Communication is information dissemination and can be an agent of change - for good or for bad. The ripple effects of information dissemination can influence situations positively or negatively. While poor communication can lead to conflicts and confusion, effective communication can engender harmony, unity, positive change, and development.
My focus in this essay is on public speaking and how I have utilized it to connect and build relationships with local communities in Osun state, Nigeria, and change wrong perceptions in my role as site manager of Latter-day Saint Charities, a humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
As a form of interpretive communication, public speaking involves listening to and understanding a message and responding accordingly. According to a White Paper by the Center for Health Communication (CHC) (2020) at the University of Texas, Austin, “Communication has the power to change minds, policies, circumstances, and lives—and … the most effective messages are properly translated and tailored to meet audiences where they’re at.” (CHC, 2020, p. 9). A key phrase here is: "properly translated and tailored to meet audiences." Adler and Elmhurst (2022) argued that "clear communication reduces misunderstanding and effective collaboration" (p. 34). In other words, a message must be clear, well-articulated, well-tailored, and well-targeted for the intended audience to avoid misrepresentation.
Communication is the “transfer of meaning” premised on the correct interpretation and understanding of a message, the absence of which can cause stress (Miller & DiMattero, 2015). Simply put, meaning is conveyed through communication, and understanding the message's meaning depends on correct interpretation. I learned this as site manager of Latter-day Saint Charities in charge of clean water and hygiene projects in 30 local government communities in Osun State, Nigeria, southwest Nigeria. This initiative enabled me to represent the Church well by communicating emphatically with community leaders and members during community entry meetings and project commissioning. I used these public speaking opportunities to build interpersonal relationships between the charity organization and the communities and to change general misconceptions about the Church. I engaged in Christ-like dialogues of charity and friendship with the communities, building bridges of humanitarian support on behalf of the Church.
According to Kamans et al. (2021), “Empathy competence is considered a key aspect of excellent performance in communication professions” (p. 333). The trajectory of communication empathy targets the audience but its effects extend beyond them, building into the future. This is what meeting my words with actions that delivered tangible results, such as providing free motorized boreholes, ultimately achieved. When the Prophet Joseph Smith faced accusations of controlling his followers, he responded: “I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves” (Smith, 1976, p. 256). Put differently, his empathic communication of charity, friendship, and leadership helped him connect with and establish enduring relationships among the Saints.Empathic communication fosters active listening making communication a two-way process. Emphatic communication “shows our love for others, helps build strong relationships, and invites the Spirit to bless us with the gift of discernment to help us understand others’ needs” (Ministering Principles: Five Things Good Listeners Do). Active listening bonded me to the communities and helped me build over 20 clean water boreholes within two years, surpassing all my predecessors. Public speaking is not about saying what people want to hear as politicians often do. It's persuasive and empathic.
According to Gallo (2019), “Ideas are the currency of the twenty-first century. The ability to persuade, to change hearts and minds, is perhaps the single skill that will give you a competitive edge in the knowledge economy – an age where ideas matter more than ever” (para. 1). Ideas are the vehicles for change, while effective dissemination and communication of ideas power those vehicles. Listening to people, understanding their perspectives, and reaching out to meet them at their points of concern can significantly influence positive change in society. * This is an Ensign College Eng 101-03P (B2): Intro to College Writing Assignment.
* Wahab Abayomi Omiwole is a Blogger, Copywriter, and Digital Marketer, dedicated to crafting content that converts. You can also access his portfolio here: https://abayomiomiwole.blogspot.com/
References:
Adler, R. B., & Elmhurst, M. (2022). Clear communication and effective collaboration. Communication Quarterly, 45(2), 34-45.
Center for Health Communication (CHC). (2020). The power of communication to change minds and lives. University of Texas, Austin.
Fuller, M., Kamans, E., van Vuuren, M., Wolfensberger, M., & de Jong, M. D. T. (2021). Conceptualizing empathy competence: A professional communication perspective. Journal of Business and Technical Communication, 35(3), 333-368. https://doi.org/10.1177/10506519211001125 Smith, J. (1976). Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (J. F. Smith, Comp.). Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book
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