ES2007S Why is Effective Communication Important to me.

I have a confession to make. I have a phobia of silence.

Heights, flying scarab beetles, creepy crawlies—they have no impact on me whatsoever. Yet, when it comes to speaking, words just escape, my brain fails me and the inner alarm starts shrilling inside. During these panic attacks, I have learnt the nature of the ensuing silence so well, where fallen pins are quite audible, and expectant faces turn quizzical and then sympathetic, and their gazes shift to give personal space and less pressure.

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A friend once declared he was going to make himself famous. He observed that invented words were made common by its frequent usage. The verb google to replace the meaning of researching online, was non-existent twenty years ago, so was noob, a noun describing inexperienced players in the gaming arena. Concluding that as long as his words were popularized among a group of followers, they would live on after his death. Thus, ceassance (pronounced SEE-zee-an-se) was birthed amidst our amusement, in description of a moment of awkward silence. And it marked the moment my greatest fear in life was named.

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Those were insane days where daydreaming was still a class hobby. On the other hand, fame was not on my list. I dreamed of travelling the world, helping the poor and making the world a better place. Yet, fast forward to present day, where a handful of those friends have begun the next phase of life in the professional world, while for me, the problem of communication still persists in various degrees.

For one, as a student, I have learnt that effective communication is important to answer my burning queries. At times, being unable to pinpoint my doubts, it leaves me wondering if there was a conceptual misunderstanding, or that the objectives of the lecturer to deliver relevant contents were unmet. An even greater challenge would be to perfect the skill to reflect my ignorance to the tutors, hopefully in an intelligent way, so as to identify the unknowns and pose questions to fish out answers from their vast knowledge. How is it possible for the tutor to understand what I ask, if I do not know what I do not understand?

As an aspiring professional, I find an increasing need to portray the image of competency during my interviews as well as at the workplace. One dead-embarrassing moment I recall, was a self-initiated phone conversation with the HR personnel of a potential company for an internship during the summer holidays. The purpose of the call was to enquire about the prospect of an interview. However, she replied that their selection was based purely on the candidate’s resume. Unexpectedly, she popped the question, “Looking at your resume, I understand you have worked before?” Opportunity was like a seed planted, just awaiting the right amount of water and fertilizers.

“Yes. I have worked before. Thanks for considering my application,” I replied curtly. With that, I hung up. It was probably the most pathetic phone call I ever made, failing to internalise her intentions in that split second, to seize the opportunity given or convince her with my interest in the job. Instead, I was convinced of the importance of effective communication. This required a range of skills all put to use simultaneously, thinking, listening, understanding and speaking to convey ideas. These would ultimately be the tools that would bring me closer towards my dreams.

In all, I have understood the limitations of my life experiences and have seen how the awkward silences are a barrier to my confidence and communication channels. In order to gain knowledge and expand my horizons, appropriate modes of information-sharing has to take an active role in my academic and professional life, to achieve self-fulfilment and goal actualization.