Five​ ​Levels​ ​of​ ​Communication

Scott​ ​Jeffrey

The​ ​more​ ​I​ ​learn​ ​about​ ​the​​ ​psychological​ ​shadow​,​ ​the​ ​more​ ​I​ ​wonder​ ​how​ ​we’re​ ​able​ ​to
communicate​ ​with​ ​each​ ​other​ ​at​ ​all.

Communication​ ​between​ ​two​ ​people​ ​occurs​ ​on​ ​numerous​ ​levels​ ​simultaneously,​ ​each​ ​with
its​ ​nuances​ ​and​ ​complexities.

These​ ​levels​ ​of​ ​communication​ ​are​ ​verbal,​ ​physical,​ ​auditory,​ ​emotional,​ ​and​ ​energetic.

Verbal​ ​Level​ ​of​ ​Communication

Although​ ​this​ ​is​ ​perhaps​ ​the​ ​most​ ​apparent​ ​level​ ​of​ ​human​ ​communication,​ ​people​ ​can
spend​ ​a​ ​lifetime​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​master​ ​it.​ ​This​ ​level​ ​includes​ ​our​ ​selection​ ​of​ ​words​ ​based​ ​on​ ​an
understanding​ ​of​ ​meaning​ ​between​ ​the​ ​speaker​ ​and​ ​the​ ​listener.

There​ ​are​ ​multiple​ ​definitions​ ​for​ ​most​ ​words,​ ​and​ ​few​ ​of​ ​us​ ​hold​ ​the​ ​exact​ ​same​ ​meaning
for​ ​each​ ​word.​ ​Different​ ​words​ ​evoke​ ​different​ ​images,​ ​memories,​ ​and​ ​meaning​ ​for
different​ ​people.​ ​The​ ​logic​ ​and​ ​reasoning​ ​of​ ​a​ ​statement​ ​or​ ​argument​ ​(Aristotle’s​ ​logos)
influence​ ​the​ ​effectiveness​ ​of​ ​the​ ​receiving​ ​message.

To​ ​communicate​ ​effectively​ ​on​ ​the​ ​verbal​ ​level,​ ​select​ ​the​ ​“right”​ ​words​ ​and​ ​usage​ ​for​ ​the
context​ ​of​ ​the​ ​conversation​ ​(including​ ​moral,​ ​religious,​ ​ethnic​ ​and​ ​religious​ ​differences).​ ​Be
clear​ ​and​ ​concise.​ ​When​ ​possible,​ ​formulate​ ​your​ ​thoughts​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​rambling.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​an​ ​art​ ​in
itself.

Physical​ ​Level​ ​of​ ​Communication

Neuro-linguistic​ ​programming​ ​(NLP)​ ​brought​ ​the​ ​importance​ ​of​ ​visual​ ​cues​ ​in​ ​how​ ​we
communicate​ ​to​ ​many​ ​people's​ ​attention.​ ​Visual​ ​cues​ ​like​ ​eye​ ​contact,​ ​gestures,
movements,​ ​stances,​ ​breathing,​ ​posture,​ ​and​ ​facial​ ​expressions​ ​influence​ ​how​ ​we​ ​feel​ ​and
communicate.

©​ ​2017​ ​Scott​ ​Jeffrey 1

When​ ​used​ ​with​ ​integrity,​ ​techniques​ ​like​ ​“matching​ ​and​ ​mirroring”​ ​people’s​ ​posture​ ​and
gestures​ ​(and​ ​certain​ ​words​ ​too)​ ​can​ ​increase​ ​their​ ​receptivity​ ​of​ ​your​ ​message.

To​ ​communicate​ ​effectively​ ​on​ ​the​ ​physical​ ​level,​ ​it’s​ ​helpful​ ​to​ ​physically​ ​align​ ​with​ ​others,
connecting​ ​with​ ​them​ ​in​ ​form​ ​and​ ​movement.​ ​It​ ​also​ ​helps​ ​to​ ​be​ ​mindful​ ​of​ ​your​ ​posture,
facial​ ​expressions,​ ​and​ ​hand​ ​gestures.

Auditory​ ​Level​ ​of​ ​Communication

The​ ​sound​ ​of​ ​our​ ​voice,​ ​including​ ​the​ ​tone,​ ​range,​ ​volume,​ ​and​ ​speed​ ​affects​ ​how​ ​our
messages​ ​are​ ​received​ ​and​ ​interpreted​ ​by​ ​others.​ ​For​ ​example,​ ​fast​ ​talkers​ ​will​ ​find​ ​it
beneficial​ ​to​ ​slow​ ​their​ ​speech​ ​when​ ​speaking​ ​to​ ​a​ ​thoughtful,​ ​introverted​ ​person​ ​or​ ​risk
being​ ​unheard.

Also,​ ​how​ ​we​ ​enunciate,​ ​inflect,​ ​and​ ​place​ ​emphasis​ ​on​ ​certain​ ​words​ ​affects​ ​how​ ​others
interpret​ ​the​ ​meaning​ ​of​ ​what​ ​we​ ​say.

To​ ​communicate​ ​effectively​ ​on​ ​the​ ​auditory​ ​level,​ ​become​ ​aware​ ​of​ ​various​ ​auditory​ ​cues,
speaking​ ​to​ ​others​ ​in​ ​a​ ​manner​ ​more​ ​akin​ ​to​ ​their​ ​own​ ​ways​ ​(another​ ​form​ ​of​ ​“matching​ ​and
mirroring”).

Emotional​ ​Level​ ​of​ ​Communication

Few​ ​people​ ​appreciate​ ​how​ ​our​ ​emotional​ ​states​ ​affect​ ​what​ ​we​ ​communicate​ ​and​ ​how​ ​the
message​ ​is​ ​interpreted​ ​by​ ​the​ ​recipient.

In​ ​rhetoric,​ ​Aristotle’s​ ​pathos​ ​represents​ ​an​ ​appeal​ ​to​ ​the​ ​audience’s​ ​emotions.
Are​ ​you​ ​more​ ​receptive​ ​to​ ​someone​ ​who​ ​is​ ​positive​ ​and​ ​life-affirming​ ​or​ ​one​ ​who​ ​is
negative​ ​and​ ​critical?​ ​Enthusiastic​ ​or​ ​boring?

The​ ​speaker’s​ ​emotions​ ​put​ ​the​ ​recipient​ ​in​ ​a​ ​particular​ ​state​ ​of​ ​mind​ ​and​ ​influence​ ​how
the​ ​listener​ ​interprets​ ​what​ ​is​ ​said.

©​ ​2017​ ​Scott​ ​Jeffrey 2

To​ ​communicate​ ​effectively​ ​on​ ​the​ ​emotional​ ​level,​ ​become​ ​aware​ ​of​ ​your​ ​emotional​ ​state​,
learning​ ​to​ ​pause​ ​and​ ​release​ ​negative​ ​emotions​ ​before​ ​attempting​ ​to​ ​connect​ ​with​ ​others.
Words​ ​delivered​ ​with​ ​pride,​ ​anger​ ​or​ ​fear​ ​are​ ​rarely​ ​well​ ​received.

Energetic​ ​Level​ ​of​ ​Communication

Also​ ​called​ ​the​ ​psychic​ ​level,​ ​this​ ​level​ ​of​ ​communication​ ​encompasses​ ​a​ ​vast​ ​range​ ​of
unseen​ ​factors​ ​including​ ​a​ ​person’s​ ​level​ ​of​ ​consciousness,​ ​the​ ​frequency​ ​or​ ​harmonics​ ​of
the​ ​message,​ ​and​ ​other​ ​subtle​ ​energies.

Some​ ​people​ ​seem​ ​to​ ​have​ ​an​ ​“X-factor”—a​ ​unique​ ​presence​—that​ ​naturally​ ​imparts​ ​their
messages​ ​to​ ​others​ ​with​ ​greater​ ​receptivity​ ​and​ ​understanding.

To​ ​communicate​ ​more​ ​effectively,​ ​hold​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​intention​ ​for​ ​the​ ​other​ ​person’s​ ​wellbeing.
This​ ​requires​ ​a​ ​unique​ ​level​ ​of​ ​mindfulness​ ​generally​ ​cultivated​ ​through​ ​compassion​ ​practices.
When​ ​we​ ​are​ ​centered​ ​within​ ​ourselves​,​ ​we’re​ ​more​ ​likely​ ​to​ ​access​ ​this​ ​psychic​ ​dimension
that​ ​holds​ ​great​ ​treasures​ ​of​ ​insights​ ​into​ ​others,​ ​helping​ ​us​ ​communicate​ ​with​ ​greater​ ​ease.

Bringing​ ​all​ ​the​ ​Levels​ ​of​ ​Communication​ ​Together

The​ ​verbal​ ​level​ ​is​ ​the​ ​content;​ ​it’s​ ​what​ ​we​ ​say.​ ​The​ ​physical,​ ​auditory,​ ​emotional,​ ​and
energetic​ ​levels​ ​represent​ ​how​ ​we​ ​convey​ ​a​ ​message.​ ​These​ ​levels​ ​of​ ​communication​ ​are
interdependent,​ ​as​ ​each​ ​level​ ​affects​ ​the​ ​other.

For​ ​example,​ ​our​​ ​emotional​ ​state​​ ​affects​ ​our​ ​body​ ​language​ ​and​ ​our​ ​overall​ ​field​ ​influences
our​ ​emotional​ ​state.

Simply​ ​becoming​ ​aware​ ​of​ ​these​ ​various​ ​levels​ ​can​ ​be​ ​beneficial.​ ​When​ ​we​ ​see​ ​the
complexities​ ​inherent​ ​in​ ​human​ ​communication,​ ​we​ ​can​ ​be​ ​made​ ​more​ ​patient​ ​in​ ​our
speech​ ​and​ ​more​ ​compassionate​ ​towards​ ​others​ ​and​ ​ourselves.

Reading​ ​List

Crucial​ ​Conversations​ ​Tools​ ​for​ ​Talking​ ​When​ ​Stakes​ ​Are​ ​High​ ​by​ ​Kerry​ ​Patterson,​ ​et
al.
Paperback​​ ​|​ ​Kindle​​ ​|​ ​Audio

©​ ​2017​ ​Scott​ ​Jeffrey 3

How​ ​To​ ​Win​ ​Friends​ ​and​ ​Influence​ ​People​ ​by​ ​Dale​ ​Carnegie
Print​​ ​|​ ​Kindle​​ ​|​ ​Audio

The​ ​7​ ​Habits​ ​of​ ​Highly​ ​Effective​ ​People​ ​by​ ​Stephen​ ​R.​ ​Covey
Paperback​​ ​|​ ​Kindle​​ ​|​ ​Audiobook

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©​ ​2017​ ​Scott​ ​Jeffrey 4