What is Communication?
The origin of the word “communication” is “communicare” or “communis” which means “to impart”, “to participate”, “to share” or “to make common.”
There are many definitions of communication. According to John Adair, “communication is essentially the ability of one person to make contact with another and make himself or herself understood”. William Newman and Charles Summer define communication as “an exchange of ideas, facts, opinions or emotions of two or more persons”.
Effective communicator is a master of quite a few skills
Communication is more than just exchanging information. It’s about understanding the emotion and intentions behind the information. We need to be able to convey our message, and also to listen and make the other person feel understood.
Effective communicator should master a number of skills, including Public speaking, Storytelling, Non-verbal communication, Active listening and Questioning.
Why is Communication important?
Communication is one of the most important tools in order to maintain and develop long-term relations with co-workers, partners and customers. It is important to know when and how to communicate in order to achieve the desired results.
Effective communication is a key characteristic of an effective leader. Leaders are those that inspire and empower, and communication is the best tool to achieve it.
“You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere.” ~ Lee Iacocca
The MILC project and Communication
The main objective of the MILC project is to create a learning approach that will equip the Millennials with 21st Century skills in order to practice leadership based on their way of thinking and behavior. The MILC project will facilitate innovation support activities to ensure Millennials understand and take advantage of the opportunities offered by new innovative concepts, methodologies and approaches.
Communication is one of the 21st Century skills and developing it can have a positive influence on both personal and professional life.
How good are your communication skills? Take a quiz!