Aligned with our mission to simplify the overwhelming information on the Web – after extensive reading and deliberation – here are the 6 essentials of effective interpersonal communication:
- Smile
- Address the person by name
- Be positive & respectful
- Speak clearly and w/ a purpose
- Relate – find similarities
- Listen
- “First seek to understand, then to be understood.”
Simple.
__
Comments should try to add and build upon the post in new ways we did not think of in order to improve it.
I’m bothered by the growing indifference to kindness in America. Much of that comes from communication, or lack there of. And great communication, more often than not, starts with . . . . . a smile. It’s really not a hard concept to understand. Also, listening. A really smart person once told me, “It is the person who listens that knows when to speak.” Think about that for a moment.
I would add to the list something to the effect of “stand open”, as in do not stand with your arms crossed over your chest or with your hands in your pockets. It is very difficult to carry on an effective conversation with people when their posture is not inviting.
Ah yes, so very important – nonverbal communication. We assumed that the guidelines above would lead to appropriate nonverbal communication for the majority of people. It would appear unusual for someone to smile and be polite with their arms crossed.
Still, we must consider that a person can be sincere in their smile and politeness while still having their arms crossed, as a possible sign of shyness.
Further, “stand open” would not be advisable as crossing your arms in other countries/cultures has different meanings – sometimes positive. “Be open” was an alternative but #6 Listen covers that. A person can’t effectively listen if they’re not open, though many do think they are “listening” when they are really “hearing.”
We may do an article on listening but those that have trouble listening likely wouldn’t be listening in the first place.
So we’ll save ourselves the trouble.