Communication

The movement of information, ideas, or thoughts from person to person or from one point to the other is characterised as true communication. It is a process in which individuals actively participate in significant ways. This flow of knowledge is vital for managerial effectiveness, decision-making, and human resource management. Communication promotes understanding of others by reducing misconceptions and increasing clarity of ideas and speech. This article explains the definition of communication and the purpose of communication. 

What is the definition of communication?  

The definition of communication is that it enables the exchange of information and understanding between individuals and departments via numerous media channels and networks in an organisation. 

Communication is an ability that helps us to interact with others. It is an important administrative function that is inextricably tied to all other managerial tasks. It bridges the knowledge and cognitive gap between persons and groups. The most crucial aspect of communication is information.

What Are the Different Types of Communication?

There are two kinds of communication: verbal and nonverbal.

1. Verbal Communication: 

Verbal communication occurs when words are spoken or conveyed to another person verbally, audibly, or in writing. It may be done over the phone, in person, or via Skype call.

2. Non-Verbal Communication: 

Non-verbal communication refers to any kind of communication that does not include the use of spoken words, conversation, or written language. It occurs through signs, symbols, colours, gestures, body language, or any facial expressions.

What is The Purpose of Communication? 

Communication reflects the sender’s experience, which the listener may learn by evaluating and interpreting it. The following is the purpose of communication:

• Flow of Information 

To establish coordination, all levels of the organisation must communicate and exchange information.

• Coordination

In a workplace, communication is essential for ensuring organisational efficiency and collaboration. You can better organise your job if you have solid communication abilities.

•  Learning Management Competencies

Communication entails the sharing of data, ideas, beliefs, perceptions, advice, opinions, directives, and instructions.

• Making People Change-Ready

At the workplace, effective and suitable communication is a helpful tool in management’s armoury for achieving total change in organisational policies, processes, and work style while having people accept and react favourably.

• Building Good Human Relations

Communication is the instrument that enables managers, employees, and other staff to interact with one another. They can better understand one another thanks to communication.

•  Encouragement of Subordinates’ Ideas

This strategy enables workers to engage with one another on a more personal level and share feedback on their breakthrough ideas. This will assist students in developing innovative thinking skills.  

What Are The Barriers of Communication?

Communication impediments can either prohibit communication or convey the wrong meaning, resulting in misunderstandings. As a result, a manager must recognise such impediments and make suitable efforts to overcome them. Barriers of communication at an organisation can be classified as follows:

1. Semantic Barriers

These are the vital concerns with the problems and challenges faced during the encoding and decoding of a message into words or impressions. Typically, such hurdles arise as a consequence of the usage of incorrect terms, erroneous translations, varying interpretations, and so on.

For example, a manager may be required to deal with employees who do not speak English and, conversely, may be unfamiliar with Hindi. In this scenario, language is a barrier to communication since the employer may not be able to communicate effectively with the workers.

2. Psychological Barriers

Communication can sometimes be hampered by emotional or psychological factors. Ineffective communication reflects the mental condition of both the sender and the recipient. An anxious individual cannot communicate effectively, and an angry recipient cannot comprehend the message.

Thus, both the sender and the receiver must maintain a healthy psychological state during the contact. They should also have faith in one another. They won’t be able to grasp each other’s messages if they don’t believe each other.

3. Organisational Barriers

Organisational structure, norms and laws, authority relationships, and so on can all operate as obstructions to successful communication. In an organisation with a highly centralised structure, people could be deterred from speaking freely. Rigid rules and regulations, as well as time-consuming procedures, can often stymie communication.

4. Personal Barriers

Personal aspects of both the sender and the recipient may function as a barrier to good communication. If a supervisor believes that a certain message may threaten his authority, he may conceal it.

Conclusion

Communication is essential to express one’s thoughts and feelings to live a fuller and happier life. We suffer less and feel better about ourselves and our environment when we speak more. However, to effectively communicate one’s perspective, it is much more important to understand the skill of successful communication. This article outlines the definition of communication, the purpose of communication, and the barriers to communication.