Emilia Placintar - Introduction

to Communication
1
INTRODUCTION TO
COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION BLUEPRINT

Emilia Placintar - Introduction to
Communication
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Why Do We Communicate?
Functions of communication:
+Practical
+Social
+Decision making
+Personal growth


Emilia Placintar - Introduction to
Communication
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What Is Communication?
Communication is the process of sending and
receiving messages with the goal of achieving
shared understanding of the information and
meaning (Lat. communis = common, joint, shared)

Communication is described along 3 dimensions:
Content
Form
Destination
Emilia Placintar - Introduction to
Communication
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Communication Process Model
Sender/Receiver: messages are sent and received
simultaneously
Encoding: changing thoughts into symbols
Decoding: assigning meanings to the symbols
Message: actual content + simultaneous messages
Channel: line through which the message travels
Feedback: receivers response to the message
Context: physical and social
Noise: any interference that prevents shared
understanding

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Communication
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Noise

Types of noise:
OInternal: intrapersonal communication
+External: noise in the environment
Semantic: when sender and receiver have
different meanings for the symbols they use
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Communication
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Communication Climate
Good communication does not just happen.
Communication principles:
1) We are always communicating, whether we
intend to or not.
2) The message sent is not necessarily the
same message received.
3) A part of the message is who sends it.
4) The meanings of words are inside of us.
5) Communication is learned.
Emilia Placintar - Introduction to
Communication
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Communication Tools
4 Overcoming barriers
Giving and getting feedback
- Recognizing and limiting information overload
Improving relations
ERemaining sensitive to the organizations
structure
Emilia Placintar - Introduction to
Communication
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Overcoming Barriers
- Gossip: unsubstantiated rumour!
qGaps: People are different!
Loss of emotional control: People have
different views!
Defensiveness: misinterpretation of anothers
comments as a personal attack!

Emilia Placintar - Introduction to
Communication
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Giving and Getting Feedback
When giving feedback, make the feedback
+appropriate;
+specific;
+positive.
When receiving feedback,
o ask for feedback and then receive it openly;
o acknowledge the feedback;
o consider the feedback received.

Emilia Placintar - Introduction to
Communication
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Recognizing and Limiting Information
Overload

Tools to counteract information overload:

=Recognize overload in others;
=Recognize overloads in self;
=Limit overload situations.
Emilia Placintar - Introduction to
Communication
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Improving Relations
Attitudes that improve relations with others:
V Positive regard
` Empathy
.Openness
Trust
- task trust
- interpersonal trust




Emilia Placintar - Introduction to
Communication
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Remaining Sensitive to the
Organizations Structure
Formal networks: established by
management and represented in
organizational charts;
Informal networks: developed as the result of
friendships, common interests, and proximity
etc.
Sensitivity = understanding these networks,
keeping in mind the advantages and
disadvantages of both

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Communication
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CONCLUSIONS

- Communication is a process that satisfies human
needs.

- Until we have shared information with another
person, we have NOT communicated it.

- Communication creates understanding on three
levels: action, information and relationship.

- For this process to work effectively, we need to
understand the elements, principles, and barriers that
influence it.

- To promote understanding we need to develop
strategies.


Questions?
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Communication
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Communication
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Bibliography
Bove, C. L. and J. T. Thill., Business
Communication Today, McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York,
1992.
Cheesebro, T., L. OConnors, F, Rios.
Communication Skills. Preparing for Career Success.
Pearson, Prentice Hall, 2006.
Guffrey, M.E. Essentials of Business Communication.
Thomson/South-Western, 2007.
Ober, S. Fundamentals of Contemporary Business
Communication. Boston/New York: Houghton Mifflin
Company, 2007.