What is Effective Communication?

When we talk about the idea of effective communication, we must first describe what establishes effective communication from ordinary communication. Effective communication to us is, “The ability to authentically demonstrate your presence holistically in a manner that reflects ideal expressions.” Simply put, effective communication is exemplifying how you communicate verbally and nonverbally on all levels of being (mind/body/spirit) to express genuine interactions in alignment with how you desire to be understood and perceived. Effective communication does not refer to positive communication vs negative communication. In essence, it means being proactive and accountable for all the ways in which you are directly and indirectly communicating.  To be an effective communicator, you must consider your impact at all levels of your being from a higher perspective and express yourself accordingly.

Becoming an effective communicator takes personal self-reflection and ownership. In analyzing your current communication, you can conclude how you typically express yourself and how likely your expressions are well received by others. When you consider not only your message but how you are presenting that message to others, you can determine how to best improve to become more effective.

The following questions are worth considering when analyzing your typical communications.

1. Does my partner normally respond to the approach, style, or presentation of my message?

2. Do I feel that my impact when sharing my message is clear and obvious?

3. Does my partner frequently need me to clarify or expand on my message?

4. Do I feel that my non-verbal body language and verbal language ideally match when communicating with my partner?

5. Is it difficult for me to articulate my thoughts, ideas, or perspective in a meaningful way?

6. Do I feel that I am expressing myself in the manner in which I want to be perceived?

- Jaclyn