The 4 Levels of Communication & Application

Communication is the cornerstone of every relationship. It is unfortunate that many people do not even know the four levels of communication. In my post "Listening" I briefly identified them for you.

What I want to do now is elaborate upon them. This will give you broader insight of communication.

It is imperative that every living being understand the four levels of communication. I say this because we all have to communicate with people. Allow me to be as blunt as possible when we fail to reach the depth of all four levels all that we say and share is small talk.

In other words you are shortchanging yourself of having a more dynamic communication connection with your audience being one or more people.

When we are able to talk on all four levels we will have a greater understanding of what is being said to us and how to get our points across more effectively

The 4 Levels of Communication

1. Facts-What are the facts? Just the facts Ma'am
Let me speak on facts for a moment. Remember opening the newspaper or magazine to that front page article that your eyes were glued upon. You were in a hypnotic trance where you wanted to know all the facts to the headline of the article. The headline contained a certain portion of facts.

Let me crystallize this to an actual scenario and expand on it through all four levels.

Jack sees Jill walking by so he calls out excuse me can you tell me the time?

Jill looks upon her wrist at her watch, smiles, and respond with it is 12:20.

She just shared a fact about the time to Jack.

2. Meaning-What does it all mean?
Jack is close enough to see Jill's watch. Jack replies "thank you very much. Your watch compliments your outfit and your beauty."

Jill now learns that Jack not only wanted to know the time but he is very observant. She also wonders if this is a pick up ploy or is he just being friendly and complementing her.

She is trying to figure out the meaning of Jack's approaching. It is the wonder about what does it all mean. This meaning of it all will soon be revealed if the conversation continues on from it's introduction and response.

3. Feelings-How does that make you feel?
Jill responds "I see that you are very observant person and thank you for the compliment. What's the name of that cologne that you are wearing it can get a girl in trouble because it smells so good?"

Jack realizes that she is sharing her feelings with him and that is opening the door to take the conversation to another level.

When feelings are shared in conversation it opens the door to deeper conversation and it moves you in various ways. What happens when something or someone touches you. You experience a deeper communication that moves you internally.

4. Intent- What are your intentions?
The final level of communication is intention. What was or is your intention behind this conversational thought. When you know a person's intention in a conversation it reveals the truth about where they stand on an issue.

Now back to Jack and Jill to complete the picture and close this thing out.

Jack smiles at Jill. Stares into her eyes says " My name is Jack. He extends his hand Jill replies "I'm Jill."

Jack replies "I would like to get better acquainted with you over a nice Latte and you can inhale my cologne I can make you laugh and we can have a great time in a very short time.

Jill says alright and they both walk off to the nearest Starbucks.

Now the picture is painted you get a better understanding of all 4 levels of communication and application. At the end of the day the compliment given by Jack opened the door for he and Jill to have communication on all levels and they will never forget that moment.

This could be you. The choice is yours though. You can stick to small talk with no real connection when you meet people or you can settle with conversations that flow on all four levels.

Intention is the acclamation point of communication. Intention echoes a reverberating truth that shakes the world and causes things to happen in your life.

Until next time remember to share the wisdom of words with everyone you come into contact with in life.