To understand what is the main objective of communication and why there are so many communications agencies around the world, you have to understand why we have the urge to communicate. According to the philosopher Vilém Flusser, “man communicates with others not because he is a social being, but because he is a solitary animal”.
What is the main objective of communication?
The main objective is to deliver a message and make sure it is well received and understood by your audience. This may seem like an objective answer, but it is actually very subjective: there is “our truth”, “your truth” and “your listeners’ truth”.
Everyone of us has a different background and perspective on the world, and this affects how we interpret messages. Therefore, we shouldn’t try to force others to believe in what we are saying. Instead, we should share our thoughts on a subject, and invite others to share their point of view as well.
It’s like a game of catch with a lump of clay: we communicate and receive messages from the other person. But each time we have the clay, we mould it according to our perceptions, age, knowledge, race, experiences and more.
Can different perspectives lead to misunderstandings?
For sure. This has probably happened to all of us, because “we see the world not as it is, but as we are”, to quote the writer Anaïs Nin. And misunderstandings can lead to confusion, animosity and even the end of relationships – personal or professional.
That’s why we should take the backgrounds of others into consideration before making a speech or sharing a thought: always remember that communication is not about you, but rather about your audience. If no one understands (or misunderstands) what you are saying, then you are not communicating; you are just thinking out loud.
Present information so your audience can best receive it
If people understand what you are saying, they are more likely to pay attention and engage in the conversation. This engagement is very important, especially at the office, where productivity and creativity are linked to using the power of communication to manage professional relationships.
Words, posture, gestures, eye contact… All these things will contribute to you delivering your message in the best way possible. There are many techniques which you can apply, like adopting an open body language, moving forward instead of backward when talking about positives, using pauses to emphasise your most important points, etc.
Some aspects are crucial to reaching the objective of communication. They include:
- Keep it simple: according to Albert Einstein, if you can’t explain something briefly, then you don’t understand it well enough and will drain your audience’s energy.
- Be humble: always assume that you may be wrong, and be open to hearing other people’s arguments.
- Define your terms, especially when you are announcing a new product to the market. People are seeing it for the first time and they may not understand what the product can do for them. In a conversation, you can ask “what does that mean to you”.
- Always use an active voice, which will lend power and presence to your speech
- Don’t take feedback personally: feedback is used to manage professional behaviours, so this should be the objective of any meeting. Calling someone lazy will not inspire them to change. Instead, show them how their behaviour is impacting other employees and the workflow within the company.
- Be aware of your personal perceptual filters. Elements of your experience, including your culture, community and family, all influence how you see the world. Don’t assume that your perception is the objective truth. Instead, say “this is how I see it. How about you?”.
- Always have a script handy, so you can transmit your message clearly and objectively.
