Communication

CommunicationThe process of the exchange of information between a sender and a receiver through a medium (channel) which results in shared feedback.

Channels of CommunicationFORMAL CHANNELS

Downward CommunicationUpward Communication

INFORMAL CHANNELS

Horizontal CommunicationManagement by Walking AroundGrapevine

Communication ManagementConceptual Skill--Ability to solve problems and demonstrate decision-making skillsTechnical Skill--Ability to demonstrate knowledge through tactile techniquesHuman Skill--Ability to interact with people

Corporate Culture MythsMyth One: Corporate Culture is a homogeneous organizational characteristicMyth Two: All members of the organization share the same values, beliefs, and traditionsMyth Three: The leaders of the organization have the ability to shape the corporate cultureMyth Four: All organizations should strive for one culture

Culture vs. ClimateCulture is defined as the values and beliefs shared by the members of a society; a set of shared assumptions and understandings about organizational functionings (the why do things happen the way they do)Climate refers to the ways organizations operationalize the themes that pervade everyday behavior--the routines of organizations and the behaviors that get rewarded, supported, and expected by organizations (the what happens around here)

Communication NetworksChain Network--Traditional organizational structure (Layered)Wheel Network--Very centralized, autocraticCircle Network--Participative organizationStar Network--Laissez-faire free rein organization

EthicsGuidelines which help to identify what is right and what is wrong behavior.Acting responsibly for the common goodTelling the truthAvoiding misleading othersSharing vital information

Five Steps in the Communication ProcessThe sender has an idea (encoding)The message is planned, organized, and sentThe message (type) is sent through a channel (medium)The receiver reacts to the message (decoding)Effective communication results in shared feedback

Communication SignalsSign language: All symbolsAction Language: Kinesics, gesturesObject Language: Intentional and unintentional displays

The meaning may be construed in many ways by the sender and receiver.

Ex: the sign of victory, the ok sign, the words sorry, torch, buns, the biggest rock.

Words, Words, WordsIdioms: Pet expressions, jargonEuphemismsOffensive, sexist languageBiased languageStereotyped languageIlliterate languageFormal languageColloquial languageEse, Ize languageRedundant languageCliche

The written messageWriting styleFormatMessage (Purpose--Why)Audience (Who)Content (What)Timeliness (When)Medium (How)Tone

A Brave New World of WordsTwenty-five percent of words added to the dictionary in 1998 were computer -generatedA normal adult uses 20,000 words regularlyThe English language contains a million words--give or take. The ten most looked up words on Webster web site were (in order): paradigm, love, thesaurus, ubiquitous, HTML, effect, gry, affect, home, dog

Sample of 100 Words Added in 1998Action figureday jobadrenalizedeuroapoptosisF/Xbloviategazillionbottom-feedernewbiebuffalo wingramencellaphone noodletrash talkchat roomyuppie flucomfort foodnetiquette

And the infamous word in 1998Is--The Starr Report: salaciousCensure was the most looked up word on 12/10/98

And if you were afraid to ask:Gry is a measure equal to one-tenth of a line.Only two words in the English language end in gry--hungry and angryAnd to be honest, the word gry is outdated/obsolete and no longer used by ordinary people!

And more on words...The word with the most definitions is setThe 50 most frequently used words in English account for 45 percent of the total volume of words used.In a recent study conducted OC Register (12/22/98) college students were asked the meaning of a few words added to Websters dictionary such as:

The Words.RamenBloviateFriseeGopikKroonMemeStotin

Lets see how you fared!Bloviate:to speak or write verbosely or windilyFrisee:curly chicory leaves, used in a salad, also called frisee lettuceGopik:a kind of money, from Russia and AzerbaijanKroon:a kind of money, Estonia

Meme:an idea or behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a cultureStotin:A money, from Slovenia

And Today our Language is...Less Formal and EloquentMore Comprehensible and Concise

A communication revolution has taken place in the last 100 years.Language is more technical and specialized; therefore, the English common core language has increased from 65,000 words to over 160,000 words

The Cs of WritingCompleteness--Providing all the info needed to promote effective communicationConciseness--Providing all the info in a clear, brief mannerCourteousness--The tone of the message (empathy with the reader)Clarity--Delivering the message in the manner intended. Considerately--Using language the reader will understandCorrectness--The facts, spelling, grammar, and essential details add to the senders credibility.

The two-fold processBuild or create goodwillGet the desired response

Stereotyping vs. EthnocentrismStereotyping: Classifying a particular group of people in a like mannerEthnocentrism: The belief that ones culture is superior to other cultures

The rule of 12People are judged when they are 12 feet away based on overall appearancePeople are judged when they are 12 inches away based on body grooming and scentPeople are judged by the first 12 words they speak

Nonverbal Communication

Eye contactProxemicsGreetingsColors and dressStatus Gender DifferencesTime attitudesDecision-makingFood and eating habitsGrooming

Written/oral DifferencesBusiness correspondenceAdvertisingRegional accentsWord usage