Module 2: Effective Communication

Communication is a crucial part of every relationship whether it is professional, personal, or simply informative. At its most mechanical level, communication can be described as a series of inputs and outputs in order to relay a message (Losee, 1999). However, communication requires skills that typically vary from person to person usually based on background and level of experience communicating with others (Friend & Cook, 2016; Newey, 2016). In communication that is positively functioning, all participants are actively engaged, regardless of their level of communication skills (Losee, 1999). Skills that contribute to successful communication include empathy, conciseness, active listening, and the ability to choose the correct channel of communication to relay a message (Sharma & Sharma, 2014). The combination of communication skills among two or more individuals or parties working towards the same goal produce effective communication. According to Sharma and Sharma (2014), “effective communication is an interpersonal process in which verbal symbols (e.g., words, sentences) and nonverbal symbols (e.g., body postures, facial gestures) are shared and understood by people” (p. 3151). When using effective communication, it is important to have a positive attitude about what the message is, while practicing empathy and being in touch with the emotional component of communication. For example, although all messages are not positive in nature, maintaining a positive attitude about communicating the message is crucial.