Effective Communication

"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -George Bernard Shaw

For your blog this week, think of someone (e.g., family member, celebrity, politician, friend, or professor) who demonstrates competent communication within a particular context. .

What behaviors does this person exhibit that make him or her effective? 

Would you want to model some of your own communication behaviors after this person? Why or why not?



I haven chosen president Barack Obama as an example of a competent communicator. I believe President Obama is appropriate and effective when communicating with other leaders, the press, and people in general. 

During his time in the oval office, Mr. Obama's words were well-timed and candid;  his words were uttered with an inspiring tone, conveying a strong message to the crowds. Usually, the way in which he communicated with leaders, people and his staff was appropriate, in a sense that he would adapt his tone and message to the situational and cultural context he was inserted (O’Hair, Wiemann, Mullin & Teven. 2015). The ability to influence other, using a concise and frank tone, while adapting behavior to reach a mutual understanding is the definition of communication competence.
In other words, Mr. Obama has the ability to address crowds as individuals,  encouraging a feeling of connectedness between individuals and his propositions (O’Hair et al., 2015). Emotional connections are powerful. They are achieved through transparency and inspire trust. 
I would love to be able to talk as clearly, confidently and concisely as Mr. Obama, while making connections with my audience and influencing others, to ultimately reach an understanding or a desired goal.
I am not a skilled communicator; I have difficulties expressing myself as I ramble, interrupt and lose interest easily. I  have no patience for small talk. With that said, I am interested in genuine conversations. However, I cannot endure small talks and arguments for the sake of it. This trait of mine makes establishing connections with others a little difficult, and I believe that to communicate effectively forming relationships and being relatable is necessary. 
Professionally, I struggle to explain some of my points of view to colleagues although I feel I have enough experience and knowledge of a determined topic. In many situations, I just give up on an argument for not being able to articulate my point well.

Reference

O'Hair, D., Wiemann, M., Mullin, D. I., & Teven, J. (2015). Real communication (3rd. ed). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's