The Importance of Context in Communication

Understanding context is vital in good communication. If you behave out of line within the context in which you are acting then it will render your communication less valuable. Context is all about the environment in which communication is taking place and behaving in a manner that is appropriate to that environment. If you get the context right from the outset then you are far more likely to be successful in conveying the message that you are trying to get your audience to understand.

It is important to bear in mind the following:

Physical Context

The physical context is about the location, time of day, noise level, light level, whether it is a rural or urban setting, whether it is indoors or outdoors etc. All of these factors will impact on the methods of communication that you should use, the way and manner that you present yourself, what you say and how you say it.

Historical Context

Has the environment of the communication taken place before? Is there precedent? If for example a head teacher is speaking at an annual school speech day, everybody attending the speech day will have an idea of what to expect, and the head teacher should therefore keep the ‘historical context’ of her speech relevant to fit in line with expectations. If you step out of line of historical context you should ensure that there is a good reason for doing so. It might for example be important for conveying your message that it is the complete opposite of what historical context has suggested.

Psychological Context

How is your audience, or the person who you are speaking to, feeling at this moment in time? What time of day is it? Has something just happened to them? All of this will impact on the way that they are thinking and therefore impact on the way that you communicate effectively. After all, ultimately you are looking for them to react and act in the way that you want, to follow on from the message you have just conveyed.

Social Context

What relationship do you have with your audience? Are they a friend or family member? Are they a spouse or child? Are they your boss or a colleague? Are they a complete stranger? Are they a group or an individual? The social context of the situation will impact on the way that you speak, the words that you use and the way you hold yourself.

Cultural Context

Culture relates to the beliefs and values of a group. What is the cultural identity of that person? How are you most likely to be able to connect with that person as a result? What cultural barriers might there be so that you don’t cause disrespect?