The place you live might be diverse having many cultures, ethnicities, and languages. Language is very important because that is how we communicate. There is no doubt you know the importance of communication. However, it is not just the concept of communication that is important but the need for quality communication. Have you ever had to try to communicate with someone that did not know your language? How about trying to communicate with someone that could not speak or was not capable of hearing your words? Did you resort to writing or did you stumble along with gestures? These incidents can create a language barrier where communication is difficult, partial, and has a high probability for miscommunication.
Today, we have a new language barrier: the cell phone. I grew up in a time before cell phones, microwave ovens, remote controls for anything, and before man landed on the moon. But, one technology we had was the telephone. (It plugged into a wall socket for phones and I could only travel as far as the cord could go) This was good because I didn’t have to go all the way to the other side of the neighborhood just to ask my friend if he wanted to go to a movie or toss a baseball around. It was a high-tech luxury for us. However, this high-tech luxury became somewhat of a language barrier. We spoke and understood English. The language was not a barrier. We could hear the inflection in our voices. That helped with communicating too. But there was another element to communication that was lost by using the telephone. We could not see the body language. This created a barrier to the full extent of quality communication.
Let us fast forward to 2025. Today, many communicate almost exclusively by texting one another or texting into a social media platform. Cell phones are a fascinating and fantastic tool in many ways. However, for communicating, using the cell phone for texting falls short of quality communication. The cell phone becomes a barrier. Communication is a sophisticated process. It is more than just words. First the words must be clear and understandable and in a format that is agreed upon by all parties involved. Unfortunately, many cell phones have a tool called auto-correct that will auto-correct my fumbling thumbs and push my communication out of the realm of quality communication. Sometimes, even to the point of causing miscommunication. Furthermore, texting lacks the aspect of the physical part of communication. Consider the aspects of voice inflection and body gestures or body language. These are immensely powerful aspects of making clear quality communication.
Therefore, the best way for quality communicate is to communicate in person. The idea of putting down the phones and mixing and mingling with personal, face-to-face communication is an ancient practice that is tried and true. Facial expressions can increase quality communication. If one were to text, “What’s up?” How can you know what and how they intend it without the physical attributes? Consider the same words expressed in person. Was the inflection calm or angry? Are the arms hanging casually, pointing up or folded? Was the face bright and welcoming or was there a scowl?
Opportunities to communicate in person by mixing and mingling could be refreshing and rewarding. Break the barriers. Phones down, eyes up, and ears open. See what you may learn from communicating in person.
