What is Communication and Its Types?

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Communication means the exchange of messages and information between two or more individuals in an efficient way. It can be verbal- speech, written texts or non-verbal- body language, gestures and signs.

Good communication means exchanging information with someone, and they can interpret the meaning behind it without any errors. Therefore, communication is vital for each society’s well-being and is a part of our daily life.

Humans require communication of their feelings and emotions with each other, be it for support or a better understanding. Good communication is essential for a progressive and efficient society.

What are the components of communication?

In the simplest form, communication involves a sender, a receiver and a message. Therefore, the most important requirement is for the message to be easy and clear enough to be interpreted by both the sender and receiver.

Another component is the feedback the receiver needs to give some feedback. Feedback can be verbal, such as a reply to the question or argument or non-verbal, like nodding your head in agreement or showing understanding.

The context of the message is the environmental and psychological factors surrounding the sender when the message is given.

Types of communication

Written/verbal communication

The usage of texts and writing is something that sets humans apart from other living beings. While communication in some form is viable for all animals, the written exchange of information is unique to humans.

The internet has been an extreme gift to our society; with digitization, we can communicate with people virtually from any corner of the world. It has brought the world closer and made the exchange of global information just a few clicks away.

Verbal communication makes use of statements and spoken information to exchange ideas between two people.

Efficient verbal communication requires these essential steps:

First, choose your phrases and words correctly; think before using any term that could be interpreted in the wrong manner or be offensive to a specific community/culture.

Clarity is vital. Make sure your sentences are clear and concise. Be to the point and refrain from using unnecessarily big words or complex sentences.

Keep your tone respectful and confident. Confidence is key to effective communication. In today’s competitive world, those who sound professional and confident have the upper hand over those who cannot form their thoughts coherently.

Know your audience, be culturally knowledgeable about the topic and the people you are engaging with.

Non-verbal communication

Nonverbal communication includes your body language, facial features, hand gestures, eye movements and posture. Effective non-verbal communication is more important than verbal communication. We can change our sentences and phrases according to the situation, but it is harder to mask our reactions. Tone and facial reactions can easily communicate your thoughts much better than your words could.

Whilet the internet has been a progressive mode of communication, it also breeds miscommunication. Words in themselves aren’t efficient enough, and non-verbal cues are essential for a healthy conversation.