Communication is the exchange of thoughts, feelings, ideas, information and knowledge between two or more people through speaking, writing, listening, or nonverbal signals. Effective communication requires speaking, listening, writing, collaboration, and an understanding of nonverbal cues. Barriers to communication can occur due to environmental factors, other people, time constraints, characteristics of the communicator such as language used, lack of self-awareness or feedback, and characteristics of the receiver such as lack of interest, selective perception, or personal values. Good communication skills include maintaining eye contact, body awareness, gestures, conveying thoughts clearly, and practice.