Why do we need to communicate?
We all need to communicate at every step in our life to express our views, affection, appreciation, or even reprimand someone. We communicate to express our emotional feelings, anger and to give clarification or make our stance clear.
Types of communication we need to open up.
Depending on our sphere of activity or need, we all communicate through different modes and means to open up discussions or communication. By and large, communication can be verbal, non-verbal, written, or visual communication. However, most of the communication is done through verbal, non-verbal, and written communication modes.
- Verbal communication – usually done face-to-face by engaging one or more individuals. Effective verbal communication needs appropriate words, creating an overarching message delivered in audible pitch and tone to be received and understood by others.
Verbal communication is the key requirement of a good leader and can be a good tool to open up, encourage and involve others in discussions.
- Non-verbal communication – does not require words for expressing anything. Your facial expressions, gestures, posture, and eye contact, besides hand movements and often touch, are enough to communicate your feelings.
- Written Communication – is perhaps one of the major ways of communication. It helps disseminate information clearly, precisely, and concisely to convey your message to people.
Written communication is often used as an official document and proof of contract and agreement besides discussions, instructions given or information sent, etc. It is usually done through blogs, letters, memos, emails, social media like WhatsApp and Facebook or Twitter, etc. Many blog writers often use anonymous blog posts to avoid complications arising from written communications like blogs. There are many free anonymous blog sites where you can post your communication without exposing your identity as they provide anonymity for participants of that blog.
If you are writing on an anonymous blog to communicate, you may make your own anonymous blog and express your viewpoint safely. For effective communication, it is imperative to use appropriate words in a required tone that may be soft when you are praising someone or showing sympathy and maybe harsh while reprimanding someone. Improper use of words or poor draft can lead to complications that may be legal or otherwise.
Visual Communication – is best used to make others understand with the help of pictures, videos, movies, etc., and can leave a lasting effect on the mind. As a mode of visual communication, television is often used for advertising products that remain in memory for a longer time. Listening – many communication experts consider listening as a type of communication. Unless you actively listen, you will not be able to engage the other person to open up a dialogue.
How to effectively communicate to open up?
We often listen and even use the word ‘Open Up’ to open up our mind, heart, and emotionally involving the other person. The term ‘Open Up’ is invariably used in families and relationships to express our inner feelings. Communication to open up is just like sending an invitation to another person to engage them in communication. Effective communication to open up requires various things that might be different while communicating with your employees rather than communication in family or relationships. However, you need to keep 8 most important ways to communicate to open up at your workplace, which include:
- Initiate your communication on positive notes to make your audience feel comfortable and relaxed. By doing so, your audience will feel de-stressed and encouraged enough to open up and participate in fruitful discussions.
- Use properly framed sentences, references, and questions to generate a positive response from the audience.
- For effective verbal or even written communication, it is far more important to encourage participation. For better and purposeful communication, have a dialogue instead of a monologue.
- The use of appreciative words for the good work done fetches a positive response from the audience.
- Asking for feedback through written communication or professional meetings or asking relevant questions during communication makes people feel valued and encouraged to open up.
- Your sense of humor while communicating, especially during an unfriendly and intense atmosphere, can certainly make an environment in a meeting light.
This will help to douse stress or tension, and your communication will be well received and efficiently open up the audience to pour in their views without fear or inhibition.
- To evoke a response or open up communication, you may make the best use of modern-day technology. You may use Phones, Newsletters, Skype, Google Hangouts, or Social media besides other messaging applications like Slack or Snail mail to decrease the need for lengthy and time-consuming meetings.
- Texts and Emails– sending text messages and emails will serve your purpose of fast communication without wasting time as these are delivered through phones or computers. These can be the best ways to stay connected to your clients, employees, or relatives.
