What is Communication
The process of information exchange by means of common signals, signs or behavior
Interpersonal Communication Process
This is the process of communication. What happens is:
- The sender has a message to send to the Receiver.
- The sender encodes this message into shared symbols, signs or words and transmits it to the receiver through a medium of the senders choice
- The receiver decodes this message and interprets what the sender was attempting to say
- If the receiver does not fully understand the message or the meaning of the message is lost in the process, we attribute this loss due to noise.
- The receiver can then choose to respond to the sender, this process is called feedback. During feedback the receiver becomes the new sender and the old sender becomes the new receiver.
Two Types of Communication
One Way Communication and Two Way Communication
One Way Communication
Information flows in only one direction from the sender to the receiver. There is no loop of feedback from the receiver.
Think of Miranda when she gives orders
Two Way Communication
Information flows in two directions. This is basically just a conversation among two people in which both sides has a chance to articulate their thoughts.
Communication Barriars
- Filtering
- Information Overload
- Emotional Disconnect
- Lack of Source Credibility
- Selective Perception
- Other Factors
Filtering
“The only news I want to hear is good news!!” - If your boss says this, it will be hard to communicate with him because he does not want to hear certain information
Information Overload
This is when it is hard to communicate because there is too much information and data around you at the time. Imagine somebody trying to talk to you while at the same time you are trying to cross the street, and check your phone and drink some water.
Emotional Disconnect
Its hard to have a clear and concise conversation with somebody when one or the both of you are upset. This is when emotions block proper communication.
Lack of Source Credibility
When you hear something that is simply a rumor, you might not be sure how serious to take it
Selective Perception
You only see what you want to see, you don’t see the whole picture. This might happen with people in bad relationships or with people in bad employment situations but they don’t want/can’t to realize what’s going on.
Other Factors That Block Communication
Semantics > Meaning Slang
Gender Differences > Policeman vs Policewoman
Biased Languages > Maybe English is your second language
Types of Communication
- Verbal (Using your voice)
- Non Verbal (Behavior)
- Written (Writing it down somewhere)
Verbal Communication: Advantages
- Immediate Feedback
- Questions can be asked and answered
- More Persuasive
Verbal Communication: Disadvantages
- Can result in spontaneous, ill considered decisions
- There is no permanent record about what was discussed
Written Communication: Advantages
- The message can be revised several times before it is transmitted
- Provides a permanent record that can be saved
- The message remains the exact same even if you send it through many people
- Gives the receiver time to analyze the message
Written Communication: Disadvantages
- The Sender has no control over when, where and if the message is recieved
- The Sender does not recieve immediate feedack
- The Receiver may not understand parts of the message and clarity will take more time
Non-Verbal Communication
What you say is important, but what you do not say is also Important as well !
This is things such as eye contact, body language, gestures, tone, space and touch
Cultural Sensitivity
Remember Asma’s Pakistan example. In Pakistan females and males do not shake hands.
Tone
TONE IS VERY IMPORTANT. REMEMBER THE CLASS EXAMPLE
“I did not tell John you were late.”
Richness
The more information and naunces a form of communication captures, the more rich it is.
Communication Richness is always relative. For example, Video chatting is more rich than a phone call because it offers more nuances and details than simply being on the phone offers. However a face to face conversation offers more richness than a video chat.
How not to Listen
- Just Keep Talking
- When not talking, think about what to say next
- Interrupt Frequently
- Look away
- Don’t ask clarifying questions
How TO Listen
Emphatic or Active Listening Involves: Letting the other person talk Pay Attention to their message in entirety Recap Regularly Use Connecting Words Use Positive body Language
