The true definition of communication
The above title may seem elementary; however, I assure you that it is not. The fact is that most people don’t communicate effectively at all; therefore, they do not truly capture the communication definition.
The aim of this article is to give you a deeper definition and understanding of it. The goal of doing this is to help you communicate more effectively by using the right tools and/or resources.
By definition, to communicate means to give and/or exchange information and/or ideas. So, in this sense, effective communication is ensuring that information and/or ideas are mutually provided and/or exchanged or not only clearly conveyed but also accurately understood by all parties involved in the communication circle. .
Simply put, you are responsible for what you say and responsible for your actions in that regard. This is the ideal and the pinnacle of effective communication.
As one of my teachers says, and I have really come to experience and believe, “The quality of your communication is equal to the quality of your life.”
To the extent that you can get your messages across and understand the points of view of yourself and others, the results you achieve will reflect the level of that clarity. As with diamonds, not all stones are of the same purity.
To this end, it is important that you understand the true meaning of communicating effectively, and in order to do so, it is vital that you first have a thorough understanding of the true definition of communication.
First, let’s understand that we spend about 75% or more of our waking hours doing these 4 things: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. All of these are forms of communication.
Let’s define what it means to communicate effectively through these methods.
When it comes to writing or speaking, there are certain things you need to be aware of and take responsibility for when you are the initiator in these cases.
First, you have to strive to take full responsibility for what you write or say and also for the clarity of these communications. This means that if the message it contains is misinterpreted, you should not blame the recipients of the message, but rather accept responsibility for making sure the message is clear. Surely you can’t be expected to think for someone else or to know that what you say will penetrate them in the way you want; however, you can take the position of humility and simply rephrase or ask for clarification on how you might best present your message so that your recipients get the picture you’re trying to paint.
The point is to take full responsibility for getting your message across clearly, and instead of just doing it the way you like to read or hear it, focus on those for whom the message is intended. Your goal should be to make sure they understand because it’s about them and not about you.
Second, if something is expected of the recipients of your message, it is your responsibility to let them know at some point in your communication. In other words, you need to provide the call to action. If you don’t, you can’t be upset or frustrated when they don’t respond or respond as you might have expected.
Here is a quick guide to follow when you are the initiator of the communication:
- Tell them what you’re going to tell them
- tell them
- tell them what you told them
This method of getting your message across ensures that many more people will understand your message much more quickly and completely.
When it comes to reading or listening, there are certain things you need to be aware of and take responsibility for when you are the recipient in these cases.
First, you must be willing to read or listen without preconceived notions. I realize that this can be very difficult in some cases; however, the practice will certainly increase the effectiveness of your communications. People who really understand the definition of communication practice this relentlessly.
As the recipient of any communication, our ultimate goal should remain that we are open, willing, and only seeking true understanding of what is being read or said. Only then do we formulate our opinions, comments or advice based on what is being asked or stated. We genuinely read and listen so we can respond genuinely and authentically.
Second, you must remain responsible for any call to action once you have accepted it. This is how the circle of communication is completed and made effective; it is only when all parties involved accept responsibility and remain responsible for the charge in it.
There’s no question that you can immediately improve the effectiveness of your communications once you start putting them into practice. This is the true definition of communication.