Lack of good communication has frequently been identified as one of the root causes of conflict among individuals, groups, communities, organizations, and processional teams. Although communication may appear straightforward, the five-syllable term embodies complexity in ensuring clear and concise messages.
Communication is as old as man; it is a human act that connects the dots in passing a message from one party to another. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, including speech, sign language, body gestures, and eye contact, whether with an individual, a small group, or a larger group.
Again, in the past, noises such as gongs, drums, whistles, and pipes were utilized to communicate with members a community. Similarly, natural phenomena like rainstorms, lightning/thunder, moonlight, stars, and sunrise/sunset were used to communicate important information. It is important to note that in some traditional African settings, the appearance of a particular masquerade delivers a strong message that is interpreted by everybody.
Prior to the introduction of mobile and communication devices, there appears to be a knitted communication that bridges interpersonal gaps among spouses, siblings, parents, and children, among others. In the past, there were physical relationships between people that were considered to be reciprocal.
With the introduction and exponential growth of digital and communication devices, including channels and platforms, the act has grown increasingly technological and scientific over the world. As a result, the world has long been referred to as a global village, with people able to communicate across boundaries without physically meeting.
As a communications specialist, the foundation of every message is to keep it simple and relevant. This is often accomplished by employing simple words made up of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and other components of speech. The utilization of the appropriate key words or phrases is what distinguishes effective communication. This can be accomplished either through writing or speaking.
Again, due to the loss in attention span, communication should be kept brief and concise. Multitasking has become an essential part of everyone’s daily routine. In this day and age, it is challenging to maintain people’s full attention without them reaching for their smartphones to check correspondences and messages across communication platforms.
Let your communication be communicative, whether it is a personal brand, a product, a corporation, or a conglomerate. Be apt, agile, straightforward, and concise. Your choice of words or phrases will influence the flexibility of your communication. Avoid ambiguity and make it obvious that a decent write-up or speech does not guarantee effective communication. A successful and effective communication campaign or line is one that everyone understands effortlessly.
Kenneth Adejumoh
Strategic Communications Expert
Kenadejumoh1@gmailcom
@kenadejumoh (IG, X, FB, LinkedIn)
