Communica

tion Skills

Lec Uzma Ehsan

The art of communication is the

language of leadership.
James Humes

Lec Uzma Ehsan

Chapter # 1
INTRODUCTION TO
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
A Reader compiled by Department of
Humanities & Basic Sciences

Lec Uzma Ehsan

Introduction to
Communication Skills

Communication skills are those skills that

enable people to communicate effectively
with one another.
Communication skills include the ability to
speak in public, make presentations,
write
letters
and
reports,
chair
committees and meetings, and conduct
negotiations.
Lec Uzma Ehsan

Contd

The ability to communicate is the primary

factor that distinguishes human beings from
animals. And it is the ability to communicate
well that distinguishes one individual from
another.
Today, effective communication skills have
become a predominant factor even while
recruiting employees. While interviewing
candidates, most interviewers judge them
on the basis of the way they communicate.
Lec Uzma Ehsan

Communication Process

Lec Uzma Ehsan

Contd

Communication can best be summarized as

the transmission of a message from a sender
to a receiver in an understandable manner.
The communication process is made up of four
key components. Those components include
encoding,
medium
of
transmission,
decoding, and feedback. There are also two
other factors in the process, and those two
factors are present in the form of the sender
and the receiver. The communication process
begins with the sender and ends with the
receiver.
Lec Uzma Ehsan

Communication
Competence
Communication competence is the ability to

choose a communication behavior that is

both appropriate and effective for a given
situation.
The model most often used to describe
competence is the component model which
includes three components:
1.
2.
3.

knowledge
skill
motivation
Lec Uzma Ehsan

Contd

Knowledge simply means knowing what

behavior is best suited for a given situation.
Skill is having the ability to apply that
behavior in the given context.
Motivation is having the desire to
communicate in a competent manner.
Therefore, communication competence is the
degree to which a communicators goals are
achieved through effective and appropriate
interaction.
Lec Uzma Ehsan

Six Criteria for Assessing

Communication
Competence

Adaptability (flexibility)
Conversational Involvement
Conversational Management
Empathy
Effectiveness
Appropriateness
Lec Uzma Ehsan

Aspects of
Communication
Competence
Speakers
of a language have to

have
more than grammatical competence in
order to be able to communicate
effectively in a language; they also need to
know how language is used by members
of a speech community to accomplish
their purposes.
Lec Uzma Ehsan

Contd

Linguistic Aspects
(a) Phonology and orthography
(b) Grammar
(c) Vocabulary
(d) Discourse (textual)

Lec Uzma Ehsan

Contd

Pragmatic Aspects
(a) Functions
(b) Variations
(c) Interactional skills
(d) Cultural framework

Lec Uzma Ehsan

Barriers to Effective
Communication

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Encoding Barriers
Lack of Sensitivity to Receiver
Lack of Basic Communication Skills
Insufficient Knowledge of the Subject
Information Overload
Emotional Interference

Lec Uzma Ehsan

Contd

Transmitting Barriers
1.
2.
3.
4.

Physical Distractions
Conflicting Messages
Channel Barriers
Long Communication Chain

Lec Uzma Ehsan

Contd

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Decoding Barriers
Lack of Interest
Lack of Knowledge
Lack of Communication Skills
Emotional Distractions
Physical Distractions

Lec Uzma Ehsan

Contd

1.
2.

Responding Barriers
No Provision for Feedback
Inadequate Feedback

Lec Uzma Ehsan

Reflection

Lec Uzma Ehsan

Thanky
ou
Lec Uzma Ehsan