Communication can really become one of the strongest skills a person has. Patricia McLagan’s book ‘Face-to-Face Communication Skills Development’ demonstrates that instruction in talking to people and listening to them can result in dramatic changes not only in your professional life but in your entire life. The book confirms that people can learn to communicate well face-to-face. As Patricia believes, communicating face-to-face doesn’t mean using words. It means understanding, respecting, and finally communicating.
Patricia McLagan puts her points across in an evident and welcoming way so that readers can realize how little is actually involved in the communication process, yet how much impact can be made. Patricia states how so many people nowadays are placing too much reliance upon emails, texts, or chat sessions. These are valuable methods, but are not capable of conveying the warmth and understanding that comes across when communicating face to face. Communicating face-to-face will enable them to express emotions. Patricia states that effective communication comes across when people actually look at each other.
Patricia uses the entire book to introduce the idea that effective communication begins with oneself. We cannot communicate effectively with other people if we are not self-conscious. It starts with self-honesty about our speech, listening skills, and reactions. Patricia does not hold back, but later demonstrates that each person has their own communication style. Some are not so outspoken and quite
shy. Others tend to talk so much-too fast. Recognizing your communication style will help you see what you need to improve or learn so that people are comfortable with you when you listen to them. Patricia exhorts readers to believe in themselves and to see communication styles as yet another skill to learn.
A critical takeaway from the book is that listening is the same as talking. Patricia McLagan says that if we listen well, we will establish good relationships with people and avoid many misunderstandings. Indeed, if we listen intently to other people, we show them our respect. Patricia says so many people listen only to respond to what the other person has said, rather than to listen to them. Patricia shows how we can listen to another person to see things from their perspective. Then people will open up to us because they will realize that we are listening to them.
She gives numerous examples in the book to show how face-to-face communication can transform a workplace. She starts by stating that teams are more effective when people communicate freely. Open sharing of thoughts and feelings among staff fosters trust and teamwork. She went on to state that if there’s proper communication between employers and employees, many issues can be solved before they become significant problems. Patricia stated that to achieve effective communication in an organization, each individual can contribute to something good happening to improve communication. When the entire organization or company works to improve workplace communication, everything starts to fall into place and become successful.
Patricia McLagan discusses another crucial point related to nonverbal communication. Patricia believes that words are not sufficient. The use of eyes, hands, and facial expressions conveys very effective signals. There are occasions when a person states something but conveys a contradictory signal using their nonverbal communications.
Patricia believes that our feelings influence our communication. She states that if we are angry, stressed, or tired, our voice changes. We use some words that we never intended to say. Patricia encourages readers to manage their emotions before a serious communication. Patricia states that if we communicate calmly and respectfully, other people will resort to quick problem-solving. Also, there will not be any conflicts. It can stay quiet and calm in challenging conversations. In fact, to possess these qualities will make one have one of the brightest qualities.
In ‘Developing Face-to-Face Communication Skills’, Patricia discusses how communication builds leaders. Patricia argues that “great leadership isn’t based on innovation—indeed, a great leader isn’t necessarily innovative. But great leaders are far superior communicators. They are great listeners. They are great users of empathetic skills. They are great vision communicators.” Patricia illustrates that anyone can become a leader by improving their communication or listening skills. As people learn to communicate openly and respectfully, people will begin to believe in them.
In fact, this book is also helpful in knowing how to cope with difficult conversations. Patricia says that there are times when we need to hold some conversations related to topics that are unpleasant to us, like ‘mistakes’ or ‘disputes’ or ‘change’ related to our workplace. Most people avoid these conversations because they tend to lead to other conflicts. But Patricia has demonstrated that if you are not reactive or ‘hateful’ in these conversations, you may actually be in a position to strengthen your relationship. When everybody gets to say what they think, honestly, but without disrespect, issues get resolved instantly.
In addition, she informs readers that effective communication cannot happen unless we are committed to developing it. Nobody was ever the best for a day. The more we communicate with other people, the more we listen to them. The more perfectly we listen to other people’s speech. Patricia suggests that we should strive to improve our communication skills. It includes making eye contact with others, not cutting them off when they are speaking, and speaking clearly.
She shows them that communication skills can be used regardless of age or background. When we learn to communicate and listen well with our honest hearts, we hold our futures in our hands. Her point? Every conversation offers an opportunity to learn.
Patricia McLagan offers readers a comprehensive training manual for developing Face-to-Face Communication Skills. It becomes apparent from Patricia that there is an overriding benefit for people when communication is proper. Patricia’s book shows that communication goes beyond mere speaking to connect with people as human beings who matter. Patricia’s book shows that although there are practical benefits to communication for improving leadership, working, or living conditions, there are essentially no gains if there are no people to communicate with.
Finally, Patricia McLagan reminds us that communication holds the key to transformations. Indeed, in our journey to communicate more clearly and listen more carefully to what other people are really saying to us or to them, we can undergo incredible transformations. Not only can we achieve these transformations in our workplaces, family lives, or community lives, but we can also do so in each face-to-face interaction we have.
