Communication

COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?

By C Spain.By C Spain.

Aims and objectives of the Aims and objectives of the session.session.

– Aim is to understand the mechanics behind Aim is to understand the mechanics behind the process of effective communicationthe process of effective communication

– Objectives are—Objectives are—– 1 Understand different ways to 1 Understand different ways to

communicate.communicate.– 2 Understand the barriors to effective 2 Understand the barriors to effective

communication.communication.– 3 Look at what is meant by the term “active 3 Look at what is meant by the term “active

listening”listening”

CommunicationCommunication

• Communication is the way in which Communication is the way in which we stay connected to our world. It we stay connected to our world. It puts us in touch with others, allows puts us in touch with others, allows us to express ideas and feelings, give us to express ideas and feelings, give direction and exert control over our direction and exert control over our environment.environment.

Communication.Communication.

• Communication is the way we convey Communication is the way we convey information to one another.information to one another.

• How many different ways can you think that How many different ways can you think that we can communicate?we can communicate?

• Communication can be split into two Communication can be split into two different forms.different forms.

• Verbal and none verbal.Verbal and none verbal.

• It’s not just what you say but how you say It’s not just what you say but how you say it.it.

Verbal communicationVerbal communication

• LanguageLanguage

• SpeechSpeech

• ToneTone

• speedspeed

None verbalNone verbal

• GesturesGestures

• Body languageBody language

• ElectronicElectronic

• WrittenWritten

Other means of Other means of communicationcommunication

• ComputersComputers

• LettersLetters

• Morse codeMorse code

• Flashing lightsFlashing lights

Communication.Communication.

• 80 per cent of our communication is 80 per cent of our communication is derived from none verbal meansderived from none verbal means

• If we verbally say some thing but our If we verbally say some thing but our body language says some thing else. body language says some thing else. We are more prone to believe the We are more prone to believe the body language than the actual words body language than the actual words that are spoken.that are spoken.


• Communication requires two things.Communication requires two things.

• A receiver.A receiver.

• And a transmitter.And a transmitter.


• The receiver has to be able to understand The receiver has to be able to understand what the transmitter is trying to convey to what the transmitter is trying to convey to them. them.


• Think about problems that can exist Think about problems that can exist between the transmitter and the between the transmitter and the receiver which could cause problems receiver which could cause problems with communication.with communication.

• In pairs write down what barriers to In pairs write down what barriers to good effective communication you an good effective communication you an think of.think of.

Barriers to communication.Barriers to communication.

• Language/Dialect.Language/Dialect.• AgeAge• UnderstandingUnderstanding• Mental capacityMental capacity• Hearing skillsHearing skills• Speaking skillsSpeaking skills• NoiseNoise• FeelingsFeelings• Listening skillsListening skills• And many more.And many more.




• Look at how you communicate?Look at how you communicate?



• We may some times have to We may some times have to communicate in a different way in communicate in a different way in order to make ourselves understood order to make ourselves understood by othersby others

• for example when we go abroad.for example when we go abroad.



• Exercise on communication. Looking at Exercise on communication. Looking at “different methods of communication.”“different methods of communication.”

• Exercise on communication problems Exercise on communication problems and identify ways to help towards and identify ways to help towards better understanding?better understanding?

Examples of communication Examples of communication failingsfailings

• The mother brought her child in for The mother brought her child in for immunisation. The vaccine was left in immunisation. The vaccine was left in the sun and was deactivated. The the sun and was deactivated. The child caught measles.child caught measles.

• The smoking adverts were placed in The smoking adverts were placed in the Guardian and the Independent the Guardian and the Independent newspapers and were not seen by newspapers and were not seen by the working class population.the working class population.

Bad communicationBad communication

• The parents of the most vulnerable The parents of the most vulnerable children did not regularly attend the children did not regularly attend the child health clinics and therefore child health clinics and therefore missed the talks on child care and missed the talks on child care and immunization.immunization.

• The lecture given by the nurse at the The lecture given by the nurse at the clinic was boring and most of the clinic was boring and most of the audience didn’t bother to listen.audience didn’t bother to listen.

Bad communication.Bad communication.

• The T.V. campaign on smoking The T.V. campaign on smoking mainly consisted on facts and figures mainly consisted on facts and figures about the dangers of smoking and no about the dangers of smoking and no body bothered to watch them.body bothered to watch them.

• The explanation given by the nurse The explanation given by the nurse about the importance of nutrition about the importance of nutrition used technical language which the used technical language which the mothers could not follow.mothers could not follow.

Bad communication.Bad communication.

• The T.V. campaign about teenage The T.V. campaign about teenage drinking was broadcast late at night drinking was broadcast late at night when the young people were not when the young people were not watching.watching.

• The language used in the leaflet used The language used in the leaflet used long words and complicated long words and complicated sentence structures and people sentence structures and people found it difficult to read.found it difficult to read.



• Part three. ListeningPart three. Listening

LISTENING THE OTHER SIDE LISTENING THE OTHER SIDE OF COMMUNICATION.OF COMMUNICATION.

• You probably spend more time using You probably spend more time using your listening skills than any other kind your listening skills than any other kind of skill. like other skills, listening takes of skill. like other skills, listening takes practice.practice.

• But what does it really mean to listen?But what does it really mean to listen?

• Real listening is an active process that Real listening is an active process that has three basic steps.has three basic steps.

1….Hearing.1….Hearing.

• Hearing just means listening enough Hearing just means listening enough to catch what the speaker is saying. to catch what the speaker is saying.

• For example, say you were listening For example, say you were listening to a report on Zebras, and the to a report on Zebras, and the speaker mentioned that no two speaker mentioned that no two Zebras are alike. If you can repeat Zebras are alike. If you can repeat the fact, then you have heard what the fact, then you have heard what has been said.has been said.

2…..Understanding.2…..Understanding.

• The next part of listening happens when The next part of listening happens when you take what you have heard and you take what you have heard and understand it in your own way. understand it in your own way.

• Lets go back to the report on Zebras.Lets go back to the report on Zebras.

• When you hear that no two Zebras are When you hear that no two Zebras are alike. Think about what that might mean. alike. Think about what that might mean. You might think, “maybe this means that You might think, “maybe this means that the pattern of stripes is different for each the pattern of stripes is different for each Zebra.”Zebra.”

3…..Judging3…..Judging

• After you are sure that you understand After you are sure that you understand what the speaker has said. Think what the speaker has said. Think about whether it makes sense. Do you about whether it makes sense. Do you believe what you have heard?believe what you have heard?

• You might think. “How could the You might think. “How could the stripes be different for each Zebra? stripes be different for each Zebra? But then again, the fingerprints are But then again, the fingerprints are different for every person. I think this different for every person. I think this seems believable.seems believable.

Tips to be a good active Tips to be a good active listener.listener.

• Give your full attention to the person who is Give your full attention to the person who is speaking, don’t look out of the window or at speaking, don’t look out of the window or at what else is going on in the room.what else is going on in the room.

• Make sure your mind is focused too. It can be Make sure your mind is focused too. It can be easy to let your mind wander if you think you easy to let your mind wander if you think you know what the person is going to say next, but know what the person is going to say next, but you might be wrong! If you feel your mind you might be wrong! If you feel your mind wandering, change the position of your body wandering, change the position of your body and try to concentrate on the speakers words.and try to concentrate on the speakers words.


• Let the speaker finish before you begin to Let the speaker finish before you begin to talk. Speakers appreciate having the chance talk. Speakers appreciate having the chance to say everything they would like to say to say everything they would like to say without being interrupted. When you without being interrupted. When you interrupt, it looks like you aren't listening, interrupt, it looks like you aren't listening, even if you really are.even if you really are.

• Let yourself finish listening before you begin Let yourself finish listening before you begin to speak! You cant really listen if you are to speak! You cant really listen if you are busy thinking about what you want to say busy thinking about what you want to say next.next.


• Listen for main ideas. The main ideas Listen for main ideas. The main ideas are the most important points that the are the most important points that the speaker wants to get across. They may speaker wants to get across. They may be mentioned at the start or the end of be mentioned at the start or the end of a talk, and repeated a number of times. a talk, and repeated a number of times. Pay special attention to statements Pay special attention to statements that begin with phrases such as, “My that begin with phrases such as, “My point is….” or “The thing to point is….” or “The thing to remember is.”remember is.”


• Ask questions. If you are not sure that you Ask questions. If you are not sure that you understand what the speaker has said, just understand what the speaker has said, just ask. It is a good idea to repeat in your own ask. It is a good idea to repeat in your own words what the speaker has said so that words what the speaker has said so that you can be sure that your understanding is you can be sure that your understanding is correct. For example, you correct. For example, you might say, “When you said that no two might say, “When you said that no two Zebras are alike, did you mean that the Zebras are alike, did you mean that the stripes are different on each one.stripes are different on each one.


• Give feedback. Sit up straight and look Give feedback. Sit up straight and look directly at the speaker. Now and then, directly at the speaker. Now and then, nod to show that you understand. At nod to show that you understand. At appropriate points you may also smile, appropriate points you may also smile, frown, laugh or be silent. frown, laugh or be silent. These are all ways to let the speaker These are all ways to let the speaker know that you are really listening. know that you are really listening. Remember, you listen with Remember, you listen with your face as well as your ears.your face as well as your ears.

ACTIVE LISTENING SKILLS.ACTIVE LISTENING SKILLS.

• Be an active listenerBe an active listener

• People speak at 100 to 175 words per People speak at 100 to 175 words per minute, but they can listen intelligently minute, but they can listen intelligently for up to 300 words per minutefor up to 300 words per minute

• Since only a part of our mind is paying Since only a part of our mind is paying attention, it is easy to go into “mind attention, it is easy to go into “mind drift”. drift”.

Active listening skills.Active listening skills.

• Use none verbal behaviours to raise Use none verbal behaviours to raise the channel of interpersonal the channel of interpersonal communication.communication.

• None verbal communication is facial None verbal communication is facial expressions like smiles, gestures, expressions like smiles, gestures, eye contact and even your posture.eye contact and even your posture.

• This shows the person that you are This shows the person that you are communicating with that you are communicating with that you are indeed listening actively.indeed listening actively.

Active listening skills.Active listening skills.

• Give feedback.Give feedback.• Remember that what some one says Remember that what some one says

and what we hear can be very and what we hear can be very different! Our personal filters, different! Our personal filters, assumptions, judgments and beliefs assumptions, judgments and beliefs can distort what we hear.can distort what we hear.

• Repeat back or summarize to help Repeat back or summarize to help ensure your understanding of what is ensure your understanding of what is being relayed.being relayed.

Communication

Health & Medicine

good active

active listening

main ideas

bad communication

give feedback

body language

listening

mind