Communication.

Communication is an important part of social and business life. However it was not until recently by accident I was talking to someone and they had covered their mouth and turned a little away from me so I could not see their face, that I experienced an utter state of communication confusion. From that time onwards, I could no longer understand their words and I was totally at an information loss.

It is surprising how important a facial expression is to have a clear understanding of the insight into a particular conversation. Words can sometimes have a subtle difference to the point being made, and clarity of context can depend on the way in which the speaker is behaving.

Tone, impression and intonation of the speaker can be integral too. One of the best examples of this is comedy programmes that have you roaring with laughter as deliberately misleading sketches overlap one another, while malapropisms are indicated or confusion is rife over the intended meaning of a word. The Two Ronnies and Mrs Brown's Boys come to mind when thinking about witty use of vocabulary and how mishearing one word can put a whole scene of dialogue into deliberate disarray.

Great memorable speeches can captivate and motivate because of the emphasis of carefully chosen words and phrasing. I think a good speech highlights a point by an easily recalled and repeated phrase. The opening and the final lines have to be winning moments that allude to a particular imagery because they define the lasting impression that is made.

Good communication is a skill that can be learnt, enhanced and vastly used across both work and personal aspects of life. Paying attention to the words and phrasing as well as the way that you speak are all part of becoming a good communicator.