the commonly known types of communications are : Intra-personal communicat ion skills : This implies individual reflection, contemplation and meditation. One example of this is transcendental mediation. According to the experts this type of communication encompasses communicating with the divine and with spirits in the form of prayers and rites and rituals. Interpersonal communication skills : This is direct, face-to-face communication that occurs between two persons. It is essentially a dialogue or a conversation between two or more people . It is personal, direct, as well as intimate and permits maximum interaction through words and gestures. Interpersonal communications maybe: Focused Interactions : This primarily results from an actual encounter between two persons. This implies that the two persons involved are completel y aware of the communication happening between them. Unfocused interactions : This occurs when one simply observes or listens to persons with whom one is not conversing. This usually occurs at stations a nd bus stops, as well as on the street, at restaurants, etc. Non verbal communication skills : This includes aspects such as body language, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, etc., which also become a part of the communicating process; as well as the written and typed modes of communications. Mass communication : This is generally identified with tools of modern mass media including social media marketing, which includes: books, the press, cinema, television, radio, etc. It is a means of conveying messa ges to an entire populace. No matter what the different types of communication skills are, communicating is an ever -continuing process that is going on all the time. It is as important to human life as is day-to-day existence.

Business communication:
To become a truly successful professional, one needs to master business communication. The element of communication plays a vita l part in an organizational set-up. People working in an organization know how crucial a role business communication plays in a bus iness enterprise. Effective leadership thrives on developing excellent communication skills. People at senior positions in th e organizational hierarchy need to share knowledge and ideas to transmit a sense of urgency and enthusiasm to the staffs. A message cannot be conveyed effectively without possessing communication. Employees need to communicate with each other in an efficient manner and that can only be achieved with the help of business communication skills. Talking about the elements of business communication, it is usually of two types; internal and external. As the name suggests, internal business communication takes place between two or more entities in the company whereas external co mmunication is all about transfer of information and knowledge between the company employees and outside entities. A business enter prise needs to have a fine combination of both types of communication if it intends to run the operations smoothly. Business communication has several constituents including public speaking, negotiation skills, telephone skills, email and re port writing skills, follow up skills and not to forget absolutely critical element of body language. We all know the importance of public speaking. It is an art that plays a major role in one's professional life . Mastering the skills of public speaking is very essentia l for people who wish to climb up the corporate ladder. Most of the top level executives are required to present the information in a structured manner in front of several people and that definitely demands practice and confidence. It is one of the most im portant constituent of business communication. Negotiation skills need to be in the repertoire of a professional working in the marketing and communication process of the c ompany. Negotiation techniques are an important part of a company's strategy and people having these skills are highly respected. M oving further, telephone communication is must-have skill for those working in the customer service centers. Professionals possessing this skill are able to convey their message clearly and effectively. Emails have become the most common form of communica tion in almost all the organizations. Employees are expected to possess email and report writing skills. Follow up skills is all about making sure that the receiver has got the message in the same way as intended by the sender. This makes the communication cycle complete. Last but not the least; appropriate body language is a very critical part of business communication. Right body language depi cts confidence and clarity, so very necessary in a professional environment. Other important aspects of business communication skills are language tone and listening skills.

Importance of Communication - Learning to communicate well is an essential skill. As a baby, you learn that if you cry and fuss, Mum and Dad will rush over to comfort you; however, as you matur e, you realize that there are much better ways of communicating! Here are some reasons why communication skills are so important: 1.Good communication passes information along. If you can effectively communicate, then people understand you much better, a nd whatever information you are trying to tell them will get across without being misunderstood. In business, this can prevent mistakes from being made by people who thought you said something else. In perso nal life, it can help you to let others know what you want. 2.Good communication makes good relationships. If you can effectively communicate, then other people know what you need and w ant, and you can let them know your feelings without being misunderstood. This prevents arguments, especially between co uples, because it avoids all that "you should have known how I felt" sort of mind -reading arguments. If you can explain your thoughts and feelings, then you won't misunderstand each other. 3.Good communication helps you get what you need. If you can effect ively communicate what you need or want, you are more likely to be successful in getting it. Effective communication also hel ps you to convince others to agree with you in a persuasive setting. 4.Good communication gives you self -esteem. People with effective communication skills are more confident, because they know that they can tell other people exactly what they need to, an d they know that they are understanding those people better. 5.Good communication helps you to think better. In order to communicate effectively, you have to think ahead and organize your thoughts. This helps you learn how to organize, and how to plan ahea d. 6.Good communication makes peaceful communities. If you can effectively communicate, then you can get along better with your neighbors - in your town or city, in your country, and in the world. Most wars are caused by people not communicating effectively and not being able to negotiate with each other. Here are some things to remember about good communication: Communication is a two-way street. Good listening skills are part of good communication; you need to understand what the other person is saying to y ou as well as to say what you want. Communication often includes non-verbal clues such as tone of voice, facial expression, gest ures, and body posture. Good communication includes being observant and focusing on the other person. Communication is a compromise. Everyone has a right to have their own opinion; just because you don't agree with them is no r eason not to listen. Effective Communication Skills Effective communication skills are vital during your entire life. Whether it is trying to reason with a bully on the kindergarten playground or talking to your boss about a possible promotion, effective communication skills can make or break the situation. Proper communication skills can be learned and with practice will become an integral part of your lifestyle. Listening Attentively Listening to someone attentively is a skill that is mandatory in effective communications. Many people only listen half-heartedly to someone else when they are speaking. Instead, they are planning their own reply to what the person is saying. Listen thoughtfully to what others are saying and clarify what you are hearing by saying something like , Correct me if Im wrong, but this is what I understand you are saying.... Make sure you dont presume to know what the other person is saying if you are not sure. Listening in this manner will give you better control ov er how you should reply. Expressing Your Thoughts Make certain that you are clear in expressing what is on your mind. Dont feel you have to use big, flowery words that the other pe rson may not understand. Speak in an even, positive tone to get your point across clearly and smile frequently. Ask the other perso n if he understands what you mean. Confidence and Clarity Have confidence in your own viewpoints and remember that what you have to say is valid and important. Dont take a critica l tone, which tends to make people stop listening to what you are saying. Dont assume that silence means that a person disagrees with you or that she did not comprehend what you are saying. She may simply be formulat ing her own thoughts and reply. Be flexible in trying to resolve conflicts by keeping an open mind: someone has to be wrong; someone has to be right; and in some situations, both parties have valid points. Be willing to compromise when there is not a clear, definite answer to the discussion. Sometimes agreeing with someone that it is okay to disagree is all either of you can do. Communication Mistakes Everyone at some time or another makes grave errors of judgment when he is communicating, whether it is replying without thinking the matter through clearly, or speaking harshly because he has misinterpreted a situation. Learn from your mistakes, replay them in your mind and decide how yo u could have more effectively communicated with the other person. Effective communication takes practice. Consideration of Others People love to hear their names, so use them often in conversation with them. Do not monopolize conversations. Other peopl e want to say what they are thinking, too. Draw other people into the conversation if they are shy, especially if you know they have something to contribute. Maintain eye contact with the person you are speaking with. St ep back and include others in the gr oup. Draw people out by asking them questions. Your ability to communicate effectively by not hogging the conversation and listening attentively to others thoughts and viewpoints will m ake you a winner in the communications game.

Communication Any act by which one person gives to or receives from another person information about that persons needs, desires, percept ions, knowledge, or affective states. Communication may be intentional or unintentional, it may involve conventional or unconventional signals, may take linguistic or non-linguistic forms, and may occur through spoken or other modes. Or in simple words; Communication is the exchange of ideas, opinions and information through written or spoken words, symbols or actions . Communication is a dialogue, not a monologue. In fact, communication is more concerned with a dual listening process. For communication to be effective, the message must mean the same thing to both the sender and the receiver. Business Communication Business Communication is any communication used to promote a product, service, or organization with the objective of making sale. In business communication, message is conveyed through various channels of communication including internet, print (publicati ons), radio, television, outdoor, and word of mouth. In business, communication is considered core among business, interpersonal skills and etiquette. Historical Background Thousands years ago, people use to communicate orally. Greeks use a phonetic alphabet written from left to right. After that, many books appeared on written communication principles. In a result of this, Greek s tarted her very first library. When communism was ruling China, communication had become the biggest challenge within the vast government as well as between government and people. 1st in China and then in Rome postal service was launched. After that paper and printing press was invented in china that made communication easier. Hence, todays principles of communications are founde d on a mixture of ancient oral and written traditions. Organization The arrangements between individuals and groups in human society that structure relationships and activities (Business, Polit ical, Religious or social). In other words, A group of people identified by shared interests or purpose, for example, a Bank. Lifeblood of an Organization Communication is the lifeblood of an organization. If we could somehow remove communication flows from an organization, we wo uld not have an organization. It is needed for:

Conducting sales When communication stops, organized activity ceases to exist. Individual uncoordinated act ivity returns in an organization. So, Communication in an organization, is as vital as blood for life. Types of Business Communication There are two types of business communication in an organization: 1. Internal Communication 2. External Communication 1. Internal Communication Communication within an organization is called Internal Communication. It includes all communication within an organization. It may be informal or a formal function or department providing communi cation in various forms to employees. Effective internal communication is a vital mean of addressing organizational concerns. Good communication may help to increa se job satisfaction, safety, productivity, and profits and decrease grievances and turnover. Under Internal Business Communication types there come; a) Upward Communication b) Downward Communication c) Horizontal/Literal communication a) Upward Communication Upward communication is the flow of information from subordinates to superiors, or from employees to management. Without upwa rd communication, management works in a vacuum, not knowing if messages have been received properly, or if other problems exist in the organization. By definition, communication is a two-way affair. Yet for effective two-way organizational communication to occur, it must begin from the bottom. Upward Communication is a mean for staff to:

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Exchanging information Exchanging options Making plans and proposals Reaching agreement Executing decisions Sending and fulfilling orders

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Exchange information Offer ideas Express enthusiasm Achieve job satisfaction Provide feedback

b) Downward Communication Information flowing from the top of the organizationa l management hierarchy and telling people in the organization what is important (mission) and what is valued (policies). Downward communication generally provides enabling information which allows a subordinate to do something. e.g.: Instructions on how to do a task. Downward communication comes after upward communications have been successfully established. This type of communication is ne eded in an organization to:

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Transmit vital information Give instructions Encourage 2 -way discussion Announce decision s Seek cooperation Provide motivation Boost morale Increase efficiency Obtain feedback Both Downward & Upward Communications are collectively called Vertical Communication

c) Horizontal/Literal communication Horizontal communication normally involves coordinating information, and allows people with the same or similar rank in an or ganization to cooperate or collaborate. Communication among employees at the same level is crucial for the accomplishment of work.Horizontal Communication is essential for:

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Solving problems Accomplishing tasks Improving teamwork Building goodwill Boosting efficiency

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External Communication Communication with people outside the company is called external communication. Supervisors c ommunicate with sources outside the organization, such as vendors and customers. It leads to better;

Company profits It should improve

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Sales volume Public credibility Operational efficiency

Corporate image Ultimately, it helps to achieve

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Overall performancee Public goodwill

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Organizational goals Customer satisfaction