Communication

Communication is the process of transferring information from one source to another. Communication is commonly defined as "the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs". Communication can be perceived as a two-way process in which there is an exchange and progression of thoughts, feelings or ideas towards a mutually accepted goal or direction.

Communication involves: A sender A receiver A message (information) A channel

Please make her stop !!!

How do we learn to communicate?

Communication is a learned skill. We learn basic communication skills by observing other people and modeling our behaviors based on what we see. We are taught some communication skills directly through education, and by practicing those skills

The main goals of communication

To inform you are providing information for use in decision making, but aren't necessarily advocating a course of action
To request for a specific action by the receiver To persuade to reinforce or change a receiver's belief about a topic and, possibly, act on the belief To build relationships some messages you send may have the simple goal of building good-will between you and the receiver

Types of communication
Dialogue or verbal communication Human face to face communication involves: - body language postures, gestures, and eye contact (50-55%) - the tone of voice (39-40%) - content or the words used in the communication process (7-10%) Nonverbal communication Visual communication

Other types of communication

Facilitated communication (for people with deficiencies) Graphic communication (using graphics, words and images, concepts and emotions ) Nonviolent Communication (used to communicate with greater compassion and clarity ) Science communication Technical communication (technical information )

1. Dialogue or verbal communication

A dialogue is a reciprocal conversation between two or more entities. The etymological origins of the word: in Greek (di,through) + (logos, word,speech) It involves: -Receiving: Listening, understanding, being inspired... -Sending: Speaking, persuading, inspiring...

10 rules of listening
Rule #1: Stop Talking! If you're talking or if you're thinking intently about what you want to say, you're not listening to what is being said. Rule #2: Create a Space Create a physical space. Focus on reacting and responding to the speaker. Create inside your mind a space between your thoughts. Quiet your mind and focus your attention on listening. Rule #3: Hold Your Judgments Before judging, allow for a thoughtful pause between reacting, a space in which to ask yourself, "Do I have the whole story?

Listen

 Rule #4: Don't Be a Label Reader People are unique. We tend to create labels like Liberal, Dead Head, Dummy, Wise Guy, and think we know what's inside, but they are not really all alike. Rule #5: Open Your Mind We tend to have certain ideas about reality and feel groundless when they're threatened. Groundless now and then isn't a bad thing. Without it we can't break new ground or find common ground; it's okay to be unsure. Rule #6: Focus When someone is speaking, focus. If you're paying attention, you'll likely be showing signs of focus such as making eye contact - without thinking about it at all.

Rule #7: Visualize Visualization is a technique that can enhance listening: a picture is worth a thousand words. One way to use visualization is to visualize what you are being told. But some people are more visual than others... Rule #8: Remember Names Listen when you're told about someone prior to introductions. Repeat the names when you are introduced. Make associations to remember names. Rule #9: Question Going into a listening situation with questions in your mind will help you remember and, often, put information into the framework of your existing knowledge. Listen to body language and be quick to clarify assumptions if you are unsure or are getting a negative message. Observe. Listen. Ask. Rule #10: Be Aware We must be aware of the speaker, aware of verbal and non-verbal cues, and aware of our own listening strengths and challenges.
Bonus Rule: Know When To Break the Rules

2. Nonverbal communication
is the process of communicating through sending and receiving wordless messages It uses: - gesture, body language or posture - facial expression and eye contact - object communication such as clothing, hairstyles or even architecture, or symbols and infographics written texts have nonverbal elements: handwriting style, spatial arrangement of words, or the use of emoticons .

 Nonverbals can also include: Shaking hands, posture, facial expressions, appearance, voice, tone, hairstyle, clothes, expression in your eyes, smile, how close you stand to others, how you listen, confidence, your breathing, the way you move, the way you stand, the way you touch people, color choice, silence.

Types of nonverbal communication

Paralanguage - The way we say words: - Rate-speed- When a speaker uses a faster rate they may be seen as more competent - Pitch- Highness or lowness of voice-Speakers seen more competent if they use a higher and more varied pitch of voice. - We associate low pitch voices with strength and maturity - We associate high pitches voices with tenseness, helplessness & nervousness. - Volume-How loudly we speak - Loud people are perceived as aggressive or overbearing - Soft stolen voices are perceived as timid or polite.

 Kinesics -Body Movements - Emblems-body movements that have direct translation to words:OK - Illustator-Accent, emphasize, or reinforce words: Fish was this big! - Regulators- Control the back and forth flow of speaking and listening. - Display of feelingsFeelings are shown through face and body motions - Adaptor-Way of adjusting to communication situation: Twist hair, tap pen

Occulesics -Eye behavior

- When people sit in a circle, they are more likely to talk to those across the room from them than those side to side - At a table, those with the most opportunity for eye contact is likely to become leader.
- When we take interest in something, our blinking rate decreases and our eyes begin to dilate, if we dislike something our pupil's contract. - Eye contact can indicate interest, attention, and involvement - you look in one direction when you try to remember vs when you try to invent an idea:

visually remembered right handed person auditorily invented auditorily remembered

visually invented

 Appearance/Artifacts - Attractive women have more dates, receive higher grades in college, - Men & women rated as attractive are perceived as being more kind, sensitive, strong, social and interesting.

Appearance All of the following are nonverbals regarding appearance ClothingUniformsOccupational dressLeisure clothesCostumesColors

 when people look at red for long periods of time, their blood pressure, respiration, their blood pressure, respiration, and heartbeat all speed up. Dark Blue made people calmer: Blood pressure, respiration, and heartbeat recede and they became calmer. Pink made men who were lifting weights weaker. Each color has a different symbolism. For example, if you like green, it means you like the adventure and people can depend on you. For more information, watch the colors in motion

 Colors isnt the only way you can communicateanother idea could be communicating using images . You know what they sayan image worth like a thousand words For example, what does the image in the right suggest you (the one in the middle)?...quite suggestive, isnt it? Some pictures may represent something peaceful, or sad, mysterious or even something that could bring a smile on your face

 Actually, this is how art was bornyou communicate a message, using a different mean. It could be a painting, a sculpture, a poem, music, or even photography. This is how artists communicateand this is how we involve our imagination and creativity...cause we must try and get the message beyond everything our senses can observe. And each one of us could get a different message (especially when were talking about abstract art)

Facial Expressions
You have 80 muscles in your face that can create more than 7,000 facial expressions.

There six main types of facial expressions found in all cultures Happiness - round eyes, smiles, raised cheeks Disgust - wrinkled nose, lowered eyelids and eyebrow, raised upper lip Fear - around eyes, open mouth Angry- lower eyebrow and stare intensely. Surprise-raised eyebrow, wide open eyes, open mouth Sadness- Area around mouth and eyes

Communication quotes
Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity. George S. Patton A powerful idea communicates some of its power to the man who contradicts it. Marcel Proust The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate. Joseph Priestley Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people. William Butler Yeats Knowledge can be communicated, but wisdom cannot. Hermann Hesse You can't not communicate. Everything you say or do or don't say and don't do sends a message to others. John Woods