February 14, 2023
Written by UJJI Team
“Communication is your ticket to success if you pay attention and learn to do it effectively."
– Theo Gold
Communication is the basis behind almost everything we do in life, at home with our family and close ones. At school, at work, everywhere, when you have to interact with something, you communicate. However, can everyone do it the right way? Let’s answer that by going down our memory lane. Do you remember the marketer or cold caller that gave you an offer or told you about a product that seemed too good to be true? You probably couldn’t resist the urge to try it out, and even if you knew that there might be risks, you just had to try it out to satisfy your curiosity. Also, maybe in a similar category as the former, there may have been someone who brought an offer that was a “turn-off;” the presentation and the message didn’t feel right, even if you later realized it might have been a lucrative idea. This illustration shows the power of effective communication, which can only be achieved when communication pillars are erect.
Different disciplines and ideologies have other things to say about the pillars of communication. Still, the following points will discuss some of the general pillars that can fit any setting or for any purpose.
The content or information you want to pass is the first pillar. It is the most important. After all, if your content does not make sense, no matter how good and reliable the other pillars are, it doesn’t make a difference because you haven’t communicated effectively. The fix for a flaw in this aspect is not far-fetched. All you have to do is revisit your content and go through it, but this time, assume the audience’s role and see how well you took what you want to present to others.
The audience is the next pillar. The debate of who comes first, audience or content, exists. Your audience determines a lot about the content, which is why the audience is also that important. For example, if you present a sales speech, the tone would be completely different from what we use to deliver an informative speech about health or something related.
The context, which is next, is the level of understanding you and your audience have, and it is something you establish over time. For example, if you are into comics or sarcasm, your audience will know what to look for when interpreting your message.
The medium and mode of communication are the next things you have to consider. Your audience and content determine it because it determines how well The audience will receive the message. For example, when making a presentation that needs illustration and does not have any pictures or images or videos, you haven’t adequately communicated because you do not expect your audiences to imagine what they probably haven’t seen before.
The reaction or expected end is also something you have to consider when communicating. It is what you want the recipient audience to do after passing your information. If it’s business or work, you may want your audience to accept your proposal. It could also be that you want your audience to buy what you’re selling, which is often the root of your communication.
Knowing the pillars of communication isn’t enough to be an effective communicator. It takes consistency in practice to reach that level. Also, while at it, ensure that you learn the basics of non-verbal communication and engage the audience in ways that allow feedback by creating an avenue for questions or contributions.
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