1. The act of communicating; transmission. 2. a. The exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior. b. Interpersonal rapport.

3. communications (used with a sing. or pl. verb) a. The art and technique of using words effectively to impart information or ideas. b. The field of study concerned with the transmission of information by various means, such as print or broadcasting. c. Any of various professions involved with the transmission of information, such as advertising, broadcasting, or journalism. 4. Something communicated; a message. 5. communications A means of communicating, especially: a. A system, such as mail, telephone, or television, for sending and receiving messages. b. A network of routes for sending messages and transporting troops and supplies. 6. communications The technology employed in transmitting messages. 7. Biology. The transfer of information from one molecule, cell, or organism to another, as by chemical or electrical signals or by behaviors. 8. Anatomy. a. An opening or connecting passage between two structures. b. A joining or connecting of solid fibrous structures, such as tendons and nerves. Why is Communication Important
Without communication, we all might as well have been doomed. How we convey what we feel, and what it is we need, cannot be done without communication be it in action or verbally. Let's venture into this section on why is communication important... Communication is the basis of our lives and we would in this day and age, be handicapped without it. Everyday we are communicating with each other in some way or another, be it by using words, actions or even expressions in conveying a message. We humans depend not only on face-to-face communication but the kind that brings technology to the fore to bridge that gap between people by mere seconds across vast distances. We take a look briefly into what are the major types of communication, along with why is communication important. Types of Communication and Their Importance Communication is the root of all events, daily interaction, social affairs and anything that requires the purpose of human dealings. We have technology to enhance the idea of communication by making it simpler, faster, effective and convenient no matter where you are on the globe. Its humble beginnings of written letters sent out by men on horseback has evolved greatly to building virtual bridges between nations. Everyday we are constantly humming with communication, whether we realize it or not. All aspects of nature, be it humans, animals, plants and even the weather, are all communicating in a way that is understood and interpreted through observation. The importance of this vital means of being in touch, is crucial for us to survive the everyday. There are four kinds of communication which we will overview that make up the vital parts of this process. These are... Verbal We do it everyday; be it with our help at home, babysitters, neighbors, dog walkers, colleagues, children, friends, family, partners, and store owners - we are constantly in a state of communication. Whether to-the-point or elaborate, our messages are sent across to one another in a manner that is either understandable, vague or distorted. How we communicate what we try to convey, is critical in having the message understood by the receiving party. Verbal communication is also handwritten or emailed, and is streaming in and out of countries and within states every single day. Non Verbal Not everything we convey to another is done verbally, where our actions and expressions speak for us on several occasions. We use body language and our facial expressions to portray a feeling, be it a happy, sad or angry one. I'm sure you've observed how those who cannot speak, use sign language to their advantage. Using a series of gestures that

translate into alphabets and words, the dumb / deaf are able to communicate with others who understand the language. Even the way you dress signals a kind of message to the one who sees you. Formal In workplaces and other environment that are constantly communicating through email, reports and other sorts of messages, there is a formal flow to how it is written where that air of casualness is absent. There is a system that is followed be it while writing or typing out the message, or when conversing with superiors and others either in person or over the phone. There is a professional stiffness that is commanded and needed in order to maintain a level of respect, precision and clarity. The hierarchy in a company also follows a chain of command that is practiced when it comes to who communicates to whom, and how the message gets across using the right people intended to be in touch with first, before it is carried forward to the appropriate party. Informal This kind of communication loosens its grip on a formal setting, where group meetings, discussions, debates and the sort that encourage free speaking, is what qualifies as informal. There is no restriction on conveying what it is you feel. AA meetings, leaving messages through post-its, voice mail, a debate team, a creative brainstorming session and so on, are such informal scenarios. Even when conferences take place, the speaker doesn't have to be all formal about the affair, but can take on an informal edge to keep listeners interested, at ease and encouraged to ask questions if any. Communication as you can see, is an important factor that governs our everyday lives. What is needed most is the effectiveness of how we communicate, which is often misinterpreted. In order to pass a message along in its entirety without jumbling up its core meaning, it is wise to always review what is being sent, and think beforehand about what is right to say when put into words. That is why, reviewing one's work deligently and repeatedly is always stressed upon. Different Forms of Communication Verbal Communication Verbal communication includes sounds, words, language and speaking. Language is said to have originated from sounds and gestures. There are many languages spoken in the world. The basis of language formation are: gender, class, profession, geographical area, age group and other social elements. Speaking is an effective way of communicating and is again classified into two types viz. interpersonal communication and public speaking. Good verbal communication is an inseparable part of business communication. In a business, you come across people from various ages, cultures and races. Fluent verbal communication is essential, to deal with people in business meetings. Also, in business communication self-confidence plays a vital role which when clubbed with fluent communication skills can lead to success. Public speaking is another verbal communication in which you have to address a group of people. Preparing for an effective speech before you start is important. In public speaking, the speech must be prepared according to the type of audience you are going to face. The content of your speech should be authentic and you must have enough information on the topic you have chosen for public speaking. All the main points in your speech must be highlighted and these points should be delivered in the correct order. There are many public speaking techniques and these techniques must be practiced for an effective speech. Non-Verbal Communication Non-verbal communication involves physical ways of communication, like, tone of the voice, touch, smell and body motion. Creative and aesthetic non-verbal communication includes singing, music, dancing and sculpturing. Symbols and sign language are also included in non-verbal communication. Body language is a non-verbal way of communication. Body posture and physical contact convey a lot of information. Body posture matters a lot when you are communicating verbally to someone. Folded arms and crossed legs are some of the signals conveyed by a body posture. Physical contact, like, shaking hands, pushing, patting and touching expresses the feeling of intimacy. Facial expressions, gestures and eye contact are all different ways of communication. Reading facial expressions can help you know a person better. Written Communication Written communication is writing the words which you want to communicate. Good written communication is essential for business purposes. Written communication is practiced in many different languages. E-mails, reports, articles and memos are some of the ways of using written communication in business. The written communication can be edited and amended many times before it is communicated to the second party to whom the communication is intended. This is one of the main advantages of using writing as the major means of communication in business activity. Written communication is used not only in business but also for informal communication purposes. Mobile SMS is an example of informal written communication. Visual communication The last type of communication is the visual communication. Visual communication is visual display of information, like topography, photography, signs, symbols and designs. Television and video clips are the electronic form of visual communication. Effective communication is essential for the success of any type of business. Informally too, nothing can be achieved without proper communication. Therefore, developing communicative skills is a must. One must understand that all the four types of communication are equally important and one must develop communicative skills in all the mediums. Communicative media is growing day by day to ensure clarity and to eliminate the ambiguity in communication.

Principles of Effective Communication Skills By Joey Papa, eHow Contributor

Communication is essential in every area of life, says Sherwyn P. Morreale of the National Communication Association. Whether in a friendship, business, marriage or any other organization, it is the medium in which people express information and feelings. Many people communicate a lot, but very few communicate effectively. Basic principles will help anyone looking to improve her communication skills and provide the guidance needed to feel confident in what is being said. Ineffective communication has the power to confuse, destroy and damage relationships and business opportunities. Effective communication is essential for success in life.

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Significance
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Effective communication begins with listening. The person who listens effectively will have the ability to respond appropriately to what is being communicated. If a person has the ability to communicate their thoughts with precision and accuracy but does not effectively listen, their communication will be irrelevant because they will be responding to something besides the issue at hand. Listening and knowing how to respond will create an atmosphere for change and healthy growth in any situation.

Effects
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The primary effect of practicing the principles of effective communication skills is vivacious and healthy relationships. One of the greatest effects of successful communication are the abilities to be understood and to understand. This generates deep satisfaction with the individual or the team, which leads to greater trust and dependence. A person who has effective communication skills can win people's hearts quickly without using manipulation or deceit.

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Considerations
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Tim Borchers, chair of the communications department at Minnesota State Moorhead, says everyone speaks in code. Some codes are more difficult to understand than another, but with patience and practice, the individual codes can be understood. How many times have you heard, "that's not what I meant?" Every person has certain perceptional filters that they receive and communicate information through. If a conversation becomes confusing and frustrating, it is most likely because of misunderstanding. Learning another person's perceptional filters will break down the wall of confusion and provide great light on any relationship.

Misconceptions
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It is a misconception that a person can over-communicate. The opposite is true. Dr. Mike Armour, who runs a leadership-development company, says most people don't communicate enough of their thoughts and emotions and end up in frustrating and compromising situations. If you're not being understood, don't give up; keep going and eventually you will be able to place the appropriate words to the thoughts you want to communicate. Effective communication requires great patience so go ahead and over-communicate.

Benefits
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The benefits of practicing the principles of effective communication skills are a healthy, strong and growing relationship or organization. Effective communication minimizes misunderstandings and empowers others to succeed. Effective communication also provides great satisfaction within when an individual can both understand and be understood.

Effective Communication Techniques: Listening This is the first and the foremost commandment for effective communication techniques. You have to listen to the other party. Do not commit the mistake of thinking that communication is only a one-way street. Apart from speaking your mind out, communication is also about listening and that too very carefully. Focus on what they are saying and reflect on that conversation later. This will send out a message to them that you are grasping their point and they should do the same when you are speaking. Effective Communication Techniques: Expression Honesty is very important here. Whenever you are expressing yourself, talking truthfully and honestly will send out a signal that you trust your audience. Speak clearly and properly. Also try to be precise about the subject that you are speaking on. Do not beat around the bush. This will only confuse your audience. Besides, if your audience is getting confused, the entire purpose of your self-expression is getting defeated. Effective Communication Techniques: Take Criticism Positively If someone comes to you with criticism, it's just a natural human response to defend your stance. Try to take criticism positively and constructively. If the criticism is very hard to take and emotional, then the chances are that the person you are communicating with is in distress. Try to empathize with the person and resonate your words in a very mild language. Effective Communication Techniques: Avoid Arguments Most often than not, whenever you are trying to have a healthy conversation, it turns into an argument. Arguing does nothing but wastes your time. Try to avoid getting into such situations. And even if you get into such a situation, instead of trying to win the argument, find an amicable solution in a constructive way. Effective Communication Techniques: Understand the Audience You need to be able to understand your audience, as they are the ones for whom you are speaking. Do not send out your message before you are absolutely sure that they will grasp what you are saying. For example; suppose the quality of work of a junior employee is really hampering the overall performance of the team, and you are really concerned about his work, do not issue an official warning straight away. Try to understand the perception of the employee and then think of taking any action. Effective Communication Techniques: Feedback It's one of the most common occurrence at the workplace, that a colleague does exactly opposite to what you want him to do. You keep wondering, why has he done so. You keep thinking of many reasons for that. Maybe the colleague did not listen to you or maybe he did not understand what you said. But the worst possibility could be the deliberate inaction. What do you do in that scenario? Well, you take a feedback. Without taking proper feedback, you wouldn't know the perspective of the person in front of you. Only through feedback you will know why he or she did or did not do what they were asked to do. Communication does not simply refer to merely articulating words. Body language, hand gestures, along with other factors, play an important role for communicating your point. I hope that some of the techniques of effective communication mentioned here help the reader in more than one way.

Styles of Communication Every time we speak, we choose and use one of four basic communication styles: assertive, aggressive, passive and passive-aggressive. Assertive Communication The most effective and healthiest form of communication is the assertive style. It's how we naturally express ourselves when our self-esteem is intact, giving us the confidence to communicate without games and manipulation.

When we are being assertive, we work hard to create mutually satisfying solutions. We communicate our needs clearly and forthrightly. We care about the relationship and strive for a win/win situation. We know our limits and refuse to be pushed beyond them just because someone else wants or needs something from us. Surprisingly, assertive is the style most people use least. Aggressive Communication Aggressive communication always involves manipulation. We may attempt to make people do what we want by inducing guilt (hurt) or by using intimidation and control tactics (anger). Covert or overt, we simply want our needs met - and right now! Although there are a few arenas where aggressive behavior is called for (i.e., sports or war), it will never work in a relationship. Ironically, the more aggressive sports rely heavily on team members and rational coaching strategies. Even war might be avoided if we could learn to be more assertive and negotiate to solve our problems. Passive Communication Passive communication is based on compliance and hopes to avoid confrontation at all costs. In this mode we don't talk much, question even less, and actually do very little. We just don't want to rock the boat. Passives have learned that it is safer not to react and better to disappear than to stand up and be noticed. Passive-Aggressive Communication A combination of styles, passive-aggressive avoids direct confrontation (passive), but attempts to get even through manipulation (aggressive). If you've ever thought about making that certain someone who needs to be "taught a thing or two" suffer (even just a teeny bit), you've stepped pretty close to (if not on into) the devious and sneaky world of the passive-aggressive. This style of communication often leads to office politics and rumour-mongering. Effective Communication Strategies
Effective communication strategies are the communication techniques that an individual or an organization needs in order to successfully achieve their goals. Communication in the 21st century has assumed a significance, as businesses have expanded globally and there is an intermingling of people of various cultures, languages and diversity. sTrategies for Effective Communication Some of the effective communication strategies have been mentioned below. Listening Being a good listener is the first prerequisite for being a successful communicator. Hearing and listening have profound difference between each other. While hearing is the sensory perception of the ears without any motive of understanding what the person is trying to say, listening is going deeper into the analysis of the person's views so that there is an effective conversation. Verbal and Non-verbal Communication Words have power but when it comes to effective communication, just words are not enough. There are various other elements of communication like body language and non-verbal communication. Nearly 95% of the communication is nonverbal. The movements of your hands or eyes and especially the tone of your voice, convey a specific message. If you have mastered the art of body language then it will boost your confidence, besides creating an excellent impression on the communicator.

Effective Business Communication Strategies Business communication comprises internal and external communication. External communication refers to the sharing of information about the products and services of the company to consumers. In external communication, businesses provide information to clients, share holders and investors, about the performance of their enterprise. External communication is a crucial factor in deciding the fate of an organization in the competitive business environment. Providing accurate and reliable information about the status of the firm is necessary to win the goodwill of investors and customers. Creating a brand corporate image for the firm is possible by effective business communication. Effective business communication strategy involves conveying a clear and concise message during communicating. The aims and objectives of the firm must be stated precisely. It is mandatory that the firm doesn't make any false or fake promises just to lure its customers or clients. If the firm fails to achieve those promises, it will ruin the reputation of the firm. Another effective communication strategies is to be considerate for the time and convenience of your clients when you are arranging some meetings or seminars. Internal business communication involves communication within the organization. It deals with the workplace communication and employees of the firm. Effective communication strategies boost the productivity of the firm and also enhance the working environment. Employees are able to gel with various teams and the teamwork leads the firm to scale new heights. Effective communication strategies inside the firm include personal meetings in the form of presentations, seminars, functions and annual meetings. In meetings and seminar sessions, employees are informed about their duties and targets in an effective manner. Besides these, internet, in-house letters, firm's magazine, telephone, fax, video conferencing, PowerPoint presentations etc. are some of the few ways of communicating internally among the employees. Effective communication strategies are the keys to negotiations and deals. When you are talking with the person, try to ask good questions that will help the person participate in the conversation. Learn the ability to speak less while still being effective and let the other person speak first. Interrupting between the conversation, breaks the flow of conversation and it makes the other party feel that you are disinterested in further conversation. Let the communicator feel that you have a genuine interest in his conversation. These were some effective communication strategies that can help you in improving the prospects of your success in everything you do.

Tips:

1. Remember that the goal of effective communication skills should be mutual understanding and finding a solution that pleases both parties, not winning the argument or being right.

2. This doesnt work in every situation, but sometimes (if youre having a conflict in a romantic relationship) it helps to hold hands or stay physically connected as you talk. This can remind you that you still care about each other and generally support one another.

3.

Keep in mind that its important to remain respectful of the other person, even if you dont like their actions.

4.

Here's a list of common unhealthy ways to handle conflict. Do you do some of these? If so, your poor communication skills could be causing additional stress in your life.

Importance of Communication Skills

Good communication skills are an indispensable asset without which the goal of communication cannot be realized. Communication refers to the exchange of thoughts and ideas with the intention of conveying information. Communication is a two way street that includes vocalization as well as gesticulation. The purpose of communication is to convey one's beliefs, ideas, thoughts or needs with clarity so as to reach a consensus or a mutually acceptable solution. Why Communication Skills are Important and Necessary for Professionals The importance of communication skills cannot be underestimated. Good communication skills are necessary in all walks of life. The lack of effective communication skills have a negative impact on the personal as well as professional life of a person. Good communication skills are a prerequisite for health care providers. Ineffective communication, rather than incompetence, precludes the doctor from conveying to the patient that the former has the best interests of the patient in mind. For instance, a doctor may be knowledgeable and may have considerable expertise in his area of work. However, a patient may feel neglected or ignored if the doctor is not particularly good at communicating. The disillusioned patient may also consider getting a second opinion. A simple miscommunication, especially when a one is ill, makes one feel awful. A good health care provider, who is able to put patients at ease with a few comforting gestures and words, will definitely be an asset to any hospital. A teacher, who is able to communicate well with students, can inspire them to learn and participate in class. Workplace communication can improve by participating in a facilitated workshop. A workshop facilitator needs to be able to

communicate. Without effective communication, the goal of workshop facilitation cannot be realized. The facilitator needs to be able to identity dormant participants and encourage them to come forth with their views without seeming overly patronizing. All this is impossible unless the facilitator has astounding communication abilities coupled with a natural empathy towards fellow beings. Good communication skills are an invaluable asset to a salesperson since he/she is entrusted with the task of convincing the prospective buyer about the wisdom of investing in a product. This is done by assessing the needs of the buyer and suggesting a product that would meet the buyer's requirements. The product may offer a vast array of easy to use features that would definitely help in improving the quality of life of the user. Who is better to convince the buyer, about the multitude of features that the product has to offer, than a salesperson with a flair for words! While the importance of verbal communication cannot be underestimated, one cannot do away or ignore written communication. A simple billboard, carrying a well written message, manages to hold our attention at a crossing. Authors have been mesmerizing voracious readers by the power of their words. The enthralled reader flips through the pages, reading well into the night, without giving much thought to the mode of communication. The above examples would have clearly illustrated the importance of communication skills. Communication does not refer only to articulating words. Using sign language and the sense of touch to express and feel are also important modes of communication. Ultimately, communication should be effective. As long as there is clarity in communication, the goal of communication will be accomplished.

Importance of Eye Contact in Communication

Researchers studying human psychology are of the view that non verbal communication plays an important role in effective communication. Eyes are known as the "windows of the soul" and express our emotions when words fail us. We all are well aware about the importance of eye contact in communication. It enables us to develop a connection with the person we are speaking to and not making an eye contact can send out signals to others that we are disinterested. Maintaining an eye contact doesn't mean staring constantly in other person's eyes, doing this, in fact can send an offensive non verbal message. Public speaking still ranks highly on the list of most dreaded things in America, but there are times when we have to come out of our comfort zone and deliver a speech, especially in our professional life. If you are an able orator and impress people with your oratory skills, then your bosses are more likely to sit up and take notice. There are a lot of things that make a good speech, but as this article is on the importance of eye contact, we will focus our attention on the necessity of engaging your audience through effective eye contact. Importance of Eye Contact during Speech While delivering a speech, it is important that you make eye contact with several people or groups of people. Fixing your gaze on one particular individual or group may make other members of the audience feel that they do not hold any importance to you and this can cause them to be disinterested. It is important that you know the appropriate duration till which you are supposed to make eye contact with the members of the audience. There is a difference between making eye contact with your friends and loved ones, and members of the audience and it is important that you remember that. When you are speaking to one particular individual, all your attention is focused on that one person, but in case of an audience, you have to make sure that you make eye contact with as many people as you can. Successful orators agree that the way they use their body language to put their point across plays an important role in delivering an effective, well-received speech. Importance of Eye Contact in Interviews Interviewers often make statements like, "we selected him because he appeared more confident" or "he came across as an assured young man, with a lot of potential". How does an individual make himself appear more positive than others? The answer to this lies in how we communicate both verbally and non-verbally in an interview. If we fail to make eye contact in an interview, we run the risk of being labeled an introvert or the interviewer may get a feeling that there is something not right about us. Making eye contact portrays one in the right way and ensures creating a positive impression on the interviewer. While we have mentioned the importance of eye contact in communication, it is also very important to know that in various cultures, making an eye contact is considered offensive. For example, in China people tend to avoid making eye contact as they consider it as a mark of respect. In Middle Asian countries, eye contact between a man and a woman is minimal (unless you are closely related to each other). It is very important therefore that you do a bit of research on how to conduct yourself in public, if you are planning to make a trip abroad. All of us know the importance of eye contact in communication, but still sometimes it gets neglected, may be because we are not comfortable with the situation or we take the other person for granted. Our eyes have the power to communicate what we are feeling or how we perceive a situation. It is imperative for us to put in the required effort so that we master the art of making appropriate eye contact to ensure that we are good with our social and interpersonal skills.

Defining a Communication Device

The idea of a communication device is broad, as almost any object can be used for communication. For our purposes, a communication device is anything that can be used to convey a message from one person to another. There have been many such devices over the course of human history.

well there is the telephone, telograph, landline phone, mobile phone, e-mail, picture call, video call, social networking services such as facebook, msn, twitter, but aside from all of the new things there were things used in the old days like drawings, heiroglyphics, smoke, brail, Morse code and the simple old letter in the post. don't forget things like catalogues, brochures and stuff which are also classed as forms of communication. Types of Communication Devices
Types of Verbal Communication Devices As the name suggests, verbal communication devices enable people to communication verbally using languages, sounds and words. They give you a chance to communicate through your voice to the other person. Such communication devices include-

Telephone and Mobile phones Radio Transmission Television Video calling through internet using cell phones, messengers or Skype

Types of Non-verbal Communication Devices Non-verbal communication devices enable us to communicate using other means other than communicating verbally. It could be trying to convey something through mere gestures, or emotions. Take the poking on the Facebook account that you get from your friends as an example! Some of the most commonly used non-verbal communication devices are-

Social networking sites like Orkut, Facebook, Twitter etc Texting and paging Electronic mails Writing letters or sending cards using postal services. (Though it is considered to be old-fashioned and timeconsuming, I think it is a very sweet means to communicate with your loved ones) People also used smoke, pigeons, horses and owls in the olden days to communicate their messages, but that wouldn't be a good idea these days!

Asynchronous Communication Tools By Dr. Skylar Stark , eHow Contributor

Asynchronous communication occurs when message reception and transmission takes place at different times. For example, answering machines facilitate asynchronous communication when an individual leaves a message at one point in time and the receiver listens to the message at another point in time. Web-based communication is often asynchronous, and asynchronous communication tools are used for business, teaching and social interaction.

Email

Email is asynchronous communication because messages are written at one point in time and reception occurs at another point in time. The flow of communication via email may occur over minutes, hours or even days. An email message may be read by the receiver within minutes of transmission, or may not be read and responded to for hours. Email communication can have significant lag time.

Discussion Board

Online discussion boards rely on asynchronous communication, where participants communicate by posting messages to the bulletin board system. Threaded, or interwoven, discussions form when participants reply to postings. This series of message exchanges can occur over minutes, hours or even months. Discussion boards are common social communication tools and are often used in online education. Sponsored Links

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Blog

Blogs become a tool for asynchronous communication when readers engage in discussion by posting comments to blog entries. Communication may occur between those commenting on the blog post or between the blog host and his readers. Some blog postings stimulate active communication while others receive less attention. The exchange of messages via blogs is often very limited, sometimes to a single instance.

Wiki

Wikis are websites that allow contributions from multiple authors at different time periods. Wikis are used to collaboratively develop content, and authors can write or edit at varying times. Wikis are used in education and business situations because they allow content developers to communicate asynchronously, each at their own pace and time.

SMS Text

Short message service (SMS) texts are transmitted via cell phones and allow users to communicate limited messages asynchronously. Text message communication often occurs in short bursts; however, exchange of texts may occur over hours or days.This form of asynchronous communication is not useful for complicated or lengthy messages.

Effective Communication Activities By Shelley Frost, eHow Contributor | updated February 22, 2012
Effective communication encompasses a variety of individual skills, including body language, clear speech, eye contact and active listening. Communication activities allow participants to focus on these skills and understand their impact on the effectiveness of communication. Effective communication activities work well for groups of all ages, including students in the classroom and co-workers in a workplace setting. Adapt these activities to fit the specific setting, ages and interests of the participants.

Oral Instructions

Providing oral instructions for a task or activity, without visual cues, forces participants to use precise language, emphasizing effective communication skills. Choose a task for the oral-instruction activity, such as drawing a picture or building a structure from blocks. Create an original picture or block structure. Allow one of the participants to see the picture or structure. This person offers oral instructions for the task, while the others follows the instructions exactly without seeing the original picture or structure. The activity forces the instructor to give specific steps using words to complete the task, which can be challenging for many people. Compare the result with the original to see how well the participants communicated.

Back-to-Back Communication

Eye contact and body language influence communication between two people. This activity eliminates these two communication factors. Have the two participants sit back to back, and ask each person tell a story to his partner. After both partners have had a chance to tell a story, gather the participants and discuss the exercise. Ask the participants how the conversation was different from a normal conversation. Draw conclusions about the importance of eye contact and body language in effective communication.

What is public Speaking? The act, art, or process of making effective speeches before an audience.
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners.

Types of Public Speaking

Public speaking is the art of communicating with an audience in a stylized manner for the purpose of educating, entertaining or persuading. Knowing the different types of public speaking will enable you to choose a style best suited to your audience and for accomplishing the goals of your speech.

Persuasive Speaking

Persuasive public speaking aims to shift the opinions or behaviors of the audience to align with the message the speaker is delivering. At the conclusion of the speech, the speaker hopes the audience will take some action in a way that supports the speaker's goals. Sales professionals, politicians and religious leaders most commonly use a

persuasive style of public speaking. Anecdotes and stories are used frequently in this format in order to connect to the audience on an emotional level.

Informative Speaking

The purpose of an informative speech is to inform. The goal is to introduce new information to the general public or a specific group. Because of that objective, professionals in fields such as technology, health care and science employ this type of public speaking. Most informative speeches are structured with an introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction provides an overview of the speech topic and explains what the audience will learn. The body provides the information and supporting facts. The conclusion reiterates the major points learned.

Demonstrative Speaking

Demonstrative speeches are designed to show audience members how to perform a task. In this speaking style, speakers use visual and audio aids to assist in instructing the audience. PowerPoint presentations, flip charts and product displays are types of supporting tools that speakers use. Many infomercials and workshops are presented using a demonstrative speaking format.

Ceremonial Speaking

Wedding receptions, graduation ceremonies and religious inductions are occasions where toasts and other ceremonial speeches are commonly delivered. There is no mandated structure for this type of speech; however, speakers must know the background facts of the event and assess their audience to determine what information is most appropriate to share for the occasion.