Tips for Encouraging Effective Communication

Hug a lot: Encouraging more effective communication

"How can we communicate with our families and others, more effectively?"

"Hug a lot!"

Teaching people to hug one another regularly, is only one way to encourage more effective communication. Hugging people, particularly spouses, teenagers and children, is a way to tell them that they are loved and important to you. Remember that everyone needs a hug, at one time or another. You do, too.

The question of how to communicate effectively with others is become increasingly complex, nowadays. Many people are throwing their hands up in the air,  because communication breakdowns are happening, all around the world.

"What can we do?" they ask. First, don't panic. 

Here are some tips for encouraging more effective communication between you, those you love and others, near and far.

Accept global changes in communication. For our era, global communication presents a huge challenge to the world. Trying to turn global communication into effective global communication, takes it one step further.

People have never been able to communicate on the level that they do today. It is almost instantaneous! Hopefully, this will continue to progress in a positive direction. Expect that to happen. You can choose to accept, rather than reject, the inevitable global changes that are taking place in communication. No one can stop these changes from happening, as worldwide transition in communication is inevitable. In order to cope with these changes, it will require a readiness and willingness for everyone to accept them. Be prepared to change.

Welcome new technological advances in communication.

It may be a shock for many people to realize that what we have deemed to be effective communication in the past, may not necessarily be considered to be effective communication in the present, or the future. Older methods of communication are becoming increasingly outmoded. Look back for a moment, at what has transpired in the past. For example, where does the telegraph stand now, as a previously effective method of communication? It was effective, but its time has passed. It worked. Now, telegrams are dinosaurs. Let go of the dinosaurs, even if you allow them to resurface now and then.

The discovery of new modes of communication is not a new phenomenon. The transition to new modes of more effective communication, has taken place repeatedly, throughout the course of history. That trend will continue into the future. It is important that we are receptive to the new technological advances in communication. Taking that stand and maintaining a positive attitude, will lead to more effective communication, in the long run.

Observe how others around you are communicating now.

With respect to our contemporary era, observe how the children and young people of today are communicating, with one another. In many ways, it is similar to what has been happening in the past, but in other ways, much different. Observe how other adults are communicating, also. It too, is different in many ways. It is exciting to see that happening.

We are living in an era, where computer communication enhances our ability to communicate effectively, with others all around the world, even though not everyone is computer literate yet. Teenagers and children are becoming more and more computer literate everywhere, while many adults around the world are still fearful and reluctant to change.

Parents will have to go with the flow of change, in order to communicate with their children effectively, in the future. It is not likely that the younger generation will choose to revert back to previous modes of communication, but do you want to go back to the era of the telegram? Probably not. Remember that transition in communication will always move forward, not backwards.

Learn and develop new, communication skills.

It does not matter who you are or how old you are. You can always develop new and better communication skills. Accept the reality that everyone can learn to communicate more effectively, in one way or another.

For example, if you have not learned how to use a computer yet, find out how to do so, as soon as possible. 

Gain access to a computer and find someone who is able to assist you to use it properly. The computer is an excellent tool for effective communication with others, not merely a toy that one uses to play Internet games. It is not something that anyone needs to fear.

Think about this for a moment. By observing what is happening all around the world on the Internet, you will be able to learn about more effective communication. You will develop new skills. Watch the news on the computer, as if you were reading the paper and stay informed about world events, on day-to-day basis. Take advantage of every possible opportunity to learn more about new modes of communication. In order for these to be truly effective, each person needs to accept the responsibility to learn and teach others. Each innovation seeks a way to improve communication and to make it more effective.

Become familiar with the language of the era.

Make a point of learning computer language. For some people, trying to communicate with another person with a computer is like having two people who speak and understand different languages, the old and the new one. One person does not make an attempt to learn the new language and the other person refuses to use the old one. What happens is a breakdown in communication. In order for them to communicate effectively, both must know, speak and comprehend the same language. Computer language is not difficult to learn.

Do you know how to use voice mail, e-mail or a cell phone yet? Your teenagers may know more about these modes of communication than you do. Be one step ahead of others. Always seek to be the first to learn about new and innovative technology. You could be the one who teaches it to others, instead of having it the other way around. If others are already ahead of you, catch up. Let them teach you too and move on together.

Spend time communicating with people on a regular basis and you will be aware of the transitions in communication as they happen. You will be a part of the change. You do not want to be someone who finds things out, ten years after they took place.

As you spend time with people, you will learn how to communicate more effectively with them. You will also be able to help them learn how to communicate with others. Those who live in isolation from the rest of the world lose their ability to communicate with others. When you attempt to communicate with them in some way, what you try to say to them may go right over their heads and what they say to you, may be misinterpreted, also.

Keep an open door for communication at all times.

If there is an opportunity to communicate with someone, latch onto it. Take advantage of it, because it will help to open your eyes to see how you can communicate more effectively. Practice your new skills and encourage others to do the same. Remember that there are many different ways to communicate and these can be on different levels. Non- verbal communication is just as important as verbal communication. Listening is a form of communication, as well. What you do is as important as what you say. Actions are a form of communication. Words are yet another way to communicate.

Use vocabulary that others are able to comprehend and respond properly. There is no point in attempting to communicate on levels that are beyond those of your children, teenagers or others. Be patient with them and explain things to them carefully, but in a way that you know they understand what you are trying to communicate.

These are tips that will encourage effective communication, but remember to hug a lot, even if it is only one the Internet. It only takes a moment to send a hug.