9781422277867

Communication Skills

appropriate symbols or methods (e.g. sounds, gestures, etc.) to get the message across. • Message: the written or spoken communication. Barriers , referred to as noise , may interfere with the message being received properly. • Receiver: the person receiving the message. This person interprets the message, either as it was intended or not. • Feedback: the response or reaction to the message. Feedback might come verbally or nonverbally. Effective communication lies in combining the right symbols together (and reducing the noise) in order to get the intended message across. Numerous skills are needed for the communication process to happen without any problems. For instance, the sender must observe nonverbal cues in order to adapt the message to the receiver. The receiver, on the other hand, must actively listen to and analyze the content of the message to understand it. Think of the process of communication like a transaction between yourself and a sales clerk. You send the message that you want to buy a particular item. The sales clerk receives that message and offers feedback in the form of a price. You then continue the loop by providing money to pay that price. The sales clerk may again keep the loop going by giving you change from your payment and bidding you a good day. Note that some of these steps were verbal (the words you exchanged with the clerk) while others were nonverbal (handing over money), but all were necessary in order to complete the transaction. Why Is Communication Important? Humankind has gradually evolved from sending smoke signals to telegraphs, and all the way to accessing the Internet via wireless broadband (with many other methods in between!). Today, we are constantly logged on to a range of social networks and are able to communicate with nearly anyone in the world with the press of a button. Indeed, the evolution of communication has come a long way. Yet although the process required to exchange information has become easier and faster over time, the significance of communication has remained vital. Effective communicators are able to speak and write clearly, listen attentively, and read nonverbal signals. They are able to share a message and ensure that it is understood by those around them. These skills help teens interact with their

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