50 Tips on Excellent Communication for Life

Presented By:

Tim Ervin, LCPC

Counseling for Solutions, LLC

Training TopicsWhy life gives you more with good communication skills The communication model and how it relates to youHow verbal and nonverbal cues affect a messageThe importance of making good first impressions

Training TopicsHow to break down noise factors and perception screens.How to assess and approach different social personality typesVAK (visual-auditory and kinesthetic) learning styles

Training TopicsCrucial facts about body language, eye contact and proxemicsColor psychologyThe three levels of listening skills and when to use each one of them

Training TopicsThe power of confrontation and how to get long term grudges off your shouldersUsing ‘I Messages’How to remember namesEnding your communication on a positive note

DefinitionCommunication occurs when the perceived behavior of one person causes a mental, spiritual, emotional, and/or physical reaction in another person. For communication to occur there has to be a sender and a receiver for the message.

Why Excellent Communication Skills Gives You a Better Quality of LifePeople interested in learning how to communicate effectively are more successful at full filling other peoples' needs as well as their own. They are capable to build a satisfying, high-nurturance and long term relationship with others.

Why Excellent Communication Skills Give you a better Quantity of LifeYou save massive time lost in frustrating debate and argument.You save more time by successfully cooperating and delegating to others. So you get more done in less time.

The Communication Model

The Communication ModelThis model has six main elements:

Sender Receiver

Message Channel

Feedback Noise

A. The “Sender”The person who initiates a communication. He is supposed to chose a particular communication form of what he wants to convey through “Encoding”. E.g. choosing a language for what he is saying, level of detail, whether it’s written or spoken, etc. The sender is the one responsible for making sure he is understood.

B. The “Receiver”The person/s who receive the message. He is responsible for deciphering or “decoding” the message. He is responsible for telling the sender if the message is not fully understood.

C. Channels of Communication

A medium through which a message is transmitted to its intended audience, such as print media or broadcast (electronic) media.

D. The MessageA message in its most general meaning is an object of communication. It is the information you want to convey. Messages depend on the context used to deliver them; this could be verbal, non verbal or body language.

Verbal MessagesVerbal Messages: is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning and language in context.

Verbal MessagesVerbal messages are divided into two subtypes:

1. Vocal: words that you say; these transmit 38% of your message.

2. Written: words that you write; these transmit 7% of your message.

3. Listening skills are crucial to understand a verbal message.

Nonverbal MessageIs expressed in eye movement, behavior, gaze, tone of voice, pitch, silent messages and body language in general etc.55% of your message is transmitted through body language.Observation and thinking skills are needed to understand a nonverbal message.

Diagram to Show the Connection between Skills for Sending and Receiving in Communication

Non Verbal55%

Vocal38%

Verbal7%

Influence of Communication by Type

E. Feedback

Once you’ve conveyed a message you have to get the “right” feedback from the receiver who should confirm understanding the message. Feedback could be in words, written or reaction in body language.

F. NoisePhysical noise

Physical noise is any external or environmental stimulus that distracts us from receiving the intended message sent by a communicator. Examples of physical noise include: others talking in the background, background music, a startling noise etc.

NoisePsychological noise

Psychological noise results from preconceived notions we bring to conversations, such as racial stereotypes, reputations, biases and assumptions. When we start a conversation with ideas about what the other person is going to say and why, we can easily become blinded to their original message.

NoisePsychological noise

Its almost impossible to free ourselves from psychological noise. Therefore we must simply strive to recognize that it exists and take those distractions into account when we converse with others.

NoiseSemantic noise

This is caused by the sender. i.e., the encoder. This type of noise occurs when grammar or technical language is used and where the receiver (the decoder) cannot understand, or cannot understand clearly.

Communication Blockers (Noise Factors):

• Noise• Distance• Hostility• Language • Culture• Evaluative tendency • Preconceived ideas• Improper decoding

• Personality and interest• Position and status• Assumptions about the sender• Lack of responsive feedback• Withholding information• Mixed messages• Stereotyping • Blocking or selective perception

Communication Blockers (Noise Factors):

“For those who have seen Earth from Space…the experience most certainly changes your perspective. The things that we share in our world are far more valuable than those which divide us.”

Donald E. WilliamsNASA Astronaut