COMMUNICATION:

Strategies and skills*Issues- Effective

Communication for Leaders

GROUP MEMBERS :•Fatin

•Hamizah•Amira

HOW PEOPLE COMMUNICATE??

How people communicate?From the beginning of human history,

information travelled only as fast as a ship could sail. Or a horse could run. Or a person could walk.

People experimented with other ways to send messages.  Some people tried using birds to carry messages.  Then they discovered it was not always a safe way to send or receive information.

A faster method finally arrived with the invention of the telegraph.

- developed in Britain and the United States in the eighteen thirties.

On November second, nineteen twenty, radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania broadcast the first radio program.  That broadcast gave the results of a presidential election.

Within a few short years, news and information could be heard anywhere a radio broadcast could reach

After World War Two, a new invention appeared -- television.  In industrial nations, television quickly became common in most homes.  Large companies were formed to produce television programs. 

These companies were called networks.  Networks include many television stations linked together that could broadcast the same program at the same time.

The other event happened on September twenty-fifth, nineteen fifty-six.  That was when the first telephone cable under the Atlantic Ocean made it possible to make direct telephone calls from the United States to Europe.

Less than six years later, in July, nineteen sixty-two, the first communications satellite was placed in orbit around the Earth.

STRATEGIES AND SKILLS

Basic Communication Skills

1. Body Language

Have you ever had a conversation with someone who couldn't speak your language? It is possible!

Body language can account for 55% of how we communicate. So if you have something important or sensitive to say, meet the other person face to face if possible. You can check their body language, to see how they are reacting to your message.

You also need to be conscious of your own body language, as Perception is Greater Than Reality.

You may be slumped in a chair because you are tired after a long day. The other person might pick that up as a lack of interest in what they have to say.

Eye contact, facial expressions, posture, gestures, dress etc. will have an impact on how your message is received

Tone of Voice

Your tone of voice accounts for 37% of how you communicate in a typical work environment. Focus on the following four aspects to improve this important basic communication skill:

Pitch. A lower pitch can sound more authoritative and knowledgeable; many politicians and people in the public arena actively work to lower their voice pitch.

Volume. If you are naturally quiet spoken, you may benefit from raising the volume. A quiet voice can be mistaken for a lack of confidence and timidity in certain situations. Similarly, if you normally speak at a high volume, reducing it may make you sound less aggressive to some people.

If you find yourself in conversation with someone who is shouting, raise your voice to match theirs and gradually reduce it - they will follow.

Inflection. Put emphasis on certain words when you speak, to convey passion, enthusiasm and add meaning to what you are saying.

Pace. Take care that you pace what you are saying to allow the message to sink in. Avoid racing through the message or speaking so slowly that the other person loses interest.

Words

Although in a complex communication setting, words may only account for 8% of how you get your message across, you can still make a better impact with the words you use. Here are some tips:

Speak in metaphors. Connect better with others by helping them to visualise what you are saying. For example, instead of:

"The task is going to be difficult, but it will be worth it when it's done." say:

"We have a difficult mountain to climb but the view from the top will be great!"

Write using short, simple sentences (less than 20 words)to help understanding.

Ask questions that are positive and specific. Your brain is like a Google Search Box; the better the questions, the better the response. 

Empathy

what is empathy? This is a basic communication skill which involves putting yourself in another person's shoes. You recognise the feelings and the situation that the other person finds themselves in. It doesn't mean that you agree with them, it means that you understand where they are coming from.

Empathy involves being trustworthy, confidential and non-judgemental. You can develop empathy with someone if you share common values and experiences

Active Listening

This involves reflecting back the feelings and the situation that you believe the other person is experiencing, to check that you have understood them correctly.

It is a basic communication skill that can be developed with practice, and is very useful in an emotionally charged situation.

It allows the other person to vent, and as you are not adding your point of view at this stage, you avoid the danger of "saying the wrong thing" and making the other person even more upset.

Learn How To Read Body Language

View the whole picture, not just one aspect of body language, if you want to read it accurately.

Be aware of the body language signals that you send to others. For example, you might be standing with your arms folded across your chest just because it feels comfortable. The person you are talking to might think you are angry with them!

Defensive Body LanguageIf you want to know how to read

body language when you are talking to someone, be aware of all the signals they are sending. If they have their arms folded AND this is coupled with: a head that is pointing slightly downwards, a tight-lipped mouth and their body not turned to face you, be worried!

Mixed SignalsArms or legs crossed can also be a sign

of nervousness. The man in the sketch on the left is sending mixed signals; crossed arms indicating that he is nervous, masked by a smiling face intended to show confidence.

The man in the sketch on the right is in the open, competitive position (hands behind head) but at the same time is keeping his legs crossed, indicating that he might be on the defence.

How To Communicate With People:

Seven Keys To Effective Communication

Listening Skills

Being a leader means more than just talking to people and telling them what to do. Effective leaders know how to communicate and they understand the importance of listening skills.

Listening is an extremely important form of communication. Develop your active listening skills by paraphrasing what others are saying and then repeating it back to them. This shows the speaker that you are hearing them and understanding what they are saying. Give the speaker a chance to be heard without interruption.

Understanding Barriers

Leaders understand the barriers that can block effective communication, including stress that the speaker is experiencing, our perception of what is being said, the environment itself and also the culture that we are in.

Taking time to discern whether there is a barrier to proper communication is important. Leaders realize that this skill is necessary. Practice pausing in conversations to see if any barriers are inhibiting the flow of communication.

Body Language

In meetings, leaders sit erect and maintain good posture. They rarely slump or slouch and they are often in command simply by the way they carry themselves. Maintain eye contact with other people. If standing, make sure you are aware of how you may be perceived by others. Keep your arms at your sides instead of crossing them over your chest.

This implies defensiveness. Shoving your hands into your pockets implies you have something to hide. Stand in a relaxed position and maintain the proper space perimeter between you and another person when having a conversation

Ask Questions

Leaders know the importance of asking the right questions. Asking questions helps leaders to determine the motives of others in a conversation. In order to lead an effective conversation, you may have to ask many questions to get to the root of problems.

Leaders also ask questions of themselves before communicating. Ask yourself what your objective for the conversation is before you embark on a conversation or communicate electronically

Build Trust

It's difficult to lead others if they don't trust you. Do not betray the trust of another person when they have communicated with you. If someone tells you something in confidence, keep it confidential. Don't engage in gossip or discussions of other people behind their backs.

THE END

REFERENCEShttp://www.voanews.com/learningen

glish/home/a-23-2008-06-10-voa1-83138457.html

http://www.practical-management-skills.com/basic-communication-skills.html

http://www.practical-management-skills.com/how-to-read-body-language.html

http://www.ehow.com/about_5339998_effective-communication-skills-leaders.html