Effective Communication (P2)

Introduction

Effective communication is important because it helps avoid misunderstandings and help explain your ideas to others. Effective communication helps you connect with people and allows you to get what you want by expressing yourself appropriately. in the gaming workplace effective communication is especially essential because you will most likely be working in teams or have to report to your boss.




General communication skills


Engaging the audience

Without the interest of your audience, you cannot correctly communicate to people. it is not only the challenge to make them listen but to help them understand , remember and act on the information or ideas you share. For example in the games industry when trying to pitch an idea you need to influence and include the audience when communicating to bring them round to your way of thinking.

Terminology

It is important to use the correct terminology when communicating to others so they can understand what you are saying. For example if your audience happens to be children who are customers for your game you have to use words and terminology that they can understand and be easily explained whereas if you were having a formal meeting with your co-workers you would use a more sophisticated vocabulary to more intelligently describe your ideas and points.

Interpersonal Skills

Body Language

Body language can be an important skill to communication especially when presenting or pitching ideas. However there is a thin line between to extremes of body language for instance you do not want to come across as to laid back or lazy by slouching or not showing any enthusiasm but on the other hand you do not want to be so excitable when presenting that you are either dancing round or have distracting hand movements.

Summarizing

Summarizing your points can be effective way to communicate a lot of information in a short period of time. This can be done with bullet points, short sentences or pictures. When relating to the games industry if you have to do a presentation you do not want to just be repeating what is written down you need to summarize the points then explain what you want to say.


written communication skills


Spelling

Spelling is an effective communication skill because otherwise people would not be able to understand any written documentation or presentation you give them. it also looks unprofessional and scruffy. in the gaming workplace you may need to update your line manager with a written or typed documentation on your current work problems or objectives but if you cannot spell firstly your boss might not understand what you have put but secondly they would think that you cant use common English and may remove you from the workforce.




Structure

You need to put structure into any written or typed documentation you make this helps categorize your work and it also shows you will be talking about the next topic if you paragraph your document. for example you may need to give a presentation to your co-workers or partnership companies in the gaming industry, if it is not structured and categorized correctly it would look unprofessional and could become confusing to your audience when jumping from point to point.