Communication As An Artform

(Adapted from a video by Vusi Thembekwayo, titled The Gift of Communication) 

We need to be great communicators if we are to contribute to the world. There is a process one can follow, to be a great communicator. In the video by Vusi Thembekwayo, he goes on to state that there is an "scientific formula" for effective communication and it entails the following:

1. Understand Motivations 

Nobody ever does something, just for the sake of doing it. Every action has a backdrop that is invisible to the naked eye. There is always a certain form of factor that makes people act a certain way. We need to understand what drives people to action, if we are to engage in meaningful conversation (exchanges).

Pastor Michael Phillips once said "When you see people do what they do, don't judge the what find out why". This is because there is always a cause of the effect. 

(i)I am writing this chapter because there is a certain motivation, I am trying to achieve a certain goal and spread a certain message. 

(ii) Burna Boy makes music because there is a certain motivation behind that...

(iii)"Thabo" wants a  wife because there is a certain motivation behind that.. 

(iv) Bishop T. D Jakes preaches because there is a certain motivation behind that..

For every action there is a motivation. My motivation for writing this book is I want to share transformational information & I have dedicated myself to work on things that we outlive me. 

2.Understand Intentions 

Intent is the impract people want to have or the result someone would like to get. Everybody has an intention, whether stated or unstated. Our mission should be finding out the intentions of people to understand how to communicate effectively with them.

(i)An artist creates because they have a certain intent. 

(ii) A student goes to school because there is certain intention they have... 

(iii) A lawyer represent clients with intent... 

(iv) Black Coffee makes music because there is an intent....

3.Understand "What is the desired outcome?"

The desired outcome has to be a "Just Cause" .

So firstly we must be interested in our audience and their motivations.Then we must understand intentions, finally we must have a clear understanding of what the desired outcome is. 

We must refer to people's motivations in order to effectively communicate with them, we must understand why someone is doing what they are doing. The reason for this is once we know what motivates or excites people, we can therefor tailor make our conversations with them.A tailored conversation far outweighs small talk.. Pastor Touré Roberts once said something along these lines "our conversation will not only determine our attitude but our altitude".

Intentions control our actions, if you have a certain intention it points you to a certain action. Everytime somebody acts it is because they have a particular intention, you get a better understanding of how & why people act the way they do, first find out their intentions.

Finally we know what there desired end is, for this gives us a clear picture of how "success" will look like for the person you are communicating with.

I will now give you certain details about me as an example. 

1.My motivation for writing this is I realize there is vast amounts of knowledge we seem to be without and I believe I can bridge the gap between people and information. 

2.My intention is to transform the way we think and to help people adopt new systems and philosophies for the betterment of society. 

3.My desired outcome is to inspire or "touch" a generation of thinkers, believers and doers.

If anybody brings the above up in any conversation or intetaction they will undoubtley have my full attention. In utilizing this formula for conversing, we are able to communicate more effectively than before. Effective communication is one of the pillars of any type of success. If you cannot communicate, you cannot influence.

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