Effective Communication Brings People Closer Together and Helps You Understand Their Motives.

Effective communication requires you to become an engaged listener. That means changing the usual focus of trying to listen to decide what to say next. Listening well will help you understand the words being communicated, but a person needs to learn how to understand the emotions conveyed.

When you listen, you’ll hear more than just words; you will hear the feelings in someone’s voice and understand that more than terms are being communicated and how a person feels about those words are more important.

Listening this way lets the other person know they were heard and understood. Resulting in a better connection.

What is being communicated often has nothing to do with the words, and the real intention (motive) can be a concern if known.

Snakes Have Motives

Retired Rattlesnake Roadside-Romeo was on a dirt road in rural Arizona. On the other side of the road was a chicken.
So, he hollers, "Hey there! Babe! I don't usually talk with random chicks, but you should know I am a hundred years old. Do you want to know the secret to a long life?"
The chicken is intrigued and asks, "Well, what is it? Tell me"
Roadside-Romeo replies, "What'd you say? Can't hear you."
The chicken says, "What is the secret to long life?"
Roadside-Romeo says, "What, babe? Whatcha sayin'?"
So, the curious chicken crossed the road.
And went near Roadside-Romeo's ear and yelled, "What is the secret to long life?"
Roadside-Romeo hissed and rattled and replied, "Oh!!! The secret is - Don't talk to strangers!"
And in one quick swoop, the snake pounced and swallowed the bird.
And smugly, he thought, "Amazing, I can still pick up chicks with that joke!"

“Effective Communication is not just for good guys.”

Visual Communication is Powerful

Hairstyle is the first thing others see when you approach. The audience mainly notices it as a speaker moves steps to the speaking arena; because hair is on the head, it is highly noticeable and combines with other facial factors to send out powerful non-spoken messages to the audience.

Cutting off one’s hair will get noticed, but it is often done for a reason. It can symbolize a rite of passage or declaration of character growth.

Adele N. Norris wrote in Black Perspectives in October 2021: “Anti-black racism presents whiteness as the normal mode of humanness and argues that it is made visible through the stigmatizing of Black hair and styles.”

Dress codes that would not mention race would ban hairstyles mainly worn by black people in the workplace.

Hair was a sacred cultural and spiritual symbol in ancient African societies. Those communities fashioned their hair for more than just style and were intended to communicate a message. Throughout the continent, a person's hairstyle could tell a lot about who they were and where they came from.

Hair is communication. It complements the desired image and is also a mode of communication in that it sends out several messages to the audience.

7 Ways to Communicate Nonverbally

Communicating effectively is the most important of all life skills. It enables us to pass the information on to others and understand what we have said.

In our daily lives, communication helps us build relationships by allowing us to share our experiences and needs and helps us connect to others. It's the essence of life, allowing us to express feelings, pass on information and share thoughts

The good news is that Communication is a skill that you can learn. It's like riding a bicycle or typing. If you're willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life.

Your nonverbal communication confirms to others the real way you feel about what you are saying. It also confirms whether or not you care about the conversation if you're being truthful, and how well you're listening. When your nonverbal signals match your words, they increase trust, clarity, and rapport.

Examples of Nonverbal Communication

Gestures, hand & body movement

Facial Expression - smile, frown, disinterest

Eye contact

Posture

Personal Space -the physical distance between individuals

The tone of voice - pitch, volume, and speech

Touch - convey emotions, feelings, and attitudes