Communication Skills
Unit 1
Communication Skills
Introduction to Communication
Communication is the ‘sharing’ of information between two or
more individuals. The word ‘communication’ comes from the
Latin word ‘commūnicāre’, meaning ‘to share’.
Importance of Communication
The ability to communicate clearly and share thoughts, feelings
and ideas will help you:
To keep good relations with other people.
To inform – the time of meeting, time of exams, train timings
etc
To Influence – negotiating with a shopkeeper etc.
To Express feelings – happiness in your successes etc.
to communicate well with people around the world, if we
know more than one language.
• Elements of Communication
• Communication is a two-way process of sharing information – giving and receiving.
Speaking and writing to someone are examples of giving information.
Reading and listening to someone are examples of receiving information.
•
• Perspectives in Communication
• Perspectives are ideas, views, or fixed ways of thinking. These sometimes affect communication by stop us,
from sharing and understanding messages.
• Factors Affecting Perspectives in Communication
Factor How the factor becomes a barrier?
- use of incorrect words
- unfamiliar language
- lack of detailing
Language - E.g. – An Indian who only knows Hindi and
a Chinese who only knows Mandarin want
to interact with each other.
- Judging people or situations by how they
Visual
look.
Perception - E.g. – A man wearing torn clothes is poor.
- Earlier experience stops us from
Past understanding or communicating clearly.
Experience - E.g. – “This shopkeeper cheated me last
time. Let me be careful.”
- Fixed ideas or thoughts.
- E.g. – thinking “No one in my class listens
Prejudice
to me” may stop a student from
communicating openly in the class.
- Our feelings and emotions, such as lack of
interest or not trusting the other person
Feelings
affect communication.
- E.g. – “I am sad. Let me not talk.”
Environme - Noise or disturbance in the surroundings.
nt - E.g. – Speaking while walking on road.
Personal - Our feelings, habits and ways of thinking
factors - E.g. – fear, low confidence etc.
- Signs which have a different meaning in
different cultures.
Culture - E.g. – showing a thumb may mean ‘good
job’ for some people but may be insulting
to others
• Effective Communication
• The basic principles of professional communication skills help in effective communication. These can be abbreviated as 7 Cs.
Clear – Be clear about what you want to say and write.
Concise – Use simple words and say only what is needed.
Concrete – Use exact words, phrases. Use facts and figures.
Correct – Use correct spellings, language and grammar.
Coherent – Use sensible words and should be related to the main topic.
Complete – Your message should have all the needed information.
Courteous – Be respectful, friendly and honest.
• Activity - I
•
• Assignment: 1 — Prepare a paper on ‘Why is it important to communicate clearly?’ (List the important points with explanation)
•
• Assignment: 2 — Chart Making on Elements of Communication
• (Make a chart showing the elements of communication in the communication cycle or communication process)
•
• Assignment: 3 — Find the answers of the following questions and write down it in your note book.
• Multiple choice questions
• What is the purpose of communication?
• (a) Inform (tell someone about something)
• (b) Influence (get someone to do something you want)
• (c) Share thoughts, ideas, feelings
• (d) All of the above
• Which of the following method is used to receive information from the sender?
• (a) Listening
• (b) Speaking
• (c) Telling
• (d) Writing
•
• By which action can a sender send his or her messages?
• (a) Listening
• (b) Speaking
• (c) Sleeping
• (d) None of the above
Column A Column B
Communication Barriers Examples
A. Taking an official call on your
mobile where
1. Language
the mobile phone reception is
poor
•Match the Following B. Hugging a person in a foreign
•Subjective Question country where
[Link] down the [Link] affecting perspectives in communication. Provide examples, explaining how each factor affects communication.
Emotional
such an act is rude and
disrespectful
C. Talking in Hindi when others
3. Environmental know only
German
D. Teacher is too angry and is not
willing to
4. Cultural accept any reason from a
student who is
late for an examination
