Factors to Consider in Ensuring That one Gets Favourable Feedback in Communication

INTRODUCTION

Communication is a means of sharing and receiving ideas. Taylor (2005:4) defines communication as “giving, receiving or exchanging information, opinions or ideas by writing, speech or visual means, so that the message communicated is completely understood by the recipient(s).”  This assignment is an abstract of the factors to consider in ensuring that a receiver gives a favourable feedback to one’s communication. Feedback is basically a response from the receiver that informs the sender how the communication is being received in general. It is very important for an individual to understand that for communication to be complete there is need for feedback. Above all, favourable feedback means effective communication. The Skill to communicate depends on the capacity of an individual to convey ideas and feelings to another person to evolve a desired response. Being able to communicate with others is one of the best life skills a person can develop. Effective communication is much more than being able to talk; it is also the ability to listen and understand others, to “read” and interpret body language and to know the best ways to get our points across.

THE PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION

Tayley Shirley (2005:5) explains that “a wrong decision about how communication is expressed and the method used to convey it could have disastrous results.”

To understand the factors that enhances favourable feedback from the receiver one ought to understand the process of communication.

Communication is initiated by the sender who conceptualizes the idea that is to be transmitted. This idea is encoded with the help of language, symbols etc. into a message. The message, which is the product of encoding, is transmitted from the sender to the receiver through a channel. Channel or medium can be physical presence (face to face talk) interactive channels (telephone, electronic media) personal static channel (memos, letters) or impersonal static channels (general reports, circulars etc.). The richness of each channel is determined according to its capability in eliciting feedback. Accordingly, face to face talk is considered richest and impersonal static channel is considered to be the leanest. However for making communication efficient, the sender has to choose the channel depending upon the urgency and complexity of the idea which is communicated. Once the message is transmitted through the channel to the receiver, he decodes it back to the idea and assimilates it. The effectiveness of communication depends upon the extent to which the sender has succeeded in making the receiver understand his idea. This can be evaluated through feedback, where the receiver responds to the sender in the form of clarifications and doubts. Feedback, which makes communication two ways, is important because it helps to evaluate the effectiveness of the communication.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN ENSURING THAT A RECEIVER GIVES A FAVOURABLE FEEDBACK TO YOUR COMMUNICATION.

First and foremost, Communication can be defined as the combination of the processes we implement to share and convey information. However, effective communication only happens if the sender (i.e. the person prompting the communication process) is aware of specific elements which cater for an effective transfer of the message to the recipient. According to Taylor (2005:4) “the key to effective communication is ensuring that your message is understood, stimulating the recipient to take appropriate action or affecting the way the recipient thinks in some way.” Most people admit that communication is important, but it’s often in the back of our minds or viewed as something that “just happens.” Putting communication at the front of your mind and becoming more aware of how you communicate can be informative and bring favourable feedback to one’s communication. Below is an outline of some of the major factors that an individual should grasp in order to get favourable feedback to his or her communication.

• GIVE YOUR RECIPIENT(S) THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU’RE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT TALKING TO THEM. 

Your receiver wants to feel that you would rather be talking to them than anyone else. When you give them the impression that you are excited about talking to them and that you care about them, you make them feel better about themselves. As a result, they’ll be more likely to really open up to you and hence give you favourable feedback. According to the articulation of, A The National Archives, (2013), “good communication should not be a daunting task” Doing something else while you are talking, such as typing or working on a car, sends a message to the listener that you don’t think the conversation is worthy of your full attention, and it could inhibit the listener’s responses to what you say.

• GIVE YOUR RECIPIENT(S) THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF EYE CONTACT. 

Eye contact communicates to the other person that you are not only interested in them and what they have to say, but that you are also trustworthy. When done in moderation, they will also assume you are confident in yourself because of your willingness to face them directly. As a result, people will naturally want to pay more attention to you and what you have to say.

• GIVE YOUR RECIPIENT(S) YOUR BEST SMILE. 

When you smile at people, you communicate that you like them and their presence brings you happiness. Smiling at them will cause them to subconsciously want to smile back at you which will instantly build rapport between the two of you. Just make sure that your smile is sincere because if it’s not they will sense it. This makes the receiver to be interested in what you want to say and thereby giving favourable feedback.

• BE CONSIDERATE.

Don’t dominate the conversation by talking only about yourself. Use questions to probe the person’s feelings or opinions on the topic of conversation. When engaging in communication, a sender should always consider and value the recipient's needs, moods and points of view. Consideration means to put yourself in the place of a receiver while composing a message.

Consideration in communication means to

• focus on “you”, instead of “I” or “we”

• show interest in receiver

• emphasize positive or pleasant facts

• lay stress on positive words

• CONCRETE COMMUNICATION. 

“How well you communicate is determined not by how well you say things but by how well they are received,” Taylor Shirley (2005:12). Effective communication happens when the message is supported by facts and figures. Concreteness in communication is also about answering to questions timely and consistently, and developing your argumentations based on real-life examples and situations rather than on general scenarios or theories. Concreteness fosters effectiveness in communication, as the recipient gets a more comprehensive overview of the message and its implications.