The Basics of The Basics of Effective Effective

Interpersonal Interpersonal CommunicationCommunication

What is Communication?What is Communication?

What do you think communication What do you think communication is? How would you define it?is? How would you define it?

Communication Communication

Communication is defined as the Communication is defined as the interchange of thoughts or opinions through interchange of thoughts or opinions through shared symbolsshared symbols; e.g. language, words, ; e.g. language, words, phrasesphrases

Every communicative act is based on Every communicative act is based on something that conveys meaning, and that something that conveys meaning, and that conveyance is the message. conveyance is the message.

The message may be either verbal or The message may be either verbal or nonverbal.nonverbal.

Four Facets of Four Facets of CommunicationCommunication

Three are four facets in all types of Three are four facets in all types of communication:communication: SenderSender ReceiverReceiver InformationInformation BehaviorBehavior

Four Facets of Four Facets of CommunicationCommunication

In any communication:In any communication: The The SenderSender is the person trying to is the person trying to

communicate a messagecommunicate a message The The ReceiverReceiver is the person at whom is the person at whom

the message is directedthe message is directed A message is sent to convey A message is sent to convey

informationinformation Information is meant to change Information is meant to change

behaviorbehavior

Nonverbal Nonverbal CommunicationCommunication

Facial expressionsFacial expressions Body languageBody language Eye contactEye contact Dress and physical appearanceDress and physical appearance Gestures Gestures

When our words send one message and our nonverbal cues When our words send one message and our nonverbal cues send another message, people almost always believe our send another message, people almost always believe our

nonverbal cuesnonverbal cues..

Six Basic Emotions that Six Basic Emotions that most people express & most people express &

recognizerecognize

Sadness

AngerFearSurprise

DisgustHappiness

Using Acronyms to Using Acronyms to CommunicateCommunicate

An acronym is a word made up of the An acronym is a word made up of the first letters of each word in a phrase.first letters of each word in a phrase.

Most acronyms are written in all Most acronyms are written in all capital letters.capital letters.

When communicating, acronyms that When communicating, acronyms that are technical in nature and not are technical in nature and not understood by the general population understood by the general population should be defined or should be should be defined or should be avoided to prevent confusion.avoided to prevent confusion.

Using Technical JargonUsing Technical Jargon

Technical jargon is a specialized Technical jargon is a specialized language of a particular occupation. language of a particular occupation.

It should be avoided when speaking It should be avoided when speaking to someone outside that occupation to someone outside that occupation otherwise confusion may arise.otherwise confusion may arise.

Why We Communicate Why We Communicate

• We communicate to:We communicate to:• Share our ideas and opinionsShare our ideas and opinions• Provide feedback to othersProvide feedback to others• Get information from othersGet information from others• Gain power and influenceGain power and influence• Develop social relationshipsDevelop social relationships• Give instructionsGive instructions

Giving Instructions for Giving Instructions for Technical SupportTechnical Support

When giving instructions for When giving instructions for technical support you should:technical support you should: Include-Include-

IntroductionIntroduction DefinitionsDefinitions Necessary PreparationsNecessary Preparations Warnings or PrecautionsWarnings or Precautions StepsSteps Thank you and ClosingThank you and Closing

How We CommunicateHow We Communicate

We communicate and build We communicate and build interpersonal relationships through:interpersonal relationships through: Speech Speech WritingWriting ListeningListening Non-verbal languageNon-verbal language Music, art, and craftsMusic, art, and crafts

Sources of Sources of CommunicationCommunication

Our communication comes from Our communication comes from thethefollowing three sources:following three sources:

Words = 7%Words = 7% Tones = 36%Tones = 36% Gestures = 55%Gestures = 55%

Choosing Your MediumChoosing Your Medium

Depending upon the situation, one Depending upon the situation, one method of communication may be method of communication may be better than another. better than another. In person: one-to-oneIn person: one-to-one In person: meetings, small groupsIn person: meetings, small groups In person: presentations, large groupsIn person: presentations, large groups LetterLetter MemoMemo NoteNote EmailEmail Voice mailVoice mail

Choosing Your MediumChoosing Your Medium

To determine the best medium for To determine the best medium for your message determine:your message determine: What you as the What you as the sendersender need to achieve need to achieve What the What the receiverreceiver needs to know. What needs to know. What

the the receiverreceiver wants to know wants to know How detailed, important, and or personal How detailed, important, and or personal

the the iinformationnformation in the message is in the message is Which Which behaviorbehavior you want to influence you want to influence

and howand how

We Communicate to…We Communicate to…

State an opinion or positionState an opinion or position Give instructions or directions Give instructions or directions Announce a changeAnnounce a change Make presentationsMake presentations Participate in class discussionsParticipate in class discussions Give information in emergencies Give information in emergencies

Barriers to Barriers to CommunicationCommunication

Some common barriers to Some common barriers to interpersonal communication interpersonal communication include:include: Unclear process: Unclear process: The receiver and sender may The receiver and sender may

not share the same language, slang, jargon, not share the same language, slang, jargon, vocabulary, symbolsvocabulary, symbols

Personal limitations: Personal limitations: Physical and mental Physical and mental disabilities, and differences in intelligence and disabilities, and differences in intelligence and education may interfere with mutual understandingeducation may interfere with mutual understanding

Distractions:Distractions: Both External and Internal Both External and Internal

Obstacles to Obstacles to Communicating…Communicating…

Your own shynessYour own shyness Fear of rejectionFear of rejection Peer pressurePeer pressure Unorganized thinkingUnorganized thinking Others possibly becoming defensiveOthers possibly becoming defensive Physical disabilities Physical disabilities (impaired sight, hearing, (impaired sight, hearing,

speech)speech)

Having to deal with aggressive Having to deal with aggressive peoplepeople