The Importance of Effective Communication Skills

To me, communication is a crucial process and makes up a big part in every person's life. As social beings, communication is evident in all aspects of our lives. Whether in school, at the workplace, or at home, interaction between others and ourselves are unavoidable in any scenario and are required for the proper conveying of messages, intentions, feelings and information.  Communication, however, is not just about two people talking to each other. Effective communication is a dynamic process which involves both verbal and non-verbal interactions between two or more individuals. The speaker has to be able to transmit his message to the receiver well such that the receiver is able to fully grasp what the speaker is saying. The receiver should also provide feedback so that the speaker can assess if the way he communicates is effective. Thus, effective communication goes two ways between the parties involved and is very important in order to avoid any social breakdown, such as misunderstandings and conflicts, and to allow for efficient cycling of information between individuals. When communication fails, social acceptance fails and inter-personal problems arise. One main factor accounting for the breakdown of marriage between two people, for example, is often due to ineffective communication.   The bee makes an interesting example of effective communication. Upon discovering nectar, the bee goes back to its hive and communicates its discovery to other bees by dancing. The intensity and type of dance depends on the distance of the nectar from the hive, and also the quantity available for harvesting. Bees are also able to communicate through smell, by the secretions of hormones called pheromones from their bodies. While the bees use the language of smells and dancing to communicate information to their counterparts, communication is much more complicated for humans. We are exposed to a plentiful array of purposes, audiences and contexts, which causes the messages we need to send to our counterparts to be much more complex as opposed to the bees. Thus, the language we humans speak include both verbal and non-verbal aspects, and in order to communicate effectively, we have to learn how to read others' body languages and to take note of the tone and choice of words we use in conveying our message. To conclude, effective communication is important to me as it allows for the proper interaction between individuals. When one is able to effectively communicate and bring himself across to others, he prevents awkward social situations from unfolding unto himself and presents himself as a confident person who thinks before he speaks. Thus, effective communication not only helps in maintaining successful relationships, it contributes to self-value. When one is able to communicate properly, he is more likely to excel in the fields of his life as he is capable of bringing his point across well (academically, at work, or his private life). Thus, one has better control over his life and can achieve, ultimately, happiness. Therefore, effective communication is an important skill I wish to learn and hold on to for life. I hope to be somebody who can bring her views and thoughts across to others effectively, so that I can strive to be a confident, and happy individual. (:  -------------------------------------
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