Objectives of Communication

Like every action, communication too has its own set of objectives. We do not just communicate without expecting to accomplish anything by it. Even mindless chatter is expected to make us feel light, provide an outlet to our emotions, create a bonding with another person and what not! So, here is a compilation of all objectives of communication. Why do we communicate? What are the reasons why we pick up the pen? Why do we feel the urge to say something all the time? The answers to all these questions can be found in the compilation below:

• Social Life: Man is a social animal and cannot help but live in a society. To maintain this relation because of its inherent nature, sometimes, human beings are compelled to communicate. A nod when you see an acquaintance on the road, a smile when someone greets you on the sidewalk, a casual conversation with a fellow traveler or shopper are all instances of communication as a social necessity.
  
• Motivation: Sometimes, when life gives you lemons, it is necessary to find some motivation. And at that time, we refer to stories of those who faced similar adversities as us and try to keep ourselves going. We do so by reading up on them or by listening to someone speak. Reading and writing are both examples of communications which can motivate us. Similarly, we can ourselves motivate someone by writing to them or speaking directly to them. Motivation thus becomes an objective of communication.

       

• Advice: The concept is very close to the aforementioned concept of motivation with only a slight difference. Imagine a situation where you have to advice somebody on any topic without communicating at all. Not even using actions or signs or symbols. Difficult? Impossible? Yes, it is downright impossible. If advice is what you need, communication is what you will get. Therefore, advice is another objective of communication.

• Sharing information: Sharing a thought, feeling, idea or information becomes the core objective of communication. One cannot do so without using words, signs, symbols or actions. Depending on the situation, one may choose verbal or non verbal means of communication. But just like in the case of advice, it is impossible to share information of any kind without resorting to communication. The same goes for warning, order and instructions, persuasion, boosting morale, etc.

• Entertainment: This objective is so important that it deserves to be ranked first among all objectives of communication. There is an entire entertainment industry based on it, worth millions or trillions, or maybe quadrillions! A simple example of a movie is sufficient to explain concepts of all types of communication - formal, informal, verbal, non verbal, written, oral, etc.

The following short video of a classroom presentation describes in detail the objectives of communication in the corporate world:

Stay tuned for a detailed discussion on the various channels of communication.