Verbal Communication: Types and Objectives

A Complete Guide on What is Verbal Communication

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Verbal communication the type of communication used to share information with other people either in the written form or by speaking to them. You usually communicate verbally in delivering speeches, announcements at train stations, leaving voice mails, face-to-face communication, meetings, interviews, in the business field, and many other areas.

Active Listening and Effective Speaking are two essential elements of verbal communication. We should be very clearly and attentively listening to the receiver to get him more involved in the discussion. As if we are not attentive while our conversation, we will not reach our connectivity purpose to that person. Similarly, when it’s our turn to speak, we should be very clear about the information and how it being told to the other party.

Objectives of verbal communication

  • Providing counseling
  • Increasing productivity
  • Good decision making
  • Building awareness 
  • Giving and receiving feedback
  • Imparting knowledge
  • In persuasion

Providing counseling

Somewhere, a person would have to play the role of a counselor in his life, whether he knows this art or not.

Counselling itself is a process of communication. For understanding and summarizing client statements, verbal communication is beneficial. Excellent skills help find out the desirable area of confusion in the client’s head by talking to them accurately and effectively.

Increasing productivity

The information transferred to the client must have transparency and what the client want. In business terms, if the salesman of any marketing company have outstanding communication skills with good body language, proper delivery of his words and complete information with soft tone , the clients will be more influenced thereby boosting the productivity of their goods.

Good decision making

Meetings are the usual way of making decisions in any organization. Different opinions among the group members bring more concepts to the area of discussion. Even when the decision is unanimous, this also requires the data gathered by various sources, which is also a mode of communication. Through practical and accurate communication skills, decision making become productive and straightforward.

Building awareness 

Building awareness among people regarding anything can be done through social media, television, radio, or other modes of verbal communication. These mediums have extensive access and cheap modes of communication to be afforded by any person.

Giving and receiving feedback

It is easy for instant transmission of input from either side of the channel. For example, while delivering a lecture to the students, a teacher can easily understand the difficulties and the uncleared concepts of students as it is the direct mode of communication.

Imparting knowledge

Verbal communication is constructive in giving insight among people, especially students, and if we lack this skill, we are in a problem. Because its necessary that whatever information we want to provide, it should be narrated with the same meaning and that will come with practical skills

Speaking with a soft tone, using more technical terms or any other physical problems like hearing problems or involving emotions in the speech, these all create barriers to communication skills.

In persuasion

You can acknowledge anyone by negotiating them by using different statements, putting up questions, giving instructions, etc. Excellent verbal communication skills will lead to the fruitful outcome.

Persuasion is going to come into your life one way or the other. It might be for a salary, it might be just to determine where you’re going that evening, or It might be buying a home, buying a car, selling a home, selling a vehicle anything.

You can also learn about Non Verbal Communication

Types of verbal communication

  • Written communication
  • Oral communication
Types of verbal communication

Written communication 

Written Communication is the process of conveying a message in the written form. It considered as the formal way of communication. Business communication done via written communication can be saved as records and therefore can be used as proof anywhere. 

When there is a need to circulate any information that is either vast or for many people or where there is a need for confidential data transmission, we prefer written communication in such areas. It considered as the formal way of communication. Business communication done via written communication can be saved as records and can be presented as proof anywhere.

In any organization, the electronic mails, bulletins, manuals, proposals, contracts, advertisements, etc. commonly used written communication areas.

Advantages of written communication

  • Less expensive

In case of transmission of data to distant places or internationally, this mode of communication appears less costly than the other methods like telephonic mode or postal mails, which requires extra amount for their connectivity.

  • Less time consuming

This mode of communication less time-consuming if we consider broadcasting the data to a large number of people, especially in any organization if it required to share any kind of detail to all the employees, the written mode is more preferable.

  • Presence of both the parties is not necessary in written communication

In this mode of communication, the presence of both parties not required at the same time. Information received as soon as the receiver is available on the receiving channel.

  • Complete information

We can present vast and detailed data in most understandable forms by using images, graphics, etc., which is almost impossible by any other mode of communication such as oral communication. We can only represent concise information.

Dis-Advantages of written communication

  • Lacks in confidentiality

Any document or information in written form, these can be emails or any hard copy of certificate or anything, can easily lose its privacy if caught in the wrong hands, and such limitation can result in a significant loss. For instance, any organization can lose its strategical fundamentals if any of its competent fetches these.

  • Delayed feedback

The feedback to your data can only be possible whenever the recipient is available to receive that information, which doesn’t allow written communication mode suitable for instant and effective communication mode.

  • Time-consuming

The piece of information sent should be according to the reader’s capacity, and for that, it is necessary to build that data from the reader’s point of view.

  • Less flexible

Once the message sent, it is impossible to edit or make changes like editing or formatting to the same, which is another limitation of such communication. And in case of any modification in hard copy too is impossible.

  • No immediate clarification

If you need to get few of your points to be cleared instantly, it will only be clarified in any complex data from the sender side whenever the other party will be available. Otherwise that piece of information will be of no use for the receiver.

  • Least effective for personal messages

When we talk about some emotional or private messages, written form of communication becomes less effective. In such communications, we need to be reverted simultaneously; otherwise, these conversations will not be of any use.

Oral communication 

In oral communication, the message to be transmitted should be in the spoken form. These are face to face communications in which the presence of both parties is necessary. This type of communication can be either formal(like a lecture in the classroom, scheduled meetings) or informal(personal phone conversation, family discussion). In such a mode of communication sender and receiver both exchange the ideas in a very effective manner with proper voice tone. One should be aware of the needs of the other party.

Oral communication can come to your career in one way or the other. Like during interviews, delivering speeches, any contact with your colleagues, etc.

Advantages of oral communication

  • Time-saving

Oral communication widely-used when there a need for an instant reply. While working in team projects through mobile areas, there is a need for continuous connectivity among the team members, which saves time that can be possible through telephone calls and which is a vital element in the business world.

  • Immediate feedback

Immediate feedback is another essential feature of oral communication, which helps insufficient understanding and shared opinion. During any discussion, people can clear any complexity with the information instantly and in a more understandable form for verbal communication.

  • Economical

as there is no or less need for channel in oral communication like face to face or telephonic communications; therefore, it is the cheapest mode of communication, which becomes another advantage to it.

  • Easy to understand

One can express his emotions, feelings, cheerful tone to share any information, thereby making it more understandable to the receiver. Elements like speaking style, functional body language, confident attitude make the message more expressive.

  • Confidentiality

This mode more reliable in keeping the confidentiality of any information as there no channel involved, thereby providing more privacy to the matter. For instance, private meetings conducted among the members of the organization in the business world in verbal communication.

  • In persuasion

Persuasion can make a difference in convincing people to follow your attitude and countless other successes in one’s relations, whether related to your friends, family members, colleagues, or followers. The persuasion technique becomes more effective when done in face to face manner in verbal communication.

Dis-Advantages of oral communication

  • Misunderstanding

If you are not clear with the concept of your communication scope, the chances of misunderstanding will be more. Also, if a person has lousy communication skills that are not understandable, the other person will create a problem.

  • Time consuming

As the presence of both the parties and the medium of communication(like speakers, the proper network for telephonic conversations, proper presentation tools) required. Thereby making it more time consuming in some cases while arranging all these.

  • No Records

Mode of communication doesn’t prove itself reliable in keeping records, as can be done in written communication. Like the meetings or conferences or any other method of discussion Generally conducted on private purpose.

  • Not appropriate when the matter is controversial

Sometimes during personal conversations, while the family members involved in some conflict, the situation becomes so complicated that it sometimes converts into arguments as the stack of emotions is high during an oral communication in verbal communication.

  • Misconception

We should never predict what another person thinking before it got phrased in his wordings, it might be the assumption that we are reproducing in our mind doesn’t match the one in another person’s head for verbal communication. So be aware while exploring other’s minds.

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