I believe effective communication is everything.  I think that if an individual is able to communicate effectively then there ability to create and access opportunities in life is enhanced.  Their capacity to resolve disputes and negotiate positive outcomes from most situations is almost assured. 

Have you ever been engaged with or by an effective communicator?  You feel like you've been better understood, had an opportunity to state your position or point of view and are crystal clear on the other parties perspective.

If you pause to consider for a moment.  Statistically speaking half of the population are below average IQ.  Fact.  So what does this mean for the incidence and occurence of effective communication I wonder?  I'm not sure if there are studies linking IQ and communication skills together but my anecdotal experience would suggest that while a higher IQ may not guarantee improved communication it does require a modicum of intelligence to be able to communicate effectively.  So.  Are we as communicators (effective or otherwise) relying on the capacity of our communication partners to bolster our own effectiveness.  Are we able to overcome barriers and code our messages in such ways as to ensure they are understood by those that hear them?  Or, as I suspect is the case, do we walk around a fair chunk of the time bot not understanding and not being understood.

Want one simple tip about communication that when implemented will greatly improve your communication effectiveness? 

I thought you might.  For those of you who have heard this I apologise but encourage you to revisit the principle and keep applying it.

We have two ears and one mouth.  That reflects the listening to talking ratio.  Listen twice as much as you talk. 

Try this out and see what happens.  Oh yeah, you can ask questions and still be listening.  You don't have to be absolutely silent (in fact listening is better when you're not).

Have fun, be great!!

Sean