There is no dispute that what we think is that what we communicate. Hence, as communication goes in tandem with our thoughts, we cannot do anything to change the content of our communication unless our thoughts permit us to do so. All methods of communication underlines this fundamental fact. Therefore, the methods only teach how to present one’s thoughts. Communications are of verbal and non-verbal natures, and I discuss only verbal communication on this blog. Knowingly or unknowingly, we engage in various types of communication, and they can be modeled into five: Routine: tell, ask, encourage; Diplomatic: call on, urge, cajole and coerce; Emotional: appeal, plead and request; Sarcasm; and Forceful: demand and order. Let us look at each one of them in detail.
Routine communication is habitual and regardless conveyances, and the most common form of it is ‘tell.’ This is the simplest form of communication yet can be a loaded one. It is the most innocuous one presenting facts as they are but can be turned to one alluding something – what is told is heard; also, what is told is not fully heard. Encouragement is fortifying someone with courage to do something. So an encouraging communication builds up confidence in recipient of message. Motivational classes have this mode of communication as their bases. This is the most contributing form of communication yet the least common. We lose nothing while encouraging someone but create positive energy within us also, besides, powering up the person. Congratulations, kudos, well done and keep it up, I am proud of you and similar encouraging messages create immense positive energy in the recipient, powerful enough to create fillips to his/her momentum. One noticeable thing is that more encouraging words come from an ecosystem of dwelling which is independent of our antecedents. Conversely, many a time you shall see less encouraging words from people who know you for a longer period of time.
Diplomatic communication arises when communicator has something to gain from recipient of message. Diplomacy is a curved line, and its success depends on whether this line touches or is perceived to be touching the point where truth is established. So diplomatic communication is the most difficult form of communication. ‘Call on’ in diplomatic parlance is equivalent to tell in routine communication. We call on people, usually a group of people, when the message is of public importance. For example, the medical fraternity calls on people to maintain social distancing to fight the COVID-19 menace. When we add an element of persuasion to call on, it becomes urge. Communication form of urge is an indication of a distant urgency. Cajole and Coercion are two sides of the same coin. Cajole is used when recipient of message is prone to praises and compliments. When cajole fails, the next one ready to be followed is coercion which is communication spiced with a little bit of threat. Sometimes both cajole and coercion are used as a combination in varying proportions — carrot and stick policy is an example.
Appeal, plead and request are emotional communications. This mode of communication is deployed when recipient of message is the decider of the stake involved in the message. Appeal is the softest emotional communication when the nature of message is not urgent and that communicator has no serious sake in the massage. However, appeal gives way to pleading when the message is serious and communicator has significant stake in it. Request happens when message is almost synonymous with communicator. In other words, someone requests when he/she is left with no option but to expect a benevolence from the other person. Begging cannot be included as a way of communication, for it is devoid of self-respect. Begging is request sans self-respect.
Sarcasm is the output of a negative mind, so one should ignore it. Nonetheless, care needs to be taken to differentiate satire from sarcasm. Satire is the product of a brilliant mind to constructively criticize by baring stupidity within the ambit of humor while sarcasm emanates from a mind which is in the habit of perpetually belittling merits.
Demand is the right to obtain one’s dues. Demand demands compliance! People have right to protest in a democratic system, and they can demand it when governments try to stifle such freedom. Denial of rights can lead to demanding of the same, and denying of such demands can lead to violent reactions from people. All the revolutions that the mankind had seen happened due to the refusal of the establishments to meet people’s demands. Order is meant for maintaining discipline and does symbolize power and authority. Power is the ability to influence the outcome at individual capacity while when such ability to influence is derived out of the position one holds, it is authority.
Understand a person and his/her intentions from the words communicated. Closer you pay attention to the words better your understanding of the person.
Nowhere Perspectives 