Communication: The Key to Success

The head girl was up there on the stage, holding the school flag and taking a formal oath, sounding so passionate and full of confidence. Her voice and her posture seemed to say “I am here for all of you, no matter what.” Rashi always loved to attend the investiture ceremony in school. She aspired to be the head girl one day or at least a house captain!

Back home, when Neha aunty came visiting, Rashi was thrilled. Neha aunty was her best friend. When Rashi told her about her dream to become the head girl, Neha aunty was full of encouragement.

“Of course, you will become the head girl, but for that you will have to work hard, not only on the academic front, but on your personality as well,” said aunty. Over the next few days, her aunt helped Rashi understand many aspects of her communication skills and personality that she had never noticed as problem areas before. Like the fact that she never spoke her mind, even if given a chance. For instance, when her mother asked what everyone would prefer to eat for dinner, Rashi said “I don’t know” and ended up struggling to finish the okra on her plate, a vegetable she hated.

Neha aunty pointed out that Rashi rarely made eye contact while speaking to anyone. “When you and I are discussing something, why do you always appear so fidgety? Why do your eyes wander all over the place? This shows lack of attention or low confidence.”

Her friend came over to show Rashi the dress she had chosen to wear to her brother’s wedding. Rashi knew the colour did not suit her, it made her look dark, but she did not want to hurt her friend’s feelings. Taking her aunt’s advice, Rashi simply told her friend, “This is a nice colour dear, but beige will set off your complexion best. Why don’t you try that one and see what your family says?” Rashi managed to communicate what she wanted without making her friend feel bad.

At night, before going to bed, Neha aunty asked Rashi to read out aloud from any one of her favourite books. While she was reading, Neha aunty interrupted her to ask what a particular word meant. Rashi wasn’t sure.  Aunty asked her to look up the meaning on the internet. It turned out to be the name of a flower — one she saw almost every day in the park behind her house. If she hadn’t looked it up, she wouldn’t have known. Aunty made her realise that in all these years, even if she had learned one new word every day, her vocabulary would have been the envy of one and all. “It is never too late to begin, Rashi,” she said. Rashi realised that to communicate well a person has to know the correct usage of words, and use the right tone, only then can the clear message get across to those who are listening. After all, isn’t the art of communication said to be the language of leadership?