What is Communication?

1. What is Communication? The concept of communication would include all those processes by which people influence one another.

2. Four Basic Elements to Communication • A person to originate a thought or idea • The idea itself, as it is expressed • A medium or channel of expressing the idea • Someone to receive and interpret the idea If one component is taken away, communication does not take place

3. The Simplest Communication Model Sender A Message Receiver B

4. Complex Process Although the model is simple, the process is complex: • Sender A must have an idea to express • What & how depends on age, background, education, environment, etc. • Idea/emotion is put into words. • Decision on how idea/emotion is transmitted. • Receiver B hears, reads, sees what is transmitted which can be different than what Sender A intended.

5. Communication difficulties Communication is difficult because at each step in the process there is potential for error. Psychologist estimate that there is usually 40-60% loss of meaning in the transmission of messages.

6. Non Verbal Communication A large percentage of communication is derived from non verbal cues that a person gives. One’s vocal tone and body language can communicate something totally different forcing the receiver to choose between the verbal and nonverbal parts of a message.

7. What makes up non verbal communication? • Visual • Tactile • Vocal • Use of time, space, and image

8. The Visual Component Body language including facial expression, eye movement, posture, and gestures. The face is the biggest part. We all read people’s faces for ways to interpret what they say.

9. The Tactile Component Involves the use of touch to impart meaning. • Handshake • Pat on the back • A hug

10. The Vocal Component Meaning of words can be altered by changing the intonation of one’s voice. Think of how many ways one can say “no”.

11. Use of Time Use of time can communicate how we view our own status and power. • Think about a boss and worker agreeing on a meeting time.

12. Physical Space For most of us, standing very close to each other makes us uncomfortable. We tend to make our space with permanent walls or distance. Personal Zones are: • Personal 2 to 4 feet • Social 4 to 12 feet • Public well over 12 feet

13. Images We use things to communicate. Including • Expensive things • Neat or messy things • Photographs • Plants, etc

14. Five Roles of Non-Verbal Communication. • Repetition • Repeat verbal message • Contradiction • Contradict the message being conveyed • Substitution • Can substitute for a verbal message • Complementing • Adds or complements verbal message • Accenting • Accept or underline verbal message ex. pounding on a table can underline a message