From the time we are born we all begin to communicate with people around us. For a young child this task comes untroubled as the only concerns for the child is its own. As we graduate into adulthood and experience life’s interactions through communications with others, we come to realize that there is more to communicating then just our own concerns. Communication can be expressed in many layers like an onion. On the outer most portion you find what makes up communication as a whole, but as we dig deeper we can begin to understand what qualities a good communicator must practice to clearly state their thoughts.
When communicating with someone one of the most important qualities one must practice is making proper eye contact during conversation. Eye contact is a vital quality that is important to express ones interest. A lack of eye contact can be seen as a barrier between individuals when trying to communicate. A good communicator can keep their audience interested by maintaining proper eye contact. In return a good listener can show their interest by also maintaining the proper eye contact while listening. This allows each party to observe the others reactions during said conversations. If either party does not maintain proper eye contact one or both of the parties will loose interest in the conversation and possibly not feel able to continue to communicate.
An unknown downfall many people have when communicating is that most everyone can talk and transmit information to another person, but not everyone can listen to what is being transmitted. Some people spend their entire lives practicing to becoming a good listener, but most have not yet mastered – just stopping for a moment and really honing in on what others around them are saying. Along with listening the person must be open to hear what is being transmitted. An openness and acceptance of other people’s conversation will be the starting point for every good listener. Really listening to what people say can open an individuals mind to many possibilities they might not have come across otherwise.
Abilities of a good communicator do not come easy. Each person deals with the struggles of engaging in a conversation that they may not be interested in. Such problems arise when a communicator is not well rounded with education, culture, family and society. Being grounded in each of these areas can promote great communication. Not only will a person be able to carry a conversation, but they can also provide feedback in the conversation, which is a fundamental aspect of communication. Having knowledge in different areas promotes communication between people and can make a conversation meaningful.
Each layer of the onion unfolds different strengths in communication. Being able to make eye contact with the speaker and your audience promotes a great bond. A bond can be built even stronger when the individuals are attentive and listening to each other. Once you begin listening you may often find that you will unfold many more layers by uncovering new in people. I believe if you can obtain just a few of the “layers” in good communication qualities that you can have many great conversations.
