10 Myths You Should Know About Communication Skills
What comes to your mind when you hear the word myth? False belief or idea, right?
The truth of the matter is lies, deception, misunderstandings, distortions, and deceit is easily accepted compared to the truth because we are human beings fond of denial.
Sometimes, you ignore the truth because it is uncomfortable to face, and other times you accept myths over truth because you know no difference. When you have effective communications skills, you will differentiate between myths and truths.
Communication has a lot of myths and some have a basis in the truth, but others are just blind rationalizations of people who are willing to use any excuse to promote their services.
Here are 10 myths about communication skills.
1. Logic Makes Communication
Logic destroys relationships because when you see two people arguing, each person gives facts trying to win. When there is a conflict, problems arise as logic gets the center of attention in a conversion. Humans are irrational who focus on the content of conversations forgetting to look beyond the words to see emotion.
2. Communication Solves Everything
This is a myth we can easily believe, unfortunately, communication does not solve all conflict and relationship problems. Sometimes the greatest charismatically persuasive communication cannot solve relationship issues.
3. Learning Communication Makes You a Better Communicator
Learning communication makes you a better communicator when the lessons lead to behavioral change. Even failing at a new skill makes you a better communicator because you went out and did something. You will become a better communicator when you practice it.
4. The Message Sent Is the Message Received
This myth hurt us every day because we think the message we send is received by the intended receiver. Sometimes there might be distortion in medium we use.
5. Communication Is One-Way
Communication in human relationships is two-way. It is only in radios, electrical devices, and televisions that disseminate a one-way message. With effective communication skills, you will understand that communication is two-way traffic that involves feedback.
6. You Cannot Communicate
This myth reveals the power of nonverbal communication. In other words, it is impossible to avoid communicating. When you try to ignore someone you will still communicate.
People think that ignoring someone avoids communication with the person but you communicate ignorance to a person through your body language.
7. Meaning Is in Words
Semantics is the study of meaning in language. Two individuals searching Google finds different results. Meaning can be in words but a word is only a medium for understanding. During communication you don’t react to a person’s words; you react to your meaning of a person’s words.
8. Speaking Talent Is Important for Effective Communication
Speaking with a good vocabulary, clarity, directness, and structure do not equal effective communication. Light travels through the air as communication travels through speaking skills. Just because the path of flow is clear and smooth does not mean the destination is desirable.
9. More Communication Is Better
Having more money is better, having more power is better and having more friends is better. Do you think that having more of something is good? It might be a problem. If a poor man is given millions of dollars, a network of friends then he may lose it all because he may not have the capacity to manage all. Less communication can help us understand but more communication creates poor communication. Precision is more memorable and less is more.
10. Good Communication Has Taken Place
Bernard Shaw said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” The greatest myth is thinking you have communicated well with someone when you have not. Do not assume that good communication is speaking with logic, telling the truth, making people feel good, or solving a problem.
Bottom Line
You might be blaming others for poor communication, but you should focus on truth and change since you are responsible for effective communication. You are aware of the greatest myths of communication and you decide to bring the truth of these myths.
Want to be an effective communicator?