Communicating for LifeSCENARIO ACTIVITY

Three Basics of Communication◦1. Communication is a two-way process

◦2. Communication can be intentional or unintentional

◦3. Communication occurs even when the interpretation does not match the original intent.

Relays a MessageLanguage relays cultural, social, educational, and technical competence IMPORTANT: Choose words carefully when speaking as well as when sending messages electronically◦Spelling Errors◦Tone

To Communicate Effectively for Life1. Understand the importance of studying

communication2. Understand the communication process3. Understand types of communication4. Understand basic communication

principles

Choices & Consequences Get out a sheet of paper.Describe a situation where you said something and then had to convince someone that you didn’t really mean it. What were the consequences of your communication? We will share these scenarios.

Why is Communication Important?WE COMMUNICATE TO… INDEX CARD SURVEY – CRITICAL THINKING

On your index card, answer the following:

Why are you taking this class?

What is your career goal?

Why would a class in communication be so important that everyone in the school must take it in order to graduate?

Communication Process Activity 1 Communicators Messages A Channel Circumstances Feedback (sometimes) Noise

Communicators People involved in a verbal/nonverbal exchange. be aware that you are intentionally and unintentionally send and receive messages

Messages Communicators deliver both verbal and nonverbal messages

Encoding – communicator reviews all of the available symbols or actions that could represent the thought and selects the most appropriate ones

Decoding – thinking about the received symbols or actions, applying meaning to them, and making them into a usable thought for an appropriate response

ChannelMessages must go through a medium to get from one communicator to anotherDifferent channels = different sensory receptorsChannels – cell phones, computers, newspapers, radio, tv, books, notes, sound systems, social media, and face-to-face interactions

Channel – Critical Thinking Discussion

Describe a recent event where you chose the wrong channel to communicate an important message to someone else.

When have you used technical channels to communicate important issues because it is easier than saying something in person?

CircumstancesoRefer to the context of the situation and to the fundamental nature of the communicatoroCommunicator’s background, attitudes, beliefs, and values contribute to his or her fundamental natureoThe context in which communication occurs also contributes to the meaning of a message

Feedback The response one communicator gives to another Feedback can also be verbal or nonverbal

Noise Anything that interrupts communicators from encoding, sending, receiving, and/or decoding a message properly Three Types of Noise –

◦ 1. Physical: anything external; distracts and competes with our thought process

◦ 2. Personal: ongoing thoughts in our minds◦ 3. Semantic: Occurs when the person you are communicating with

speaks a different language, uses technical jargon, and/or resorts to emotionally charged words

Personal Noise Types1. Prejudice: occurs when we have a pre-conceived, often

negative, view of someone or something (bias). We must be aware of and choose to work towards eliminating these prejudices.

2. Closed-mindedness: occurs when we refuse to listen to another person’s point of view.

3. Self-centered: occurs when we focus more on ourselves than on the other person; also includes technology as a sub-category

Communication Process Activity 2

Types of Communication1. Intrapersonal communication – communication within

yourself2. Interpersonal communication – communicating with

another person3. Small Group Communication – communicating with 3-20

people who have a common goal4. Public Communication – communicating with a large

audience

Intra vs Inter - personalINTRAPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

When we mentally review or rehearse conversations/experiences

Meditation

Reflection

Strategizing

Self

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

When two people speak with one another

Helps create and maintain our relationships

Face-to-face vs. mass interpersonal communication (social networking)

Small Group CommunicationGroups share a sense of belonging and have common goals and beliefsGroups with task goals meet to solve a problem or to complete an assignmentTeams are a type of small group; work on tasks designed to accomplish a specific goal

Public CommunicationOccurs when a communicator informs, persuades, and/or entertains a group of people.Organized message & official audiencePrepare for their eventExamples: School assemblies, oral presentations, political speeches, sermons

Basic Communication Principles1. We cannot NOT communicate – everything we do is received and interpreted by someone, somewhere

2. Communication is irreversible – if you say or do something that upsets another person, you can’t change it. Intentional or unintentional

3. Communication is a continuing process – information we collect becomes part of our circumstances and affects our future communication

4. Communication involves ethical considerations

Adapting Freedom of speech exists, yes, but if you want to have relationships with people and to hold a successful job, you may need to learn to adapt to different situations Adaptability – the ability to choose the appropriate communication style for the situation and the participants