EPIC Framework for Better Communication

A guideline for improving communication skills.

3 min read

Communication is essential for work and life because it improves relationships. Also, this helps everyone do things faster and more efficiently. This causes people to look for better communication skills. Furthermore, people would learn new approaches to becoming better communicators. Today, we will talk about the EPIC approach to being a good communicator. Let's dive into this topic.

E: Empathy

Empathy includes understanding other people's perspectives, emotions, and thoughts. By building connections with people's situations, one can communicate better. Empathy includes a pair of skills as well. Let's look at them:

  1. Active Listening: By showing the people that we're listening to them, people can feel more relaxed in front of us. Also, this helps to understand other people's perspectives better. This can help get more clear communication.
  2. Showing Support: Showing support helps build connections. This will help get better communication.

P: Purpose

Purpose includes the expectation from the interaction. This includes clarity, the main message, and the point of the communication. One should determine the purpose and act on that accordingly. To determine the main point, the points in the below can be followed:

  1. Looking at all the facts collected: By looking at all the facts collected, one can find the most important message.
  2. Finding the most important message: Clarifying the main message can help communicate better.
  3. Setting the messages that support the main message: This can help strengthen the main message. This includes reasons, related topics, etc.

Besides all of these, the audience's wants and needs shouldn't be forgotten.

I: Insight

Insight includes a key takeaway that everyone can easily understand. An insight synthesizes all the messages a person talks about. Insights are different from the summaries. The differences are listed below:

  1. Summaries usually summarize the data and information that is given. Insights generally give a direction on what is next.
  2. Summaries are usually the short form of the information. Insights give a recommendation(s) to the audience.

C: Conversation

Conversation includes the ways of delivering the messages to the audience. Messages are important, but the way the message is delivered is more important. There are ways one can improve the conversation skills:

  1. Physical appearance: A good posture, making eye contact while speaking, and appearing confident are crucial in communication. This can help deliver the messages effectively.
  2. Adjusting the vocal: Adjusting the volume, tone, and pace is important while speaking. This helps deliver the message effectively and accurately. Also, using the active voice instead of the passive voice is crucial in the conversation.
  3. The style of communication that makes emotional connection: It is important to adapt the conversation style for the audience. The communication style should be changed to the audience's needs and wants. Also, reading the facial expressions of the audience and acting on that is crucial for the conversation.

Communication plays a crucial role in life. Developing this skill will help everyone, both at work and in life in general. The EPIC framework presents a model that aims to help people communicate better. By applying the methods in the model, you can develop your communication skills.