The Principles of Effective Communication

Introduction
All human relationships are based on communication. Effective communication skills are therefore integral to both professional and personal success. Individual differences in temperament and personality, gender and culture, and situational variables can all impact the quality of communications but all communication skills can be learned and practiced. Most barriers to competent communications can be overcome with self-awareness and respect for diversity. However, psychological factors like self-concept, self-image, and self-esteem also have a strong bearing on communications efficacy. Understanding the basic principles of effective communications empowers each person to take responsibility for promoting harmony in interpersonal relationships.
Barriers to Competent, Effective Interpersonal Communications
While the principles of good communication include clarity and connecting with the audience, barriers to communication can cloud the ways messages are sent or received. Two principles of competent or effective interpersonal communications include empathy and self-awareness. Empathy is key to building bridges with the audience, being able to read body language and other nonverbal cues in order to detect emotional responses. Likewise, empathy allows all parties to listen more effectively and request clarification when needed. Self-awareness is also critical for effective communication. A person who is self-aware will understand appropriate comportment, recognize what type of language to use such as formal versus informal, and will also know how to communicate clearly and concisely.
Some of the most common communications barriers include noise, information overload, and biased language. Noise refers to some of the contextual variables that might impact the quality of the interaction. Anything that qualifies as a distraction can be considered noise, including literal background noise but also visual distractions of mental distractions. Information overload is another barrier to effective communication. Defined simply as “receiving more information than we can take in,” information overload is related to noise because it detracts from the crux of the message (“Communications Barriers,” n.d., p. 1). An effective communicator does not bombard the audience with extraneous facts or information that is irrelevant to the main message.
Another barrier to communication is biased language. Biased language refers to any verbal or nonverbal communication that is “considered improper or unacceptable in almost all contexts,” (Bevan & Sole, 2014, Chapter 4, p. 8). Even when it is genuinely unintentional, the use of biased language can indicate underlying racism or sexism. Biased language can affect how the sender is perceived by others, can lead to disharmonious environments, and can impact the quality of the organizational culture as a whole.
For example, a person who is new to the workplace makes a tasteless joke stereotyping women. To remedy the situation, coworkers need to respond accordingly, perhaps by pointing out immediately that such jokes are inappropriate. Telling the person why sexist remarks are inappropriate might also help add clarity to the conversation, and clarity is one of the cornerstones of effective communication. To promote the principle of clarity, managers will typically print out a list of rules and regulations. Another way of promoting clarity of communication in the workplace is by sending staff email updates. However, the sender of the email needs to protect against information overload by refraining from too much extraneous information. The emails should be concise and to the point, with an option inviting each recipient to send comments and suggestions. Effective communication in verbal and written formats helps promote a harmonious workplace, and also enhances self-concept and self-esteem.
Self-Concept, Self-Image, and Self Esteem
Self-concept, self-image, and self-esteem are interrelated psychological constructs that have a strong bearing on communications. Communications with others informs self-concept, reinforces self-image, and affects self-esteem. Likewise, self-esteem and self-image will influence how a person communicates with others. The reflexive process of identity construction is due in part to the principle of the “looking-glass self,” referring to the way our self concept “is formed by imagining how you appear to other people” (Bevan & Sole, 2014, Ch. 2, p. 3). Other people might also directly say how they feel, making judgments about a person’s appearance or the way they speak. The receiver can ignore feedback from others, which is especially common in persons with a high sense of self-esteem who are less prone to being self-conscious or worried about what others think. On the other hand, many people internalize the feedback they receive from others, forming a self-concept that is more aligned with what they believe others want to see.
Self-concept, self-image, and self-esteem are dynamic and can change over time. Research shows that having a clear and stable self-concept is related to open communication and psychological resilience, whereas a weak or unclear self-concept is linked to anxiety and depression in young people (Van Dijk, Branje, Keijsers, et al, 2014, p. 1861). A strong sense of self and high self-esteem can help people to frame their messages more clearly, be less sensitive to unexpected reactions from others, and less prone to communication apprehension, insecurity, and anxiety (Bevan & Sole, 2014). Moreover, cultivating self-awareness can promote the goals of having high self-esteem and a strong self-concept. The more a person can monitor their own feelings during conversations with others, the better able that person will be to effectively convey thoughts and feelings clearly and effectively.
Having a strong self-concept and high sense of self-esteem helps one to communicate more effectively. In the same way, learning the tools of competent communication can have a positive impact on psychological resilience and sense of self. Barriers to effective communication, like noise and biased language, can adversely impact self-concept or clash with self-image. Both women and men, for example, can become preoccupied with body image when they consume mass media messages about idealized forms (Bevan & Sole, 2014, Chapter 2). Learning how to communicate effectively means knowing how to filter through the noise received in mediated communications. Communicating effectively also requires a strong sense of self-esteem, which makes it easier for a person to be honest, open, and willing to disclose.

Self-Disclosure and Emotional Intelligence

Self-disclosure and emotional intelligence are two of the most important facets of effective communication. Self-disclosure refers to opening up, being willing to be vulnerable in order to establish trust and honesty in the relationship. Especially important when starting new relationships, self-disclosure is also risky and needs to be done appropriately and skillfully (Bevan & Sole, 2014). Self-disclosure is also linked to emotional intelligence, which refers to a cluster of skills that revolve around self-awareness, empathy, and the ability to moderate one’s emotions.
Emotional intelligence also refers to the ability to differentiate between situations in which it is appropriate to disclose and situations that require constraint. Similarly, emotional intelligence means being able to discern others’ reactions, and to avoid misreading other people. Because emotional intelligence does mean being aware of and responsive to situational variables including how other people feel, emotional intelligence is linked to empathy and the ability to establish rapport (Bevan & Sole, 2014, Chapter 7, p. 7). Establishing rapport is in turn linked to self-disclosure. Intimacy and trust arise when each person is equally as willing to be honest and divulge.
Self-disclosure also signals confidence and self-esteem. In fact, emotional intelligence is also linked with self-efficacy, self-esteem, and strong social skills development (Salavera, Usán & Jarie, 2017). When disclosing the self, the person needs to take care to avoid self-centeredness and remember the importance of good listening skills. Levels of appropriate self-disclosure are necessary for my coworkers, helping them to understand how to create a successful flow in the conversation and how to listen to clients. Teaching coworkers specific emotional intelligence skills like empathy and listening will also help establish rapport with clients, and build the long-term relationships required for the success of the business. Emotional intelligence also requires astute awareness of the role gender and culture play on self-expression and communication.
Gender and Culture

Gender and culture are two of the most important variables affecting how people perceive and relate to each other. Both gender and culture have a strong bearing on self-concept and self-presentation. Although it is related to biological sex, gender is socially constructed. The society ascribes certain features and expectations based on the biological sex of the child. As a result, individuals develop a communication style that aligns with their gender orientation.
Culture is also entwined with communication, and often intersects with gender. Culture influences what is considered “socially significant,” thereby impacting the content and flow of communications (Bevan & Sole, 2014, p. Chapter 2, p. 4). Culture also impacts the selection of specific verbal and non-verbal phrases and gestures, which is why it is important to be culturally competent in a diverse environment. Communication issues like proxemics are culturally-specific, influencing things like appropriate distance between people of different social statuses and different concepts of personal space.
Training in both gender orientation and culture can promote more harmonious communications and interpersonal relationships. Through actively listening and learning about other cultures, including other gender orientations, it is possible to develop more empathy. Likewise, a person’s self-awareness of their own cultural orientations, gender orientation, and biases will help to eliminate assumptions or biases. Cultural and gender competencies are important for promoting clarity and avoiding miscommunications.
Conclusion
Effective, competent communication can be learned. To improve communication, self-awareness and emotional intelligence are key. Both sender and receiver needs to be self-aware, cognizant of how they are expressing themselves and how they are being perceived by others in that social setting. Similarly, sender and receiver need to be aware of the needs of others. Culture, gender, and individual psychological differences can create barriers to communication, but empathy and awareness build bridges.



References
Bevan, J. L., & Sole, K. (2014). Making connections: Understanding interpersonal communication (2nd ed.) [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/
“Communications Barriers,” (n.d.). Principles of Management http://open.lib.umn.edu/principlesmanagement/chapter/12-4-communication-barriers/
Salavera, C., Usán, P. & Jarie, L. (2017). Emotional intelligence and social skills on self-efficacy in Secondary Education students. Are there gender differences? Journal of Adolescence 60(2017): 39-46.
Van Dijk, M.P.A., Branje, S., Keijsers, L., et al (2014). Self-concept clarity across adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence 43(11): 1861-1876.