The need to understand and be understood is very essential and inevitable in every body’s life. Effective communication ensures an endearing and enduring relationship. Success in life, be it personal, professional or social depends upon the quality of communication that we use in our daily life. Hence acquiring effective communication skills assumes greater significance to be successful in life. People have known that communication is an important part of life. But how many know how to communicate properly and effectively? All human action and activities and their success depend upon utterly on the full knowledge of the real basics of communication. In short effective communication will lead to a much deeper understanding of life itself.
Many times, it so happens that communication is not understood properly which creates a communication gap among the communicators which may lead to interesting aberrations in the communication. The following is one such example of Verbal Communication Breakdown.
A Colonel issued the following directive to his Adjutant.
“Tomorrow evening at approximately 2000 hours Halley’s Comet will be visible in this area, an event which occurs only once in seventy- five years. Have the men fall out in the battalion area in fatigues, and I will explain the rare phenomenon to them. In the case of rain, we will not be able to see anything, so assemble the men in the theatre and I will show them films of it.”
Adjutant to Company Commander:
“By the order of the Colonel, tomorrow at 2000 hours Halley’s Comet will appear above the battalion area. If it rains, fall the men out in fatigues, then march to the theatre where this phenomenon will take place, something which occurs only once in seventy-five years.”
Company Commander to Platoon Commander:
“By order of the Colonel in Fatigues at 2000 hours tomorrow evening, the phenomenal Halley’s Comet will appear in the theatre. In case of rain, the battalion area, the Colonel will give another order, something which occurs once every seventy – five years.”
Platoon Commander to Platoon Sergeant:
“Tomorrow at 2000 hours, the Colonel will appear in the theatre with Halley’s Comet, something which appears every seventy-five years. If it rains, the Colonel will order the Comet in to the battalion area.”
Platoon Sergeant to the Platoon:
“When it rains tomorrow at 2000 hours, the phenomenal seventy –five- year- old General Halley, accompanied by the Colonel, will drive his comet through the battalion area in fatigues.”
So, my friends, be careful with communication. Am I right?
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