Note for English Communication Skills - ECS By Sudhanshu Behera

Topics ( 11 )

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English Communication Skills 1

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Module 1 2

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The Elements of Communication Etymology: The word communication is derived from the latin word ‘communicare’ meaning ‘to share, to impart or to commune’, it’s literal meaning is ‘sharing of information’. ‘Communication is any behaviour that results in an exchange of meaning.’ (American Management Association) What is communication? Communication is a dynamic interactive process that involves effective transmission of facts, ideas, thoughts and etc. Communication is interactive as it requires both the sender and the receiver. Moreover, the word ‘process’ suggests that communication exists as a flow through a series of steps. ‘Meaning’ is central to communication, and transmission of meaning the central objective of communication. It begins with the sender sending out message cues, which are perceived by the receiver and responds to them accordingly. Communication is not complete unless the message is decoded and understood by the receiver and the feedback provided is in coherence with the message sent. Communication is symbolic as it involves not only words but also symbols and gestures. In simple, we can describe communication as ‘a multidimensional interactive process of sharing common sets of signs, symbols and language between two or more persons so that suitable response results.’ Without communication, social interaction may not be possible as human interaction is essentially communicative interaction. It is important in our relationships be it personal or professional, it plays a key role in our lives. Communication as skill Communication is an activity – something that we do. When we communicate, we have to perform various ‘tasks’, some of which are fairly simple. For example, when a child in a kindergarten class has to inform the teacher of its need to visit the bathroom, all that it has to do is to hold up the little finger of one hand. Most children are able to do this quite easily. It is less easy, however, to persuade someone to part with money. The successful performance of this task requires a great deal of skill. How skills are acquired? A ‘skill’ is defined as the ability to perform a task. Every human being is called upon to perform a number of routine tasks everyday. Some are simple but others require special skills. A few skills are ‘inborn’ – that is, human beings are born with the ability to perform certain activities ; but most skills have to be learnt or acquired. For example, human babies, unlike ducklings, are not born with the natural ability to swim ; they have to learn the skills of swimming. Let’s discuss the various factors that make communication indispensible in the business world: Growth: In a world which is forever expanding, multinational companies need to have a head office with branch offices in various parts of the world. A thorough and updated knowledge of the activities of the branch offices helps the organisation to grow better and ensure smooth functioning. Complexity: In an era of specialisation a single organisation deals with different activities like planning, production, sales, stores, advertising, financing, accounts, welfare, etc. If these departments do not 3

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communicate with one another as well as the management, then there would not be any coordination among them. As a matter of fact if the various departments of an organisation go hand in hand the organisation can achieve better growth. Competitiveness: Effective communication again plays a vital role in increasing the sales of a product in the market. In an era of consumerism, where a number of products compete for the same market space, what differentiates one product from another similar product is the attitude shown by a salesperson while dealing with customers. Even advertisements require a good deal of communication. Eg. Airtel friends Harmony: Trade unions and the management of any organisation share a delicate relationship, where deficit in trust leads to trouble. Without proper communication the harmony between both the sides may be broken leading to wide scale damage. Eg. The mayhem at Maneswar Maruti Suzuki Plant, where the management was badly manhandled by the trade union, even leading to death of a senior manager. Understanding and Cooperation: Effective management and communication skills help establish a cordial relationship between the employees and the employer. Only when employees know what is expected of them can the management utilize their potentials and make up for their limitations. This ultimately leads to job satisfaction which helps the organisation to grow. Leadership: What is the role of a leader? A leader is expected to represent his/her followers and motivate them to reach heights of success through individual and collective effort. Communication is the best equipment a leader can employ to achieve this goal. Even ideals resting upon strong principles can fall flat and fail to motivate due to lack of effective communication skills. History is full with examples of many national leaders who have moved the masses by their life-changing speeches and powerful writings. Mahatma Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose are prominent examples of outstanding leadership through effective communication. 4