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Human Communication- The power of interaction

Human communication can be viewed as a concept, a field of study about interaction, collaboration and also an art to be practiced and mastered. It forms the basis of understanding the interrelationship between individuals or groups. This can also be considered as a method for transmitting information by co-relating it to the Shannon-Weaver model, which states that “the message sending environment comprises of a sender, a receiver, a medium for transmission and noise.”So typically, communication also follows these protocols.
Human communication comprises of various aspects and features and through the course of the paper I will emphasize their significance.
Communication theory as a field:
As stated by Stephen W.Littlejohn “Theories communicate about communication” (Littlejohn, 2007).Human communication theory can be considered as a field of study since it reflects its eclectic nature in ordinary life. Theories revolve around analysis and synthesis. So, we move on further to the analysis and synthesis of communication.
Analysis: When looked into the facts of how communication has evolved we realize that there are some tools used for communication:
• Language- It is one of the bases of communication. One major advantage o human language is that it’s flexible. Meaning of words can be changed and new ones created. An example of how this evolved can be understood by considering the English word: nice, which now generally means pleasing or agreeable. However in the earlier days it meant foolish or even wicked. Language provides a fundamental structure to the communication process.
• Speech: It is the verbal form of representing language. It is the outcome of the actual use of language.
• Discourse: also a means of communication, is “organization of words”- Stephen W Littlejohn, and requires coherence, which means the ability to stick together to make sense.
Careful examination and analysis of the sequence of words, their origin and etymology help understand the root of communication process.
Synthesis: Information organization
Organization of information produces some sense during communication. The two issues involved with it are:
• Interpreting the meaning: This could be better explained with an example. Consider a rose. People can relate it to beauty or sweet smell while other could relate it to its ugly thorns. Depending on how the mind interprets the message eventually changes the way of communicating.
• Attribution: As stated by Litlejohn “Once you make an attribution you are apt to stick to it”. So the predisposition in human minds towards things influences the thought and communication.
• Perspective/opinion: As aptly stated by Tina Coburn “Culture and past experiences play a major role in a person’s language or perspective in communicating”. (Coburn, 2007). Past experiences like tasting food which we like makes us change our opinion about it and makes us to react positively. Change in perspective, also, make us to “take a broader view of our domain” (J.Gillette, 2007), where people start thinking out of the box which in turn is shown in their behavior.
Communication Levels:
“Human communication is the field dedicated to understand how people communicate” with themselves, (intrapersonal communication), another person (interpersonal communication), within groups (group dynamics), through technology (mass media), across culture (cross-cultural communication)”. (Yaich, 2007)
Consider a mass media environment, the purpose is to distribute and provide information to a large number of heterogeneous audiences. So such kind of information needs to be persuasive with the aim of influencing the mass.
• Group dynamics: involves working in teams, communicating with each other common views and work together to achieve the goal. Communication here would be a more one-on-one basis to convey the appropriate thoughts.
• Organizational level: This is a professional atmosphere. Communication changes with authority relations, like when communicating with a boss it is different from communicating with a colleague.

Types of communication:
• Verbal: is related to talking, or it’s the expression of thoughts through words. It involves use of appropriate language to convey information.
• Non-verbal: Actions speak more than words. Like using body gestures or facial expressions to communicate. Most non verbal communication occurs at an unconscious level. An example could be to shrug shoulders. Two people can say the same sentence but convey different meaning by simply using their body language.
• Written: This could be in the form of emails, letters or any written document. One of the most practiced in the written of communication is professional writing.
Why does the communication process fail?
“Communication usually fails, except by accident”- Wiio’s laws
Most of the time what is expressed is never what is understood. Communication fails mostly due to
• Language and culture: for example misinterpretation of the meaning when spoken in a different language.
• Personal differences: When assumed that people have prior knowledge on the subject it fails in a larger group of audience.
As stated by Nick Clark “Without response, the cycle of sending and consequently communication is often terminated” (Clark, 2007). So when there is no response from the other person the message is lost. Similarly when the listener does not pay attention the process fails.
Simple misinterpretations of meaning and behavior also cause failure.
Communication has since long been used as a tool for collaboration, to understand and interact. Thus it’s important to know the techniques to good communication. Clarity, observation and listening skills are important aspects since it’s with these that we make sense and transact with our environment and people in it.
• Clarity: Clear and concise expression of thoughts helps deliver the intended message. Clarity of observation is also necessary for effective and efficient communication.
• Communication involves information storage and retrieval. The other two aspects fall under this category.
• Observation: Scrutinizing and analyzing every small detail of what is being spoken and the environment is often beneficial in a common process.
• Listening: “Good listeners provide quick feedback and act on what they hear”. (Peters, 1987). It enhances communication skills and provides good outcome. The art of listening needs to be practiced and mastered.
Communication- the human connection is the key to personal and career success”-Paul J Meyer
To be a successful leader in today’s world it is important to manage and lead. A leader needs to have an inspiring vision and simultaneously the ability to motivate the workforce, which in turn means that they need to have good communication skills.
Today’s successful leaders will work diligently to engage in their cause. Oddly enough the best way by far to engage others is by seriously listening to them. If talking and giving orders was the administrative model of the last 50 years, listening is the model for the 1980’s and beyond”- (Peters, 1980).By saying so Tom Peter’s emphasizes the need for good listening and observational skills to be able to communicate effectively. Thus good communication skills are vital if we want to be in a successful professional leader and individual.