Comprehension and acceptance is the real test of the success of the communication effort. To the conscientious police supervisor, the ability to communicate effectively is vital to job performance. There are two ways that communication can take place between people and each is appropriate in its own setting. With one-way communication, the goal is to make the other understand and agree; no feedback is expected. With two way communication, the goal is to express and accept differences. During nonverbal communication, the body sends messages that are important to observe. Sometimes they assist, emphasize, and strengthen the verbal message. At other times, they contradict or weaken the meaning of the spoken word. Unplanned nonverbal communications deserve the closest attention because they usually mirror feelings accurately. Barriers to effective communication include hearing what one expects to hear, ignoring information that conflicts with what is already known, evaluating the source of the communication, using words which mean different things to different individuals, and allowing the effects of emotion or background noise to interfere with the intended communication. To overcome these barriers, the effective supervisor can use several techniques, including utility feedback, numerous communication channels, face-to-face communication, sensitivity to the receiver's world, awareness of the negative meaning of words, careful timing, reinforcement of words with actions, simple language, and the proper amount of repetition. Important messages should be communicated in more than one medium. Two appendixes 4 figures and 16 footnotes are provided.