Speech is silver, silence is golden!

The topic of today is “workplace communication”.

Task 1

Read the text below to get the general idea:

I have recently read or heard somewhere that “everything is communication and communication is everything”, and I must personally admit that I do agree with this statement. Either at home or at work, people need to communicate, to exchange information, to share feelings or emotions, to express ideas or just to build relationships. Generally speaking, everybody needs to talk, and everybody does it, continuously. Although it might look very simple on the surface, in practice it often proves to be very complex.

In her book about the basics of communication, Kathy Walker points out, that “we hear only half of what is said to us, understand only half of that, believe only half of that, and remember only half of that”. Judging by consequences of such an awkward situation, especially in the workplace, one might end up in real troubles. This raises the probing question : how to communicate effectively?

Firstly, it is essential to recognize the importance of active listening, both on the part of the speaker and the listener. Secondly, it is vital to express ideas in a clear and direct way, without causing misunderstanding or having to repeat the same. Thirdly, it is significant to become aware of body language not only in yourself but in others as well. Finally, it is crucial to manage anger or other negative emotions in a proper and inoffensive way.

The art of communication can certainly be learnt, but it needs a regular practice. So, why don’t we start exercising it even today?