L301 Communicate Effectively at the Direct Leadership Level

Communicating effectively can either make or break your success. Yes, it’s that IMPORTANT!

Leaders with effective communication skills search for feedback, and acting on that feedback separates them from the rest. Many times Soldiers have great ideas or emotions inside them and don’t know how to express themselves to get the results they want and deserve. With effective communication skills, you can stand out from your peers as a leader.

Without effective communication skills, you will always be viewed as “not as sharp as others,” even though you have the same or better ideas. This is a fast paced world, so don’t let yourself fall through the cracks because of poor communication skills.

You can be heard! You can express yourself the way you want! You can be the “go to” person!
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Communication happens at many levels (even for one single action), in many different ways, and for most beings, as well as certain machines. Several, if not all, fields of study dedicate a portion of attention to communication, so when speaking about communication it is very important to be sure about what aspects of communication one is speaking about. Definitions of communication range widely, some recognizing that animals can communicate with each other as well as human beings, and some are narrower, only including human beings within the different parameters of human symbolic interaction.

Effective communication skills are important in a boardroom and on the battlefield. Leaders with effective communication skills make an impact in their work and their personal lives. An audience will be able to grasp the true meaning of a leader’s message when he or she writes clearly, or articulates well orally. An effective communicator is always aware of his or her audience and is conscious of the communication’s tone. Communication is not just a one–way street; effective communication is bi–directional and employs listening skills as well.

This lesson will help you identify what it takes to communicate effectively, regardless of method. We will also discuss listening skills in relationship to effective oral communication. A subsequent lesson in this module will cover writing as a means of communication.
Human communication normally falls into three methods or categories, verbal (or oral), nonverbal, and written.
Verbal/Oral Communication – This type of communication relies on word, visual aids, and nonverbal elements to convey the meaning. Oral communication includes discussion, speeches, presentations, interpersonal communication and many other varieties. In face to face communication, the tone of voice and voice tonality play a significant role, and may have a greater impact on the listener than the intended content of the spoken words.
Nonverbal Communication – Describes the process of conveying meaning in the form of nonverbal messages. Research shows that the majority of our communication is nonverbal, also known as body language. Nonverbal communication includes gestures, body language or posture; facial expressions and eye contact; object communication such as clothing, hairstyles, architecture and symbols; and tone of voice, as well as a combination of the above. Nonverbal communication is also called silent language and plays a key role in human day–to–day life from employment relationships to romantic engagements.
Written Communication – Over time, the forms and ideas of communication have evolved through a progression of technology. During the first stage, written communication emerged through the use of pictographs. The pictographs were made in stone; therefore, written communication was not yet mobile. During the second stage, writing began to appear on paper, papyrus, clay, wax, etc. Common alphabets were introduced and allowed for the uniformity of language across large distances. A leap in technology occurred when the Gutenberg printing–press was