Types of Communication

Communicating When You Aren't Even Aware Of It

When you think about communication, there's a good chance that you're only thinking about doing it in terms of fairly clear information. You'll communicate with your spouse about what you want to have for dinner or you'll mention to a friend that you would love to have some coffee later in the day. The truth of the matter is that that's really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to getting information across and you'll find that taking a look at the ways that you might getting information across can be very helpful when it comes to saying the right thing, or not saying the wrong thing!

The first type of communication that you are familiar with is verbal communication, and verbal communication essentially encompasses just what you say. This will include things like how well you word certain requests and using the right words for the right situation. For instance, you while you might not mind letting the occasional curse slip out while you are out with your friends, you'll find that you might have some real problems if you say the same thing in front of your grandmother! While verbal communication can be difficult, especially for more emotional topics, it is still fairly straightforward, especially when it comes to the other types of communication.

Nonverbal communication can cover a lot of ground, and though body language does fall under it, it is worth discussing body language more completely later. Nonverbal communication can come through in a number of different ways. For instance, a shrug can mean that you don't know something, or that you don't care. Inside this simple gesture, you can express a wide range of emotions and viewpoints without saying a word. Remember that the better you know someone, the more likely that you will be able to communicate with them effectively in this fashion. In some cultures a nod of the head means yes, while in others, the same gesture means no. Some non-verbal communication is very rude in some countries and nonsensical in others, so be careful.

While a great deal of nonverbal communication is difficult across cultures, you'll find that you might have a better chance of getting the point across with body language. Body language includes things like posture, the direction of your gaze, your willingness to make eye contact and even the way that you hold your hands! Body language is something that people pick up subconsciously, though some are better at reading it than others.

You'll find that reading body language is something that you do fairly instinctively. For instance, how would you feel if you walked into your living room and your spouse was sitting up very straight, not looking at you, with their hands across their chest? Given the fact that they are not relaxed, and that they have their arms folded across their chest, you might guess that they are angry with you and seeking some distance or putting a barrier between themselves and you. When someone won't look you in the eye, it could express anger, displeasure or simple discomfort. This is all information that you can get without a single word being said.

When you think about it, there are lots of ways to communicate, so make sure that you are sending the message that you want to send, no matter how it is getting across.