COMMUNICATION 101

For communication to be branded effective, there must be a synchronisation of intention and interpretation - Terry Mante

COMMUNICATION is the exchange and flow of information and ideas from one person to another; it involves a sender transmitting an idea, information or feeling to a receiver (US Army, 1983). Communication becomes successful only if the receiver understands and interprets the information or idea exactly the way the sender intends it to be.

Ineffective communication breeds conflicts, turbulence and failure in relationships, businesses, families and communities. Learning to communicate effectively could be your launch pad for success in the corporate world and in other aspects of life.

CHALLENGE OF COMMUNICATION
THE MAJOR challenge of communication lies in ensuring harmony between intent and interpretation. It’s one thing to have an idea and another thing to communicate the idea in its exact form. Communicating an idea in its exact form means the sender says clearly what they have in mind and the receiver understands exactly what the sender means and gives appropriate feedback.

For communication to be branded effective, there must be a synchronisation of intention and interpretation. The evidence of synchronisation is in the feedback that the message generates from the receiver to the sender. If the original sender perceives that the feedback is in line with the message sent, then it would be safe to conclude that the challenge of communication has been overcome and the goal achieved.

GOAL OF COMMUNICATION
HAVE YOU ever suffered the ordeal of sitting through a lecture where everything the speaker says goes above your head? What about reading a book so full of technical jargons that make no sense to you? That is ineffective communication at its best. When you speak, your objective is not just to impress or to be heard. When you write, you don’t just write for people to read you. You must speak and write to be UNDERSTOOD, just as you want to UNDERSTAND when you listen or read.

The ultimate goal of communication is to understand and be understood.

PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION is not a knee jerk activity that happens when you deliver one big strike. Really, it is a process that follows a chronological pattern whenever it occurs. Here is a four-step process for effective communication:

1. Thought: Every communication process begins with a thought. Thought is the actual idea or information that the sender intends to transmit to the receiver. It exists in the mind of the sender. A thought may take the form of a desire, decision or intention.

2. Encode: A man who desires to have a romantic relationship with a lady may express it in many ways. Some men would call the lady very often or take her out for lunch or dinner. Others would go right ahead and tell the lady what they have in mind. Through these actions, the man sends a message to the lady that “If you give me the chance, I will show you true love and take good care of you.” The conversion of thought to words, symbols or actions for onward transmission to the intended receiver is called encoding.

3. Decode: A lady who receives dinner or lunch advances would interpret these gestures. She might think the man is just being nice and play along or get the exact message the man is sending across. At the decoding stage, the receiver translates words, symbols and actions into concepts they understand.

4. Feedback: Feedback is the response or action that is generated by the message. It is usually at the behest of the receiver. A lady at the receiving end of a man’s advances evaluates the man, his manners and his message. She then makes a decision and communicates the decision to the man. The decision which is sent back to the original sender is the feedback. Communication is not complete until feedback is received by the original sender.

BUSINESS OF COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION is often seen as a specialised function reserved for journalists, marketing professionals, public relations executives and career public speakers. In many organisations, corporate communications is reserved for a department with specialised personnel.

However, communication is everybody’s business. It is a critical success factor in personal and professional development. Each of us must constantly seek to enhance our communication skills. It is our business.

© 2012 Terry Mante
PEDNET
Accra, Ghana