essay on english communication

Essay on Importance of Communication for Students and Children

500+ words essay on importance of communication:.

Communication is one of the important tools that aid us to connect with people. Either you are a student or a working professional, good communication is something that will connect you far ahead. Proper communication can help you to solve a number of issues and resolve problems. This is the reason that one must know how to communicate well. The skills of communication essential to be developed so that you are able to interact with people. And able to share your thoughts and reach out to them. All this needs the correct guidance and self-analysis as well.

Meaning of Communication

The word communication is basically a process of interaction with the people and their environment . Through such type of interactions, two or more individuals influence the ideas, beliefs, and attitudes of each other.

Such interactions happen through the exchange of information through words, gestures, signs, symbols, and expressions. In organizations, communication is an endless process of giving and receiving information and to build social relationships.

Importance of Communication

Communication is not merely essential but the need of the hour. It allows you to get the trust of the people and at the same time carry better opportunities before you. Some important points are as follows –

Help to Build Relationships 

No matter either you are studying or working, communication can aid you to build a relationship with the people. If you are studying you communicate with classmates and teachers to build a relationship with them. Likewise in offices and organizations too, you make relationships with the staff, your boss and other people around.

Improve the Working Environment 

There are a number of issues which can be handled through the right and effective communication. Even planning needs communication both written as well as verbal. Hence it is essential to be good in them so as to fill in the communication gap.

Foster strong team

Communication helps to build a strong team environment in the office and other places. Any work which requires to be done in a team. It is only possible if the head communicates everything well and in the right direction.

Find the right solutions

Through communication, anyone can find solutions to even serious problems. When we talk, we get ideas from people that aid us to solve the issues. This is where communication comes into play. Powerful communication is the strength of any organization and can help it in many ways.

Earns more respect

If your communication skills are admirable, people will love and give you respect. If there is any problem, you will be the first person to be contacted. Thus it will increase your importance. Hence you can say that communications skills can make a big change to your reputation in society.

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Don’t Go Overboard With Your Point

The conversation is about to express your thoughts. And to let the other person know what you feel. It is not mean to prove that your point is correct and the other person is wrong. Don’t Overboard other With Your Point.

Watch Your Words

Before you say something to Watch Your Words. At times, out of anger or anxiousness, we say somethings that we must not say. Whenever you are in a professional meeting or in some formal place, where there is a necessity of communicating about your product or work then it is advised to practice the same beforehand

Communication is the greatest importance. It is important to sharing out one’s thoughts and feelings to live a fuller and happier life. The more we communicate the less we suffer and the better we feel about everything around. However, it is all the more necessary to learn the art of effective communication to put across ones point well.

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• Essay On Importance Of Communication

Importance of Communication Essay

500+ words importance of communication essay.

For every human being, communication is one of the essential parts of our lives. People build relationships in their personal and professional lives based on communication. Effective communication works as a foundation for respect and trust to grow. It helps in better understanding a person and the context of the conversation. People always believe that their way of communication is better than others. To communicate effectively, individuals should understand the motion behind the said information. We know that communication is effortless, but miscommunication between two or more individuals sometimes leads to conflicts and distress. Building relationships at home, work, and social affairs will be easier if you know the right way to communicate effectively. It is required to have better communication skills such as non-verbal communication, listening and managing stress can improve the relationship between individuals.

Meaning of Communication

Communication is essential for all of us, whether humans or animals. Communication is a part of written and spoken language, and altogether it completes the communication process. Both use different languages to communicate because it’s hard to survive in this world without communication.

Good communication skills are all about exchanging ideas and thoughts to convey information. It is a two-way conversation that includes vocalisation as well as a gesture. One of the crucial purposes of communication is to express ideas, needs or thoughts, and one’s beliefs with clarity for a mutually accepted solution.

Communication skills cannot be underestimated. Before languages were invented, people communicated with their hand gestures, body language, etc. We all require better communication skills at every step of our life. Personal and professional life will get hampered if you lack practical communication.

Importance of Effective Communication

People understand the importance of communication, but sometimes they cannot communicate through communication. It happens due to a lack of better communication skills. Below, we have discussed a few ways to communicate effectively.

• Interruption: It becomes very annoying when someone disrupts you while talking. It looks pretty unethical to disrupt someone while talking constantly, and the conversation can take a different turn. So, while talking, let the other person complete their talk before you start talking.
• Listen patiently: Listen patiently when someone tries to make a healthy conversation. It is one of the ways to do effective communication, as it gives a clear understanding of what the person is trying to say.
• View your body language: Body language speaks about your personality. Some people make uncomfortable gestures through their body language. So, you should keep your body language friendly and warm rather than keeping it arrogant.
• Do not go over your point: Communication is all about expressing thoughts so that the other person can understand. It is not that you are trying to prove something correct and the other person incorrect. Some people try to win the conservation, which leads to struggles and arguments.
• Watch your words: Before telling someone something, make sure you know what you are saying. We often say things that we should not do out of anger or anxiety. Remember, once spoken, words can not be withdrawn. Thus, it is suggested that you do not say something that you can regret later.
• Practice: If there is a professional meeting where you need to communicate about your product or work, it is recommended to practise already. Practise in front of the mirror or with a friend only. Choose how your conversation will begin, all the points you cover, and how you will end it.

As many people may feel comfortable communicating, communication is an art developed through practice and evaluation; every good communicator passes through a process to learn communication and practice skills, review themselves, and decrease where they can be.

Communication is essential to share our thoughts and feelings to live a happy life. Better communication makes us feel better about everything surrounding us and makes us suffer less. So, it is necessary to learn the art of communication to put across one point well.

Therefore, communication is a vital aspect of our existence. Effective communication can be achieved by being mindful of different elements of communication. Using appropriate communication in appropriate settings is essential for effective communication.

From our BYJU’S website, students can also access CBSE Essays related to different topics. It will help students to get good marks in their exams.

Frequently asked Questions on the Importance of communication Essay

How important is communication.

Communication of ideas, and thoughts is an important skill to be acquired. Conveying things in an effective manner is necessary for both our personal and professional lives.

What are types of communication?

There are 4 main types of communication are verbal, non verbal, visual and written forms of communication.

What are the factors that act as a barrier for communication?

Language is obviously the biggest barrier for communication between peoples of the world. Then comes the physical barrier. Geographical separation hinders communication. There are other factors like the gender barrier, cultural differences that prevail in the society. Last but not the least, emotional barriers too hinder proper understanding between persons involved in communication.

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• Essay on Importance of Communication

Importance of Communication Essay

Communication can be defined as sending and receiving information through face-to-face conversation or via email and phone about anything. When one is good at communicating information the receiver can perceive it very clearly and there is no scope for misunderstandings. Being a good communicator comes in handy in every aspect of life whether one is a student, in professional as well as personal life. If one is not able to convey well it leads to miscommunication.

Here in the importance of communication essays in English, we will explore different ways to write them. We have provided a long and short essay on the importance of communication.

Long Essay on Importance of Communication

In this long importance of communication essay, we will go through the meaning, types, and importance to give a proper idea in simple words to the reader.

Communication meaning has changed drastically throughout only a couple of years since the advent of technology. Earlier communication meant having to converse about feelings, emotions, views, and ideas all while sitting before one another or in a group. With technology, one can communicate via email where one can send a message to an entire group.

The influx of smartphones has brought about an entirely different culture of communication. Smartphones have cameras that make it easier to communicate via video calls and conference calls between a group of people are also possible today. This generation of millennials is also adapting to social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for business and personal communication as well.

However, with the rapid changes in technology the fact that only good communication will get the job done remains unchanged. Before understanding the ways to better communicate with others we should understand the parts and types of communication.

Parts of communication include the sender who forms the message, then the message itself which should be very clear and understandable, and the receiver whose job is to decode the message. There is a high probability that the same message can be perceived poles apart by two different people. This problem can be avoided when the sender understands the mode of communication.

Types of Communication

There are many different types and modes of communication, like verbal, non-verbal, written, visual and formal, and informal communication.

The most common one is Verbal Communication which involves the use of speech and language by both the sender and receiver. The message here is conveyed through the usage of words.

In non-verbal communication, the body language of the parties involved in communication or discussion is important. It is not an overly loud way of conversing, so the signs can likely be missed or misinterpreted in this type of communication. One should be a shrewd observer to understand the subtle ways of non-verbal communication. It is in the movement of limbs, eyes, the direction of tilted shoulders, or whether one is fidgeting and flinching, etc.

The written form of communication is a crucial one and at the same time, it is very tricky. One must very carefully construct the words in a written form as this can be documented for years to come. The use of written communication is in professional terms like circulars, memos, letters, and bank statements. Only experts get involved in drafting written statements when legalities are concerned.

Visual communication means conveying information through graphical representation like statistical data, pie charts, and bar graphs. All of this should also be based on facts and not mere assumptions.

The formal way of communicating is obeyed with colleagues and seniors wherein the sender needs to be controlled and measured in words as everything is for official purpose.

Informal communication is with peers and friends groups where there is a camaraderie between such groups and it can be casual with no rules and obligations and formalities.

When one is not a good communicator the repercussions can be of varying degrees to different people. In an official environment if miscommunication occurs one might even be suspended or lose their job. So one must learn the ways and importance of good communication.

Ways to Be a Good Communicator:

Knowing the audience one is addressing is the primary and most important step. If there is a younger audience the language must be simple and targeted specifically to them. Using difficult language and big words to show off one’s ability in such a case is futile.

Usage of a non-verbal mode of communication can be very effective. Like making eye contact when speaking can give a better understanding of the extent of grasping information of the audience.

Preparation before speaking is very important. One must be fully aware of the importance and objective of the message to be conveyed.

Usage of images and drawings, if need be one must explain using pictures as they can give a different perspective to the audience you are passing on the information to.

Be clear and precise and there is no need to add extra pieces of information when not required.

Listening more attentively before jumping to conclusions is very important.

Need and Importance of Good Communication:

Promotes cooperation and improves the working environment. When everyone is on the same page about what is expected, then people work in teams to complete the task.

Enhances working relationships and fosters a strong team. When there is good communication practice there are no misunderstandings and people find it easier to trust others.

Effective communication increases managerial efficiency. As higher management can trust their subordinates to do the work in less time than allotted.

Decision-making becomes easier as everyone can contribute their ideas and brainstorming also can be fun and creative.

Healthy relationships can be formed be it professional or personal. When one can communicate themselves well enough then they earn the respect of others and this only forms lasting bonds.

Short Essay on Importance of Communication

In this short importance of communication essay, a brief account of the communication methods and importance is discussed. 

Communication and the need for it to be good has become increasingly important in all fields of life. Communication is a way to pass on information about a certain belief, emotions, feelings, and ideas from one person to another or from one person to a group of people. In today’s world English is the most important language to communicate with others and socialize.

The formal way of communication is usually in an official setup and people use more formal language and controlled ways of conveying information. Whereas informal communication is the opposite, there are no set rules and only casual language in such a form of communication.

However, the importance of good communication is as important in any form of communication as it improves the work environment, there is no communication gap, all jump on the same bandwagon, one can easily find solutions when they communicate their issues and problems with clarity.

Good communication also helps create healthy boundaries in both personal and professional life so it is important to be a good communicator for a stress-free life with no misunderstandings.

Why Communication Skills are Evergreen!

There are so many skills in the present context but communication skills are always useful in every aspect of life. They are useful not only in day-to-day life but also to express our views at the time of interview or at your workplace.

Communication skills are needed for an hour. Though you  have hard skills, if you don't have communication skills, nothing is going to work for you.

Learning new skills are always  essential to progressing your career. It gives you various  job options and helps you develop new techniques to keep up with the fast-changing world. But there are other benefits, too. Here are some benefits of learning new skills—no matter your age or profession, or type of skill you learn.

1. It keeps you healthy and strong and active.You feel motivated always.

2. It unlocks doors of success.

3. It improves your adaptability to new things and allows you to sustain in any type of environment.

4.It keeps you relevant with the growing pace of life.

Examples of Human Skills

Communication skills 

Understanding body language.

Self-awareness.

Growth mindset.

Critical thinking.

What are Communication Skills?

When we are communicating with others the following aspects should be considered.

Communication should be clear enough so the person can understand and relate your idea of communication.

You should talk about facts to build confidence among others. If you just make false predictions, no one will be interested in communicating with you. Always talk slowly with courtesy and humbleness.

Communication Skills for Workplace Success:

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Listening: Always listen to what the person is saying and then try to reply.

Clarity: You should be clear in your thoughts and pronunciation while speaking.

Treat people friendly but follow work rules.

Always talk and walk with confidence so you can create a decent impression in front of your colleagues.

Always have love and compassion for others and try to help others .Dont bully or put down others.

Always be open minded and don't judge people by their appearance.

Respect each other in the staff.

Skills to be used while Interview:

By  following a few important interview skills you can have a good interview. Skills  can support the interview process and help set you apart from other candidates:

Always research about the company before going for an interview.

Prepare some expected and surprise questions that may be asked during the process.

Be punctual and reach before the interview starts.By reaching late you might create a false impression in front of selectors.

Be professional and act decent.Don't talk in a non-professional manner or crack jokes during the interview.

Show you communication skills in an appropriate manner.

First listen properly and then try to answer the question.Be on point. Give short and crisp answers.

Ask questions to the recruiters

If they ask to do so.You can ask regarding the company which will create an impression that you are interested in the job process.

Have Confidence and don't lose hope even if you get rejected.

Hard skills vs. Soft skills

What is the difference between hard skills and soft skills? Hard skills are used in jobs by employees to perform their work at work place.. Soft skills, on the other hand, are the personal qualities that help employees really throw in the workplace.

How to Improve Communication Skills?

The things to be considered to improve skills

Listen a lot. It will make you a better speaker.

Improve your Body language , the way you carry yourself, your walk.

Watching News and listening to podcasts or interviews of famous people can help you a lot.

Write  down things and work on them.Accept your flaws and try to work on them.

Think before you speak.Avoid ego problems and stay down to earth to learn new things.

Write a few lines daily which will improve your writing skills also.

Good communication can help one save time and energy and be productive in the workplace and otherwise. Listening to the speaker is also an important part of being a good communicator. It helps one understand better and there is an easy flow of communication and exchange of information. When one speaks their mind their hearts become lighter and then one only can lead a happy and peaceful life.

FAQs on Essay on Importance of Communication

1. How can one be a Good Communicator?

One must be fluent in their language. Fluency in any language, Hindi, English, Marathi, Malayalam, etc will first give you confidence and belief to speak up. It helps in forming words that one can understand without much struggle. One must always remember to pause and listen to others when they are speaking; this will make them a good communicator.

2. Is English Important in Communication?

Nowadays English has become a requirement in every area whether one wishes to pursue higher studies or for securing a job. It is an integral part of international communication. So if one is inclined to become a world citizen, English is certainly important. It is a means of communication in every aspect now like, media, art, science, and politics.

3. How to use communications skills in your resume and cover letter?

Your communication skills are not only important in everyday life but they play a very vital role in the interview process as well as your resume skills  will support you in every step of your career.  You can demonstrate your communication skills in your resume by ensuring that your resume is well-formatted and free of grammatical errors. Ensure to specify your communication skills in a separate skill section. By mentioning separately, you can also mention how proficient you are in verbal and written communication.

4. What are good communication skills for writing essays?

Good communication is something which you can understand easily  and  from one person to another. For communication to be effective, the meaning must be easily understood. The success of an individual lies in one's knowledge apart from the  factors that include speaking, reading, listening, and reasoning skills.

5. Why should communication skills be taught to children from childhood?

Communication skills are important in child development for the following reasons: 

Teaching effective communication skills to children from a young age is crucial as they can become expressive and can convey their ideas easily.

Communication skills can enable learning and meaningful exchange of information with others.

They can express their ideas more clearly and efficiently.

6. How helpful are communication skills for effective speaking?

Effective communication is the backbone of public speaking. Effective communication guarantees the message reaches the audience in its correct and desired form. Conveying your ideas to the audience is important so it is very much essential that you speak in the language they understand. Speaking in other languages or not using good vocabulary will not help you to reach your target audience.

Essays About Communication: Top 5 Examples and Prompts

Are you writing essays about communication? Check out our top essay examples and writing prompts to help you get started.

Communication is power and is critical to building a well-connected society. Communicating well is vital in working with people and shedding light on problems and solutions. Practical communication skills can help build relationships. 

If you’re writing an essay on communication and are having a hard time choosing a topic to focus on, here is our round-up of the best essay examples to get you started:  

1. The Benefits of Communication and Teamwork by Karenina Loayza

2. it’s time to tune in: why listening is the real key to communication by kate murphy, 3. a love language spoken with hands by ross showalter, 4. the role of body language in communication by ashley tulio, 5. the power of storytelling in marketing by dylan jacob, 1. how-to develop communication skills, 2. how-to write an inspiring speech, 3. should all leaders be good communicators, 4. theories of mass communication, 5. how are schools developing children’s communication skills, 6. communicating face-to-face vs. online , 7. marketing communications: what are they, 8. is communicating on social media effective, 9. is it possible to communicate effectively on virtual workplace platforms, 10. how-to communicate in the workplace.

“In one task, we were blindfolded and had to describe a set of irregular pieces. With varying degrees of English and different experiences of the world, it was like explaining an elephant to an alien.” 

Loayza narrates an exercise in class where they have to describe surrounding objects as accurately as possible to keep others from stumbling on them. The writer said the exercise demonstrated effectively the need for good communication skills for teams to succeed.

“Schools and universities have courses in debate, rhetoric and elocution, but rarely classes that teach listening. You can get a doctorate in speech communication and join Toastmasters International to perfect your speaking skills, but who strives for excellence in listening?”

Murphy muses on a world that glorifies the speakers but leaves no room for the listeners like her. She points out how social media has created a generation that prefers interacting behind the screen and filtering out opinions that do not resonate with theirs. Instead, Murphy emphasizes listening as a foundation for better human relations and offers solutions for how others can develop their listening for successful communication. 

“Will showed me that not everyone makes promises they don’t intend to fulfil. I don’t have to invest in someone who promises an action they’ll never do. Relationships only move forward once the work of communication begins.”

Showalter, a deaf man, laments how non-deaf ex-lovers have promised to learn sign language to better communicate with him – only to see these promises broken. Then, one morning, a remarkable man in his life sends a video message reviving hopes for Showalter and redefines his standard in relationships for the better. 

“Non-verbal communication can affect our words as it can reiterate our message, contradict our words, reinforce our statement, substitute the meaning of what we are trying to say, and complement what we are trying to say. Body language is something that is usually natural and is often done instinctively rather than consciously.”

Tulio, a communications specialist, stresses the importance of using body language for expression. She provides tips on maximizing gestures and body movement to convey emotions in person and through videoconferencing. 

“In marketing, storytelling provides an avenue to connect to consumers unlike any other. Brands are empowered to share and sell their values and personality in a form that feels less like advertising and more like a concerted effort to strengthen relationships with customers.

The author cites the viewpoints of a business school professor who explains how storytelling can shape the world’s perception of a brand. Finally, the author outlines the vital elements that make an exciting story capable of connecting with an audience and effecting action among consumers.

10 Writing Prompts On essays about communication

To further expand your horizon on the subject, you can work around our list of prompts that are interesting and relevant to date:

You can narrow down this essay to target employees, students, aspiring leaders, or those who want to improve their conversation skills. First, list down recommendations such as expanding their vocabulary and listening. Then, explain how they can incorporate this into their daily routine. 

Writing a speech that strikes a chord requires extra work in developing empathy and understanding the audience. Next, you can focus on providing recommendations for your essay, such as putting in a personal touch and linking this story to the broader subject. Make sure you also offer simple writing tips such as using the active voice as much as possible, keeping sentences short, and keeping the tone conversational. 

Cite research studies that detail why effective communication is a critical skill that makes a leader. Then, write about the organizational pitfalls of poor communication. Later, leaders who can speak engagingly and listen attentively to their team members can address these pitfalls. 

Communication theory is the study of processes in sending and receiving information. Discuss the four main theories of mass communication: the Authoritarian Theory, the Libertarian Theory, the Soviet-Communist Theory, and the Social-Responsibility Theory. Explain each one. Explain how each remains relevant in understanding modern communication processes. 

Interview schools within your community and learn about their language curriculum and other efforts to empower children to communicate well. You can also interview child development experts. Find out the biggest challenges in helping children improve how they express their thoughts and ideas. Then, find out what schools and parents are doing to address them. 

While you’d hear many people expressing a preference for face-to-face meetings, there are undoubtedly benefits to online meetings, which some usually dismiss. Weigh in on the pros and cons of in-person and online meetings, especially in the current scenario of an ongoing pandemic. 

What are the new marketing channels marketers are leveraging to reach their audience? Several surveys and studies show where most marketing campaigns allocate their budgets. One example is video content. 

An interesting angle would also involve looking at epic brand fails. Cite two or more cases, find a communication mishap common between them and provide what lessons can today’s brands learn from these epic fails. 

From interacting with loved ones and finding someone to date and love, social media has dramatically changed our ways of communication. It might be great to interview the elders who have experienced communicating through snail mail. Dive into their nostalgia and discover how they compare the experience of letter writing against instant chatting through mobile apps. 

Several apps today aim to transform workplaces to be more connected for interaction and communication. First, list down the top apps most used in the corporate world and discuss why these communication forms are preferred over email. Then, delve into the drawbacks and aspects of the apps that need improvements according to what business users say. 

Recent studies show that employees quit their jobs when they feel unable to talk about their needs in the workplace. Research the communication culture in the top companies in a specific field. How are they engaging with their employees? How are they driving conversations toward critical concerns?

TIP: You don’t have to write an extended essay. Here is a guide to writing a concise and organized five-paragraph essay.

For more help with writing, check out our best essay writing tips for a stress-free writing process. 

Yna Lim is a communications specialist currently focused on policy advocacy. In her eight years of writing, she has been exposed to a variety of topics, including cryptocurrency, web hosting, agriculture, marketing, intellectual property, data privacy and international trade. A former journalist in one of the top business papers in the Philippines, Yna is currently pursuing her master's degree in economics and business.

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Power of Effective Communication Essay

Introduction, what is effective communication, models of effective communication, the mbi communication model, barriers to effective communication, how to communicate effectively, effective communication in the global context.

Communicating effectively has been one of the important factors that help a person to succeed in the chosen profession. Studies have estimated that employees typically spend about 75% of their time communicating with colleagues or customers. Personnel who interface with their clients need exceptionally effective communicating skills. Various features related to effective communications are discussed in this paper. Issues and opportunities such as what is effective communication, models of effective communication, global communication strategies, and others are examined.

Keane (July 2007) has suggested that effective communication is the skill of stating ideas, thoughts, instructions, or reports, in an unambiguous manner and with clarity so that the audience understands the intended meaning. Effective Communication is the process where information and ideas are relayed and received. Ideas are conveyed in spoken, written, or visual contexts and when a person is speaking, the tone of voice and the body language are very important. According to Keane, words make up for 7 percent of the communicated information, tone accounts for 55 %, and body language for 38 %. To be effective communicators, people should be aware of these forms, their use, and possible communication barriers The author rates effective communication along with skills such as delegation, time management, motivation, and leadership skills. To work or lead effectively, a manager or supervisor has to know how to explain clearly what needs to be done and how it has to be done. Keane has argued that an organization in effect acts like a human decision-making system and the quality and depth of the decisions that are taken depend on the effectiveness of the system used for communication.

Blitefield (2006) has presented a detailed discussion of the process of communication. According to the author, the process of communication has one communicator and at least one or more receivers. Effective communication starts with how completely the communicator can relate the information and how much of the information that is relayed is understood by the receivers. Effective communication between different disciplines has become one key aspect in organizations. In many cases, the communication process becomes complex when the subjects are controversial or there are multiple and diverse teams. The author speaks of the need to bridge the differences and this is one of the most important factors. The author has defined effective communication as the transmission of subjects and meaning between people and minimizing any misunderstand between them. Several models have been proposed for effective communications and some of them are discussed in the next paragraphs.

Robbins (2003) has suggested that the models of effective communication essentially start with a clear understanding of how people bridge their communication differences or the communication gap as it is called. The author argues that people tend to interpret information by using their reference frame and these references have been shaped by cultural backgrounds or group associations. The process of bridging is an try to minimize the inherent differences by trying to understand the reference frame that others are using. The process of bridging again needs to be a two-way process and both the sender and receiver have to attempt to remove any obstacles. The process of bridging the cultural differences among different groups becomes very important in business contexts such as management. Hofstede (1980) had proposed a framework that would help to assess the cultures by identifying 5 important value dimensions of the national cultures. The model was later expanded by other research organizations till no dimensions were identified. Myers (1985) has proposed the Myer Briggs Type Indicator that makes up the personality framework and explains the behavior of individuals and the concepts can be used to explain the different relationships between cultures.

The Map-Bridge-Integrate model has three interacting components and provides a means to bridge the cultural differences (DiStefano et all, 2002)

Map – Understand the Differences: The Map component is used in describing and understanding any differences between team members and also specifying the impact that these differences have on team objectives. There are three aspects and they are: selecting the characteristics to be mapped; description of members’ characteristics and identification of the impact of the characteristics.

Bridging – Communicate across the Differences: The Bridging component deals with communicating effectively across the group differences to bring ideas and people together. The main aim of this component is to stop miscommunication There are three aspects to this component: preparing and motivating members to build confidence and communicate so that problems are overcome. This is important since there is a possibility that because of lack of motivation, communication may not happen even after the differences are understood. Decentring where the team members try to explain their understanding of the difference in the process of communication by altering their behavior and thought process. This allows other cultures to be accommodated in their understanding. Re-centring is another aspect and team members try to create a new basis on which interactions can be created. A good understanding of differences is required and consent on shared norms has to be agreed upon.

Integrating – manage the Differences: The integrating component ensures that people use their differences to make good decisions. The understanding developed in the mapping component is converted to obtain positive results. There are three aspects for this component and they are: managing the participation to ensure that all members have an equal opportunity to participate by accommodating different norms for participation that would result from cultural differences; resolving disagreements or possible conflicts so that any disputes are addressed before they increase. The mapping component helps to detect early any probable areas and conflict zones while the bridging component helps to make manageable any personal conflicts. The third aspect is the building on ideas which is the final aspect. Individual ideas are taken as the starting point for any discussion and the concept of ownership needs to be left.

McAteer (March 2007) speaks of certain barriers to communication and the author defines barriers as Barriers are factors that break down or impede a continuous relay of information. These barriers tend to disrupt the process and act of communication. The author has suggested several factors that act as barriers and they are: Nonassertive behavior, Task preoccupation, frustration and anger at the communicator, any personal enmity or bias, diversity in the team with little areas of common interest, lack of confidence in self or on the communicator; complex organizational structure, distractions, tunnel vision, external and internal interruptions and so on.

Smith (December 2007) has pointed that two types of major differences create barriers to effective communication and they are: Cultural differences and Group differences. Cultural differences occur when people from different cultures are involved in the communication process. Culture is defined informally as a set of shared traditions, values, and beliefs that control the formation and behavior of different social groups. The author argues that cultures have a strong influence on how people communicate and relate with each other. The cultural differences often create a bias or a barrier between the communicator and the receivers. Group differences on the other hand are due to peer pressure among group members and it is the predominant group mentality that creates a barrier against communication. The author argues that groups can be based according to work natures, ethnicity, and nationality, profession, and gender. Groups can also be formed as per the roles they play such as engineers, doctors, students, teachers, and so on and in many cases, the groups may even form associations. Groups with whom people are associated are called in-groups while groups with which people are not associated are called out-groups. The author suggests that these groups often have their vocabulary, mannerisms, and code of conduct and when one such group tries to communicate with the others, these mannerisms are not carried through and it can result in miscommunications.

Taylor (July 2006) has stressed that effective communications have to be a two-way process and begin with the communicator or the sender who would convey the required information necessary. The sender must have to be proactive and ensure that the receiver can understand the information. Certain key factors that need to be followed are: stating one idea at a time; putting forward the ideas in a medium that is understood; take extra care to elaborate and repeat if required, understand the body language of the audience and ask questions now and then to keep them involved in the discussion. Taylor has defined the four A’s of successful communication and they are Attention; Appreciation, Action, and Assimilation. The Four A’s are illustrated in Figure 3.

Attention: this is the first step in the process of effective communication and it deals with getting the receiver’s attention. This can be achieved by: overcoming distractions such as disturbing mannerisms, noise, emotional and attitude problems, negative and sarcastic attitude, and so on; using an appropriate greeting, showing respect and empathy for the people

Appreciation: Appreciation is a critical step and it is the responsibility of the communicator to ensure that understanding takes place and that there is a positive reception of the message. A good relationship between the sender and the receiver will help to ensure that appreciation is received. Encouraging a free flow of input from the receiver is also a good way to ensure that this step is carried out properly.

Assimilation: This is the third step and though a person understands a message, it may not be accepted fully. Communication is considered only after the recipient assimilates the information, takes and uses it. It leads to active participation, collaboration, and harmony.

Action: This is the final step and moves the theory of communication into reality. In some cases, a good idea or a meaningful message is accepted superficially but is not translated into action. If complete assimilation takes place, the action from the receiver has to follow. A two-sided communication is brought into action and results in the required activity.

Yates (et all, 2006) have stressed the importance of effective communication for organizations that operate globally. Such organizations operate in different time zones and have employees who have different backgrounds and nationalities. In such a scenario, a proper communication strategy has to be in place to ensure that the messages given out by management are not distorted and the true intent is assimilated. The authors surveyed some leading global organizations to understand how they managed the communication strategy. They used a survey instrument to identify the best practices and the response percentages are shown in Figure 4.

The study showed that only about 18% of the organizations had an established and documented global communication strategy. What many enterprises are learning is that the traditional approach to global communication – translating messages into several languages and shipping them to local managers for dissemination – simply doesn’t work. This approach often results in messages that are misunderstood, miscommunicated, and sometimes not communicated at all. Several multinationals have recognized the value of bringing a global perspective to their communication strategies. The author has reported several steps that such companies are taking up and they are:

Getting global participation: One of the biggest challenges in developing a global strategy is ensuring that the strategy supports and drives corporate goals without overlooking the distinct needs of separate regions, countries, and business areas. Inputs from people around the world are needed to strike the right balance (Maznevski, M. L., 1994).

Making global teams effective: Enterprises that put together effective global teams to develop and maintain the communication strategy are achieving some very positive results. The keyword here, though, is effective. Research into the performance of global teams – and this is not just global communication teams – shows that such teams don’t always deliver the value the enterprise expects. Cultural differences represented in multicultural teams provide great potential for creating value.

Creating messages with a global appeal: Global input provides insight into cultural sensitivities, compliance and legislative differences, and the unique characteristics of each market. Effective communicators use this insight to craft messages that are easy to interpret, translate and adapt to local needs. They also look at the type and content of messages to determine how widely they need to be communicated. The best global communicators determine which messages cannot be tinkered with and which areas of content are open for local customization. Moreover, they make it clear to local managers, which messages must be delivered exactly as presented and which ones can be adapted or expanded to address local needs.

Training local managers to communicate: While some multinationals have dedicated internal communicators on a regional basis, some of them have dedicated communicators on a country or local basis. Some companies rely on local managers to interpret and deliver messages. Functionally, these managers might be responsible for HR, plant management, or operations, so they often don’t have expertise in communication. Unfortunately, few companies provide training and support for these local managers and fewer still have processes in place to ensure that messages were delivered and understood.

Choosing the right delivery mechanisms: Effective internal communicators take advantage of a variety of media and technologies to communicate corporate messages. Options enable local managers to select the tools and information that work best for local employees. Face-to-face presentations work better in some parts of the world, while self-learning tools work better in others.

Measuring success: There are a variety of ways to measure, from focus groups and comprehensive annual employee surveys to quarterly targeted surveys, short feedback questionnaires for forums and workshops, and phone calls to local managers and employees. Such activities help to keep a pulse on whether or not people are receiving, understanding, and embracing messages. As the measurement processes are developed, the ultimate goal should be to identify the links between communication effectiveness and improved productivity and business performance.

The paper has discussed various issues related to effective communication. Effective communication is the process where the exchange of information takes place clearly and unambiguously. Global companies are facing an increasing challenge in inputting into a place an effective communication strategy that would reach employees from different cultural backgrounds.

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Maznevski, M. L. (1994). Synergy and Performance in Multicultural Teams, Ph.D. dissertation. The University of Western Ontario.

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Smith Marolee Beaumont. (December 2006). A Study on South African Corporate Business Failures. Journal of The Business Review, Cambridge. Hollywood. Volume 6. Issue 1. pp: 168-173.

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IvyPanda. (2021, September 18). Power of Effective Communication. https://ivypanda.com/essays/power-of-effective-communication/

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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Power of Effective Communication." September 18, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/power-of-effective-communication/.

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