201 – 02 EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Community Learning Development Resource 201 – 02

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS

 

SUMMARY:

Ideas about the nature of communication between people:

  • Communication is the transmission of thoughts and ideas from one person to another.
  • To communicate – to give a share of, to impart, to reveal; to have something in common with another, to succeed in conveying one’s meaning to others
  • Communication – transmission, imparting, giving of information messages etc. between people, the system of transmitting messages.

 

THE COMMON COMPONENTS OF COMMUNICATION

 

  • Source, transmitter or sender – e.g., the person sending a message

 

  • Medium, means or modes – method of transmission

 

  • Message – the content and the signals, symbols, language, etc. used

 

  • Receiver – e.g., the person receiving the message

 

MAKING COMMUNICATION EFFECTIVE

  1. Since communication always involves more than one person, the message needs to be understood by the receiver, as intended by the sender.

 

  1. The mode or medium of communication needs to be suitable and understood by both the sender and receiver.

 

  1. Factors, which can influence, aid or disrupt communication, may be due to the message, the medium, the transmitter or the receiver.

 

  1. The presence of a feedback loop, in relation to the message, becomes an essential component in effective communication.

 

  1. Communication can involve all five human senses – and generally connects more effectively when several senses come into play – hearing and seeing are the commonest combination receiving messages.

 

STAGES OF COMMUNICATION

 

THE COMMUNICATION PROCESSES

THE THREE FORMS OF MESSAGE
The sender’s idea The Intended Message
The expression of the idea
The transmission of the idea The Actual Message
The receipt of the idea  

The Received MessageThe receiver’s interpretation of the idea

 

As workers, using the processes of communication, we need to be aware of the factors affecting communication and to have an understanding of the basic guidelines, for ensuring effective communication. Effective communication is an interactive two-way process.

 

REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION PROMPTS

 

  • How successful is the promotion of education and training opportunities by the use of written materials – brochures and leaflets, in areas where reading and writing may not be well-developed skills?

 

  • You decide to meet a local person for the first by visiting them in their home – what messages might be communicated to you from a first visit and conversation?