Communication

Communication is the act of transmitting verbal and non-verbal information and understanding between people.

ORThe process by which information and

feelings are shared by people through an exchange of verbal and non-verbal messages.

Most common ways to communicate

SpeakingVisual Images

Writing Body Language

Communication GoalsTo change behavior

To get action

To ensure understandingTo persuade

To get and giveInformation

Source: CGAP Direct

The Significance of Communication in Human Life

Effective communication skills are a critical element in your career and personal lives.

We all must use a variety of communication techniques to both understand and be understood.

The Significance of Communication in Human Life No field of study has more important

implication for our lives in contemporary society than that which looks systematically at the process of human communication. Everything we do, from making friends to governing a nation, would be impossible if human beings were unable to communicate with speech and language. It is no exaggeration to say that communication is at the heart of human existence.

Communication

we can also define communication as a systemic process in which people interact with and through symbols to create and interpret meanings.

CommunicationThe definitions of communication has four

important facets.

SystemicProcessSymbolicMeanings

SystemicCommunication takes place within systems. A

system consists of interrelated parts that affect one another.

These systems are:

Linguistic SystemsCommunicative SystemsSocio-cultural Systems

Process

Communication is a process, which means that it is ongoing and always-in motion. It's hard to tell when communication starts and stops because what happened before we talk with someone may influence our interaction, and what occurs in a particular encounter may affect the future.

Symbolic

Communication is symbolic. It relies symbols, which are abstract, arbitrary, and ambiguous representations of other things

Meanings

Meanings are at the heart of communication. Meanings are the significance we bestow on phenomenon, or what they signify (point) to us. We understand meanings by experience or by the symbols they stand for.

Critical success factor for life

The majority of your perceived ability comes from how you communicate

70% How youcommunicate it

30% What you know

Source: CGAP Direct

Listening and Speaking are used a lot…

9%

16%

30%

45%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Writing Reading Speaking Listening

… But not taught enough

9%

16%

30%

45%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Writing Reading Speaking Listening

Amount taught

What if communication were not possible?

Frustration and Chaos!

Both children want the orange

But without good listening, neither gets what they want…

COMMUNICATION MODEL

Source:Why to communicate?

What to communicate?

Usefulness of the communication.

Accuracy of the Information to be communicated.

PROCESS OF COMM…(cntd…)

Encoding:• The process of transferring the information you want to communicate into

a form that can be sent and correctly decoded at the other end.

• Ability to convey the information.

• Eliminate sources of confusion. For e.g. cultural issues, mistaken assumptions, and missing information.

• Knowing your audience.

Written Communication Channels

Letters,

e-Mails,

Memos,

Reports.

Verbal Communication Channels

Face-To-Face meetings,

Telephones,

Video Conferencing.

PROCESS OF COMM…(cntd…)

EFFECTIVE DECODING:Listen actively,

Reading information carefully,

Avoid Confusion,

Ask question for better understanding.

• The audience or individuals to whom we are sending the information.

THE INFLUENCE FOR RECEIVER:

• The prior knowledge can influence the receiver’s understanding of the message.

• Blockages in the receiver’s mind.

• The surrounding disturbances.

The Communication Process

SENDER(encodes)

RECEIVER(decodes)

Barrier

Barrier

Medium

Feedback/Response

Barriers to communication

• Noise• Inappropriate medium• Assumptions/Misconceptions• Emotions• Language differences• Poor listening skills• Distractions

Basic Interpersonal Basic Interpersonal Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

Avoid Barriers to Communication.

Send Understandable Messages: Effective communication.

Actively Listen.Utilize Non-verbal

Signals.Give and Solicit

Meaningful Feedback.Adapt to Diversity of

Communication Styles… try multiple channels

What causes distortion?Speaker

LanguageWordinessSemanticsEmotionsInflections

ListenerPerceptionsPreconceived

notions/expectationsPhysical hearing

problemSpeed of thoughtPersonal interestsEmotionsAttention spanNo active

listening!

30% of you aren’t paying attention

right now!

"silence speaks louder than words"

Some major areas of nonverbal behaviors to explore are:

Eye contactFacial expressionsGesturesPosture and body orientationProximityParalinguisticHumor

SIX WAYS OF USING NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS EFFECTIVELY

SIX WAYS OF …(cntd…)

EYE CONTACT:Eye is an direct and most expressive part of our body.

Different ways of Eye Contact

Direct Eye Contact: (Shows confidence)Looking downwards (Listening carefully or Guilty)Single raised eyebrow (Doubting)Both raised eyebrows (Admiring)Bent eyebrows (Sudden focus)Tears coming out (Emotional either happy or hurt)

………and many more

FACIAL EXPRESSION:Smile covers the most part of facial expression:

Smiling is a powerful cue that transmits:

Happiness

Friendliness

Warmth

Liking

Affiliation

SIX WAYS OF …(cntd…)

GESTURES:

If you fail to gesture while speaking, you may be perceived as boring, stiff and unanimated.

A lively and animated teaching style captures students' attention, makes the material more interesting, facilitates learning and provides a bit of entertainment.

Head nods, a form of gestures, communicate positive reinforcement to students and indicate that you are listening.

SIX WAYS OF …(cntd…)

POSTURE AND BODY ORIENTATION:

• You communicate numerous messages by the way you walk, talk, stand and sit.

• Standing erect, but not rigid, and leaning slightly forward communicates to students that you are approachable, receptive and friendly.

• Furthermore, interpersonal closeness results when you and your students face each other.

• Speaking with your back turned or looking at the floor or ceiling should be avoided; it communicates disinterest to your class.

SIX WAYS OF …(cntd…)

PROXIMITY:

Cultural norms dictate a comfortable distance for interaction with audience.

You should look for signals of discomfort caused by invading young audience‘s space.

Some of these are:Rocking,Leg swinging,Tapping,Gaze aversion,

To counteract this, move around the audience to increase interaction with your students. Increasing proximity enables you to make better eye contact and increases the opportunities for the audience to speak.

SIX WAYS OF …(cntd…)

SIX WAYS OF …(cntd…)

Paralinguistic :

This facet of nonverbal communication includes such vocal elements as:

- Tone

- Pitch

- Rhythm

- Loudness

- Inflection

FEW FACTS

- You have over 630 muscles in your body.

- Eye muscles are the busiest muscles in the body. Scientists estimate they may move more than 100,000 times a day.

- You have over 30 muscles in your face to help you smile or frown. It takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown.SO SMILE EVERYTIME YOU SEE SOMEONE.

- The strongest muscle in your body is your tongue. USE IT EFFECTIVELY.

- It takes the interaction of 72 different muscles to produce human speech.

Hearing Vs Listening

Hearing –

Physical process, natural, passive

Listening –

Physical as well as mental process, active, learned process, a skill

Listening is hard.You must choose to participate in the process of

listening.

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Components Examples Meanings Communicated

Image Clothing, hygiene Values, competenceFacial Expressions Frown, smile, sneer Unexpressed feelingsEye Movements Looking away, staring Intentions, state of mindPosture Leaning in, slumped AttitudeGestures Handshake, wave Intentions, feelings

VISUAL

Touch Pat on the back ApprovalGentle touch on an arm Support and concern

TACTILE

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Components Examples Meanings Communicated

How things are said Loudness, pitch, rate Different meanings, e.g.Vocal intonations Rhythm, pitch, clarity Sarcasm, disapproval

VOCAL

SPACIAL

Body closeness 0 – 2 feet Feelings of intimacyFurniture arrangement Large pieces far apart Formal and serious

Presentation Skills while appearing for an interview.

Your Dressing sense (Males & Females),

Documents needed to be carried,

Your body language (while standing, while sitting, while walking),

Your attitude (Soberness, Soft words, avoid western accent),

Your Confidence (while talking, body movements, aggression, etc).

EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION SKILLS