Ashish Jhingran
Contributor

In the last article, we touched upon the meaning and types of communication; let us now look at how different situations warrant different types of communication and how communication can effect different outcomes.

It is imperative to understand that the way we communicate is driven by our emotions, feelings and thoughts. Also, in any situation, we verbal communication is complemented by the use of our hands in short and swift or slow motions. In addition our body posture and even our dressing communicate our emotions.

Chain of communication
To further elaborate let us look at a situation, which many working professionals face sometime of the other.

It starts with the basics and very early on in working life; in pursuit of a career, we look for rewarding positions in good organisations, for which we scout for vacancies and apply for jobs.

The communication process starts right from that point onwards; a message 'sent' by the employer and 'received' by prospective candidates. The process continues by way of a resume forwarded by the candidates and an interview call or a regret letter for those who do not meet the eligibility criteria. The final step to is the interview and hiring or rejection of a candidate.

It is therefore critical to get your communication in order, to increase the chances of getting an interview call and ultimately getting hired you need to take care of the following aspects of verbal and non-verbal communication:

• Write an impressive covering letter and a factual resume - verbal (written) communication;


• Dress formally and impressively for attending the interview and be present on time - non-verbal communication;


• Enter the interview room confidently, with the right body posture and movements - non-verbal communication


• Greet the interviewer politely, wishing him/her 'Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening' (as the case may be) and a confident handshake before taking the seat meant for the candidate - verbal and non-verbal communication


• Going through the Q&A session, confidently, clearly and truthfully, with a smile and a direct eye contact - verbal and non-verbal communication


• Finally, ending the interview with a warm smile, greetings and a confident walk out of the room - verbal & non-verbal communication


• Avoid that nervous, uncertain look on the face, fidgety body movements, unclear and confused utterances. Be very careful of what you wear, informal or crumpled clothes send a wrong signal to the interviewer and have a potential negative outcome.

On the contrary, an informal situation like a family outing requires the attendees to act accordingly. Informal attire suiting the occasion, warm and energetic approach to others in the group, using good cultured language, and above all, no shop talk in a group which has people from different professions, send very positive signals to everyone around and make you a likeable individual.

In a nutshell, in order to make the right impression and a desirable outcome, it is important for us to communicate in the right manner, as the situation warrants.

Next: Effective Communication Skills

The author is a seasoned professional with more than 18 years of experience in handling varied functions. A Business Management graduate from India, he is presently Director, Sales, Marketing & Operations with a Montego Bay based software solutions company. He can be contacted at: ajhingran@yahoo.com