According to Edward G. Wertheim, Ph.D., of Northeastern University, 75 percent of people's time at work is spent in an interpersonal situation. This is a marker of the fact that the success of failure of given organization depends on the ability to effectively communicate. Similarly personal relationships can fail from nothing other than a lack of mutual understanding. Understanding the importance of effective communication and learning some techniques can contribute to a health exchange of ideas, which benefits all parties involved.
Identification
Effective communication is measurable. Information from the speaker is received by the listener and the two parties change rolls enough that the ideas and needs of each are being addressed. If a test were given after the conversation, it would reveal that each person gained new knowledge from the other. Beyond that, each person's position is more aligned with the other. Effective communication is informative, persuasive and leaves each person feeling positive about the communication.
Barriers to Effective Communication
There are many things that get in the way of effective communication. Aside from the obvious, which include deafness or a noisy environment, there are language differences even from people born and raised in the same country. There are also cultural differences that interfere with feedback channels. For instance, in some cultures, it is more important to communicate respect than understanding after someone speaks. One major barrier is the distortions in place because of the psychology of the person, prejudice, power issues, personal issues, many things can make a listener unwilling to receive a message. Lastly, intentional distortions of the truth cause problems with ongoing communication.
Benefits
Society is built on communication. Good communication is essential to any relationship, from personal to professional. In a corporate environment, effective communication saves time and money. Getting messages across quickly and accurately avoids miscommunications that can cost money in business and hurt feelings in personal relationships. Mastering effective communication will lead not only to improved relationships, but also higher self esteem.
Significance
As society becomes more sophisticated, it demands that communications be more laden with information and better understood. Fewer societal restrictions, removal of the patriarchal power structure, and broader social interactions have caused relationships to become more complex than ever. No longer in a tribe, you encounter people of vastly different orientations and communications must penetrate differences in culture and language.
Misconceptions
Many may think that those with the "gift of gab" are effective communicators. Those that can chat easily and have a lot to say may not, in fact, be effective at all. While some listeners may be stunned into silence, or may appreciate that the burden of conversation is taken off them, it doesn't mean they are receiving any message from the speaker or that any of their own ideas or needs are being addressed. A conversational dictator, while seemingly powerful, gets no feedback and thus may not be imparting any information to the listener at all: the listener may simply not understand or care what the speaker is talking about.
Considerations
Being mindful of two-way communication is a first step to effective communication. Employing techniques, such as rephrasing, asking open-ended questions and listening without prejudice are effective. But for perfectly effective communication, some training is necessary. There are many books written on the subject of effective communication and there are seminars and workshops that offer instruction and role-playing. Check your local college and community center for classes.
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