Fundamentals of Communication

Process of Using Messages to Exchange Meaning

Define Communication

Self Image Relationships Life Skills Civil Obligation Professional Success

Why Study Communication?

Intrapersonal Communication process individually Depends on perceptions

Interpersonal Exchange of information between 2 or more people Message being sent and message being received

Public Communication between equals Receive and send messages, ideas, and opinions

Mass Broadcast of information through an unanswerable voice to a large audience

Computer Mediated (CMC) Human communication that occurs through use of 2 or more electronic

devices

5 Types

http://study.com/academy/lesson/oral-communication-definition-types-advantages.html

Oral Communication

Similarities- Symbolic Rule guided Be intentional or unintentional Culture-bound (i.e. restricted in character/outlook by

belonging/referring to particular culture) Differences

Nonverbal is perceived as more believable Nonverbal can be multi-channeled (i.e. through multiple

channels both direct and indirect) Nonverbal is continuous

Nonverbal vs. Verbal

(P)ostures & Gestures How do you use hand gestures? Stance?

(E)ye Contact How’s your “Lighthouse?”

(O)rientation How do you position yourself?

(P)resentation How do you deliver your message?

(L)ooks Are your looks, appearance, dress important?

(E)xpressions of Emotion Are you using facial expressions to express emotion?

P.E.O.P.L.E

Hearing Definition

Listening 53% of communication is devoted to listening Have to compete with 32% of listening to mass

media vs. 21% face-to-face listening Barriers

Noise Perception of Others Yourself

Listening

Active Empathetic

paying attention to another person with empathy [emotional identification, compassion, feeling, insight]. One basic principle is to "seek to understand, before being understood

Critical Goal is to evaluate or scrutinize what is being said Involves problem solving/decision making

Enjoyment Simply for fun/entertainment

Types of Listening

Noise- Physical

External or environmental sounds that distract from receiving or delivering message

Examples: Others talking in background, background music, etc. Mental

Inner conversation/monologue Factual

Objective retelling of information/event by someone not personally involved Semantic

Several different meanings One can be someone speaking in different language that you do not understand.

Different dialect Use of words that mean one thing normally, but have different meaning based on

context. Example use of ‘bad’ for cool

Breaking Down the Barriers

Status Stereotypes Sights and Sounds

Breaking Down Perceptions

Egocentrism the natural restriction on our perception caused by the simple fact that we can only

see the world from our perspective “Put yourself in his/her shoes”

Defensiveness Fight – yelling, arguing and aggressive behavior Flight – running away physically or emotionally Freeze – looks like a deer in the headlights Faint – person actually falls asleep or starts to

Experiential superiority “I know more than you due to experience”

Personal Bias Obstacle in making decisions Introducing external facts/concepts that do not have to do with the decision

Pseudolistening To pretend to be listening

Yourself

Listen and think critically Use verbal communication effectively Use nonverbal communication effectively Based on what you have learned so far, how

would you use verbal and nonverbal effectively?

How to Be a Better Listener

Workplace Be Self-Aware Monitor your nonverbal behaviors (example:

have arms crossed across body=cutting off) Minimize interruptions Ask nonaggressive questions (Not saying

“You’re wrong” Summarize what the other says to assure you

understand

Listening in Workplace Vs. Classroom

Use lecture Listening Find areas of interest Remain open Work at listening Avoid distractions Listen for and note main ideas

Take Effective notes Listen for lecture cues

Classroom Listening

Culture Perceptions Barriers

Influences on Communication

Become a critical consumer of media information

Develop information literacy Recognize when you need information Know where to find the information you need

Check your perceptions of electronic messages

Media

Recognize the sources of your own conversational style habits

Monitor your communication Apply general ethical principles to your

responses Adapt to others

Ethical Listener