Effective Communication

            It is important to express feelings and meaning clearly. It is equally important to listen well. There are many methods to determine what is being said and what is actually meant by the particular words. Words are only part of the picture.
            Experts suggest the degree of understanding of what someone else is saying is based on:
            What is said - the words - 7%
            How it is said - volume, pitch, rhythm, etc. - 38%
            Body language - facial expressions, posture, hand position - 55%

How to be Understood

            Communication is a two part process: one person speaking and the other person listening. The first challenge is that the majority of people think in images. Rarely do people use letters or words when thinking. The challenge to the speaker is to take the images, convert them into words, and share them with the listener. The listener then takes those words, and converts them into understandable images to interpret what the speaker means.
Steps to Being Understood
            • Keep it simple - assume the listener is not familiar with the information being shared.
            • Use Good Manners - face the listener, look them in the eye, allow the listener to ask questions, and do not interrupt.
            • Have the listener repeat in their own words what they understand the speaker to be saying.
            • Do not use slang.

How to Understand

            Listening is much more than being in the same room with someone and looking at them while they do all the talking. Listening is the ability to make sense of and understand what the speaker means.

Strategies for Effective Listening

            • Listen for main points, content.
            • Watch for nonverbal signals, i.e eyes body, face tone, gestures.
            • Focus on the speaker.
            • Finish listening before responding. 
            • Repeat or paraphrase what the speaker is saying.
            • Remain open.

Time is on the listener’s side.  Most people think four times faster than they speak.  So once the speaker is finished, take a deep breath and then ask questions or make a statement.