Communication Notes

Effective Communication

Session 1: How Does Communication Work?

What is Communication?
  • Communication involves transferring information from one person to another, with or without eliciting confidence, as defined by G.G. Brown.
  • Fred G. Meyer defines communication as "the intercourse by words, letters, or messages."
Definition of Communication
  • Communication is the act of conveying information to create a shared understanding.
  • The term "communication" originates from the Latin word "communis," meaning "to share."
  • It encompasses verbal, non-verbal, and electronic means of human interaction.
  • The components of communication:
    • 55% Body language
    • 7% The actual words we use
    • 38% The tone of our voice
Types of Communication
Formal Communication
  • Follows specific rules, conventions, and principles.
  • Occurs in a formal and official style.
Informal Communication
  • Casual and uses channels that contrast with formal communication channels.
Verbal Communication
  • Message is transmitted verbally through spoken or written words.
  • Communication is achieved by word of mouth or written text.
Non-verbal Communication
  • Involves sending or receiving wordless messages.
  • Communication occurs through gestures, body language, posture, tone of voice, or facial expressions, excluding oral and written communication.
Verbal Communication Details
Oral Communication
  • Spoken words are used.
  • Includes face-to-face conversations, speeches, telephonic conversations, video, radio, television, and voice over internet.
  • Influenced by pitch, volume, speed, and clarity of speaking.
Written Communication
  • Written signs or symbols are used.
  • A written message can be printed or handwritten and transmitted via email, letter, report, memo, etc.
  • Influenced by vocabulary, grammar, writing style, precision, and clarity of the language used.
Non-Verbal Communication Details
1. Appearance
  • Speaker: clothing, hairstyle, neatness, use of cosmetics
  • Surrounding: room size, lighting, decorations, furnishings
2. Body Language
  • Facial expressions, gestures, postures
3. Sounds
  • Voice tone, volume, speech rate
4. Aesthetic Communication
  • Creative expressions such as dancing, painting, and the like
5. Space Language
  • Paintings and landscapes communicate social status and taste
6. Symbols
  • Religious, status, or ego-building symbols
7. Paralanguage
  • The way something is said, rather than what is actually said
Levels of Communication
  • Society
  • Organisation
  • Intergroup
  • Intragroup
  • Interpersonal
  • Intrapersonal
Levels of Communication Explained
Intrapersonal
  • Thinking
  • Internal monologue
  • Talking to yourself under certain stressful situations to make a decision
Intragroup
  • Group calls
  • Zoom meetings with friends
  • Lectures
  • Raising hands
Organisation
  • Meetings
  • Annual reports
  • Training modules
  • Discussion of marketing strategies
  • Press releases
  • Newsletters
  • Social media posts
Interpersonal
  • Phone calls
  • Texting
  • Chatting
Intergroup
  • Emails
  • Memos
  • Phone calls
  • Negotiations
Society
  • Social media posts
  • Political rallies
  • Debates
  • Newspapers
  • Active listening
  • Team building events
  • Messaging
Process of Communication

101101

  • Sender
  • Encode
  • Channel
  • Decode
  • Receiver
  • Feedback