CMSAF Roll Calls: Effective Communication

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jessica Condit
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Communication is the basis by which every person relays information to obtain results, establish and meet goals and build relationships among many other things.

Without effective communication, these objectives are hard if not impossible to achieve.

In the United States Air Force, communication plays a key role in the production and success of a mission, whether you are an aircraft maintainer, public affairs specialist, firefighter or any other career field pertaining to the Air Force.

Face-to-face communication is also being emphasized by Chief Master Sgt. James Cody, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force, during Roll Calls while speaking with Airmen at all levels in their Air Force career on the matter.

"Our Air Force has long valued each and every Airman," said Cody in the first Roll Call message. "Yet over time we've gravitated to communication methods that easily fall short of the personal connection we need to solidify the value we place in each other."

Cody hopes using Roll Call will turn out to be a valuable tool in improving communication to and among Airmen at all levels.

While Air Force leadership continually strives to emphasize the importance of communication, individuals have many opportunities to build on communication skills to move them forward in their working and personal environments.

While speaking to someone obviously communicates a message, what you are saying may not be the only thing that is affecting your relationship with the person you are speaking to.

Much of your communication is expressed through non-verbal communication such as body language, facial expressions and physical appearance. These types of non-verbal communication are often the determining factor in whether your wingman feels that they can ask you for help or not.

Practicing positive body language such as smiling, displaying relaxed posture and having good eye contact will assist in getting the best results using non-verbal communication.

Along with non-verbal communication is another crucial element in communication; listening.

According to the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, two techniques of listening are active and reflective listening.

The DEOMI says the active listening technique encourages the listener to use the positive non-verbal communication methods to acknowledge the fact that they are actually hearing what the person is saying to them. Using open body language such as uncrossing legs and arms encourages the speaker to be even more open to the listener.

Reflective listening encourages the listener to ask questions in order to get the speaker to talk about an issue and affirming how the other person is feeling. The DEOMI communication skills training expressed that asking questions and relating to the speaker's situation is the key to reflective listening.

The Air Force needs and encourages Airmen to be effective communicators to build and maintain healthy relationships with coworkers and fellow wingmen. As Airmen we should continually look out for one another and be the active listener Chief Cody speaks about in Roll Calls and be open to anyone who approaches you with concerns.