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 do I make a good first impression?” “Why don’t the other group members listen to my ideas?” or “What can I do to amplify the impact of my presentations?” To answer these questions and meet these challenges, many people rely on intuition. Why? Because they think that communication is “just common sense.”

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But there’s a gulf of difference between a communicator who relies on intuition and one who is highly trained and educated. Communication is like any other knowledge-based skill set. Think about it: most of us have an intuitive sense of how to kick balls around a field. Does that mean we’re all World Cup soccer players? No. When you receive formal education 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 surpass what you’d be able to do if you relied on intuition alone. Simply put, reading this book and taking this class will train you to become a world-class communicator. Your journey toward this goal begins with this basic question: What exactly is communication?