Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

An important thing to have!An important thing to have!

Why are communication skills Why are communication skills important?important?

We spend most of our lives with We spend most of our lives with other people.other people.

Communication: the process where a Communication: the process where a person sends a message to another person sends a message to another person to transmit info or get a person to transmit info or get a responseresponse..

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

Good communication skills – help Good communication skills – help develop satisfying and healthy develop satisfying and healthy relationships.relationships.

Poor communication skills – can get Poor communication skills – can get in the way of forming & maintaining in the way of forming & maintaining good relationships & can lead to good relationships & can lead to misunderstandings & bad feelingsmisunderstandings & bad feelings..

Types of CommunicationTypes of Communication

There are two types of There are two types of communication:communication:

Verbal – words we use as well as the Verbal – words we use as well as the tone & loudness of our voice.tone & loudness of our voice.

Nonverbal – body language, facial Nonverbal – body language, facial expressions & gestures.expressions & gestures.

WARNING!WARNING!

MISUSE OF EITHER VERBAL MISUSE OF EITHER VERBAL OR NONVERBAL OR NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION CAN COMMUNICATION CAN CREATE CONFUSION OR CREATE CONFUSION OR MISUNDERSTANDING!MISUNDERSTANDING!

In your notebook write down a recent In your notebook write down a recent misunderstanding you had.misunderstanding you had.

What was the cause of the What was the cause of the misunderstanding?misunderstanding?

How could the misunderstanding How could the misunderstanding have been avoided?have been avoided?

How to avoid misunderstandingsHow to avoid misunderstandings

A misunderstanding results from A misunderstanding results from failing to communicate clearly.failing to communicate clearly.

How Do We Avoid Misunderstandings?How Do We Avoid Misunderstandings?

1)1) Send the same message on verbal Send the same message on verbal and non-verbal channels.and non-verbal channels.

Make sure what you say and how Make sure what you say and how you say it are the same.you say it are the same.

2. Be specific2. Be specific

Say exactly what you mean.Say exactly what you mean. If you If you are not specific the other person are not specific the other person may now know what you mean.may now know what you mean.

3. Ask questions3. Ask questions

Works well if you are teaching Works well if you are teaching someone – “I don’t understandsomeone – “I don’t understand.”.”

4. Paraphrase4. Paraphrase

Make sure a message is clear by Make sure a message is clear by repeating what is being said.repeating what is being said.

“ “Okay, let me make sure I Okay, let me make sure I understand what you mean…the sky understand what you mean…the sky is blue.”is blue.”