Lots of people believe that communication is just common sense. But people are not born knowing how to communicate well. Instead, they become good communicators by learning about communication concepts and theories, building skills, and practicing in their everyday lives. You can take the first step toward becoming a competent communicator by learning what communication is and why it matters.

When you think about communication and the role it plays in your life, what may leap to mind are the various challenges you face. For instance, “How can I get along better with my family?” “Why don’t the other group members listen to my ideas?” or “What can I do to give better speeches?” To answer these questions and meet these challenges, you may rely on your gut sense of what you should do; for example, “I need to be more open about how I feel,” “I should be more assertive,” or “I should spend more time rehearsing.”

Taking a class on communication is different than relying on intuition. When you’re formally educated about communication, you learn information based on theory, research, and practice. This empowers you to broaden and deepen your skills as a communicator, allowing you to better handle communication challenges when they arise. Learning about communication begins with this basic question: What exactly is communication?