Friendliness is a necessary sub-skill of communication and it should be demonstrated both in verbal and non-verbal communication, oral or written. As it was mentioned previously a friendly tone and a smile encourage others to engage in honest communication with you. It is important to smile and be polite in face-to-face conversations, while personalizing an email will make the recipient feel appreciated. The use of humour is also recommended in communication. This is because laughing is found to release chemicals in the brain called endorphins which relieve stress and anxiety.
An effective communication occurs when the individuals involved are flexible and openminded. Holding strong beliefs and being rigid will not allow you to identify the emotions of the other person and incorrect interpretations of the message conveyed will occur. When you are just getting your message across, this is not communication. Entering into a dialogue and exchanging ideas is communication. Even when you disagree with someone, you should make productive conversations listening to what the other person has to say.
Feeling confident and comfortable in what you are saying shows to others that you believe in your words and statements. However, you should be confident at a level where you do not appear as arrogant or aggressive. No matter how you follow through your words, you should always listen to the other person and show empathy.
Empathy is when you put yourself in other people’s shoes. It is when you understand the emotions of others and act upon it. It is clear that empathy is very important in communication as you listen to what other people say and you respond showing understanding and respect for their point of view.
During communication, it is crucial that you show respect to the other person so that he/she feel heard and appreciated. Showing respect means using the other person’s name, making eye-contact, and actively listening. This is not only applicable to face-to-face or verbal communication, but also to emails and phone calls. It is important not to hurry while writing an email as you appear as indifferent to the other person. Also, distractions on the phone can lead the recipient to believe that you do not show enough interested in them to be focused on conversation.
Although feedback can be considered a part of the communication process, people sometimes forget its importance. It is essential that, during communication, feedback is both given and received. When you give positive feedback such as “Good job”, “thanks for…”, it encourages and motivates other people. When you receive feedback, either positive or negative, you should always accept it, listen to it carefully, make clarifying questions if needed, and make efforts to implement it successfully.
It is important to know what type of medium to use in each communication situation. You should always think about the other person while choosing your medium. When you want to convey a serious message, it would be more appropriate to do it in person. If the recipient of the message you want to convey is busy, you should better do it via email. If you are thoughtful about the channels you use in communication, the other person will appreciate it and it will be more likely to respond positively to you.