Communication for Life
This whole series has centered around the goal of perfecting communication skills, but the truth is that, when it comes to communication, the work is never done.
The process of improving in the art of communication is a lifelong commitment.
We’ve only given introductory explanations of what communication should look like across genres. There are so many areas of life that require varied and increasingly intricate forms of communication and, as you get older, you will only discover more.
Many Arts to Master
We’ve said it before, but it is essential to remember that there are so many forms of communication.
We often hear the term “communication” and think, “Ah, conversation. I’m good at that!” But half of communication is presentation, and often the best way to communicate is to stay silent.
Remember that saying nothing is saying something, and choosing not to care about your appearance is a way of caring about your appearance. We communicate so much by what we don’t say, and the way we dress and order our facial expressions can put a label on us before a word is spoken.
Keep in mind that there is more to conveying information and emotion than words alone.
Stay Sharp
The best way to prepare for the plethora of communication opportunities is to always be sharpening your blade.
If you find yourself in a season of life where you are not required to interact with people one-on-one (such as during a global pandemic), look for ways to keep your skills sharp.
Never stop writing, whether that be emails, a story, poetry, or keeping a journal. Be intentional about keeping up with family members over the phone, through face time, or even in letters. Throw out a compliment to the stranger on the street or strike up a conversation with someone in your grocery line.
You’d be surprised how hard and daunting it can be to say hello to a next-door neighbor, even after years of practicing high and low-level communication.
See Life Changes as Opportunities
At other times, you will find that you can hardly escape opportunities to share your thoughts and feelings.
Life is always throwing us curve balls, and there will never come a time when the skill of communication won’t serve you well. The whole course of your life could be spent improving this skill, and you will still encounter situations that give you pause.
When you start a new job or move to a new office there will be new personalities to reckon with and new situations to represent yourself in.
As your kids grow, you will have no end of fresh problems to solve and crises to work through. The job of a parent is never done…frequently due to the constant need for communication.
Don’t get discouraged when you find yourself stumped by how to convey this or that thought, emotion, or idea. The art of improving communication skills can and should continue over the course of our whole lives.
