Communication is a work of art. And your ability to communicate will sit somewhere between the ranking of a Picasso and something from the Museum of Bad Art.
“The art of communication” — I like that phrase. Because communicating is an art. When we’re attempting to get our message out to others, it’s as though we start with a giant blank canvas and we then begin to paint a picture, any picture we desire. Now, most people assume that when painting a picture, they have only a few basic brushes at their disposal. But the advanced artist knows there are many tools available to create their masterpiece, and they use each to their advantage. The same is true with communication. There are many tools available to you as you communicate; you just have to be aware of them and then use them purposefully. The better you become at using these tools, the better you’ll be at communicating.
The Art of Communication is for anyone who senses that they could be communicating on a deeper level. Perhaps you are a confident communicator but suspect there may be more to the art of conversation that you have not yet been able to access. Or perhaps you feel that your conversations lack depth and meaning and that you’d like to enrich your relationships with others, if only you knew how. This book will address your concerns and show you how to engage wholeheartedly with others.
We all have all met those people or have that friend who can choose their words without hesitation and make the tone of a situation improve. I have friends who can turn a phrase on a dime and change the entire meaning of a situation, usually resulting in laughter. I do not possess that ability. I am process-oriented, so my words are selected carefully and lack the verbal art form of quickly and creatively changing the perceived negative tone of a situation with the immediacy of words.
Communication breaks down all too frequently and this is a well-known issue. Communication is an art because it involves creativity. The savvy communicator can use various forms of word strands, tone, and diction to make a situation more palatable and change the original negative perception of any given encounter into a more positive one. Communication opens the floodgates for influencing other's thoughts, perceptions, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes toward a situation.
Despite the fact that English is a global language most people are aware of only 35% of the words that comprise the language. In many schools and colleges, it is taught as a subject ignoring that the very purpose of studying a language is to communicate. After globalization, many MNCs have found their niche in India. People here know English but to work with MNCs or any private sector, you need to have a command of the English language. For a good command over any language, one should have sound knowledge of grammar, ample vocabulary along excellent power of expression and articulation.
Part of the answer is that in our stressful, ever rapid changing society, we have forgotten the art of communication. The first important step in communication is looking at the person you are trying to communicate with. Look for all those non-verbal clues and you will discover how the person is really receiving the message you are giving her.
Communication is an ability — it is something that is learned and can be developed. With practice. We use it all the time with varying degrees of efficiency and effectiveness. I’ve written a few blog posts recently about interviewing. The main skill in interviewing is communication. Our lives revolve around relationships — the main skill in relationships is verbal communication.
Communication skills are an important life-skilling process. Communicating effectively is an art. It is key to success in education, work, and social interactions. Communication happens with the exchange of information between two individuals. It may be written, vocal, visual, or non-verbal. It takes a lifetime to master good communication skills. There are many techniques one can practice to improve these skills which help in developing all aspects of one’s life.
There’s more to conversation than just clear, rational thinking. Left-brain rationality is important, of course, but neuroscience increasingly shows that the right-brain skills of creativity, intuition, and spontaneity are essential in good communication. In this guide, you’ll discover ways of tapping into the full conversational potential that lies dormant within you, adding a level of nuance and watching the result as your relationships blossom. You may even find that untapped value in the form of new insights, ideas, and creative thoughts, emerges from your daily conversations.
