The Art of Communication: Why Getting Your Message Right Really Matters

We communicate all the time — through phone calls, face-to-face chats, emails, body language, and tone of voice. But here’s the catch: communication isn’t always straightforward. Messages can get mixed up, misunderstood, or even lost along the way, which can create friction between people.

At its core, communication needs three things: a sender, a message, and a receiver. But there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface. Let’s take a quick dive into two classic communication theories to help unpack this.

The Shannon-Weaver Model: Communication in Motion

Back in the 1960s, Shannon and Weaver introduced a model that explains the communication journey. It starts with an information source — basically, your idea or message — which gets encoded into a form of communication (like speech or text) and sent to the receiver. But, here’s the tricky part: they identified something called “noise.” This isn’t just sound—it means anything that disrupts the message, like misunderstandings, distractions, or missing information. Noise can seriously mess up communication.

Transactional Analysis: The Ego States

Another cool model comes from Dr. Eric Berne and his Transactional Analysis theory. He breaks communication down into three “ego states”: Parent, Adult, and Child.

• Parent talks with values and rules.

• Adult uses logic and facts.

• Child speaks from emotions and feelings.

When communication flows smoothly, it’s usually because the sender and receiver are “in sync” — like Adult talking to Adult, or Parent to Parent. Problems happen when messages get “crossed,” such as when a Parent talks to a Child ego state, which can cause frustration and misunderstanding.

Making Communication Work for You

Successful communication starts with a clear goal. Having different opinions is actually healthy — as long as everyone stays respectful and open-minded. The message needs to be complete, clear, and delivered by someone trustworthy.

But communication isn’t just about sending a message — feedback is key. This can be verbal (like asking questions or giving answers) or non-verbal (nodding, smiling, or body posture). Fun fact: about 58% of communication comes from non-verbal cues! That means paying attention to facial expressions, gestures, and even how someone sits can tell you a lot about how your message is landing.

Real-Life Examples of Communication in Action

When giving or listening to a presentation, I watch body language closely. Are people making eye contact? Asking questions? Taking notes? These signals tell me if they’re engaged and getting the message. And it’s important not to jump to conclusions—crossed arms don’t always mean defensiveness; sometimes it’s just a comfortable way to sit!

I’ve also had tough conversations, like when addressing a team member’s work standards. Here, communication can get tricky, especially if the message feels like a “Parent-to-Child” interaction — which might come off as bossy or condescending. As communication experts say, people often come into conversations with their own concerns or resistance, especially if they don’t fully understand the message or the goal behind it. That’s why it’s important to be patient, check in often, and maybe try different ways to explain things until everyone’s on the same page.

Why Communication Skills Matter More Than Ever

Top industry leaders agree: strong communication skills are one of the most important factors in career progression. Whether you’re managing a team or collaborating with colleagues, knowing how to send and receive messages effectively can make all the difference.

And here’s the bottom line — communication isn’t a straight line. It’s complex and often non-linear. Expect bumps along the way, but with awareness and practice, you can master the art of getting your message across clearly and confidently.

Want to improve your communication game? Start by tuning in to not just what you say, but how it’s received. The results might surprise you.

References
Berne, E. (1964). Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships. New York, Grove Press.
McQuail, D., Windahl, S. (1994). Communication Models for the Study of Mass Communications. London: Routledge.
Mowlana, H. (2018). On Human Communication. Javnost - The Public, 25(1-2), 226-232.