4 posts tagged “communication”
Communication is a process of exchanging information between two or more people. During communication a sender sends encoded message through a certain communication media to a receiver, who decodes the message, processes it and sends back an appropriate reply through the same media.
Communication is an attempt to create a shared understanding of information.
When people enjoy their talk, they definitely understand each other.
Sometimes though communication can be a tough thing.
Have you ever met a tourist who wants to ask you something but doesn't know your language? The only communication tools they use is a map and their own hands ( maybe also some prehistoric noises they are able to make ).
Ok. They can point you on a map where they want to go. You got it. But how should you explain how to get there if they don't know your language?
Yes, you both begin to use intensively your body language. All sort of gestures are expressed. It seems like exchanging information transforms into exercising. Usually the conversation ends up with the tourist leaving you with the same knowledge they approached you. And you feel kind of resposible for their nearest future or doubt your communicational abilities.
Anyone's fault? No. Both did their best to communicate information. A language barrier was stopping you from a proper conversation.
Everybody once in a while meets some obstacles while communicating with others.
What are the possible barriers in communication? There are quite a lot of them.
Lets devide them for simplicity. Some of them come from a sender's side, the other from receiver's and obviously there are some external obstacles as well.
Possible barriers in communication:
- Encoding barriers
- Transmitting barriers
- Decoding barriers
- Responding barriers
In my next posts we'll have a closer look at them.
For more information on communication, please visit my site
In yestaerday's post I mentioned about assertiveness. Being assertive not only give you a better feeling but make your communication with other people look more proffessional. You stand out your point while not offencing the other party.
Some people are naturally assertive. Others might need to learn and practice few techniques.
Here are some tips to start you off:
- Watch how other people communicate and even persuade other people by being assertive. What words they use, the tone and speed of the talk, their gestures and facial expressions etc.
- make a decision to improve your assertiveness.
- Imagine yourself being assertive. You can create some situations or take real ones and imagine scenarios of handlind those difficult situations. It may sound useless, but all great artists spend hours practicing their roles just to feel natural when they need the most.
- Take actions. They say to overcome the fear you just need to do what you fear the most. Seems like easier said than done. But this is a shortcut. People tend to exaggerate things. You might find it not that difficult once you start. With practice your fear will fade. Start with small steps. Once you master those move to more complicated situations and so on.
- Don't forget the importance of body language. Use nonverbal signals that supports your speech and show you are confident. Speak clear with steady tone. Don't be in hurry stating your point. Learn to use a bit more time before you give the answer. Eye contact is vital, don't stare though. Avoid such movement that show up your worriness like scratching, tapping, blinking eyes too often, touching your hair or face.
- Make your message to be clear, don't waffle. Then stop talking. If you didn't get a wanted result on a first try repeat your message and do that as many times as necessary. Choose other words for expression if you like. But the main point is don't allow yourself to be sidetracked.
- Don't panic if you fail, especially at the beginning. Keep practicing and see the rewards comming your way.
Enjoy any conversation experience with right communication skills. For more information on communication visit my website.
How many people are complaining about their jobs? There is always something we are not happy with. Boss ignores you, relationship with colleagues at a strain, too much to do, long hours or not enough, salary is too small to satisfy all the needs, too far to commute etc.
They always say "If you are not happy with your present job, find yourself another one". But will that other one bring a real change? Or something else is involved?.. your attitude, communication with others or tasks you took on to handle? Sometimes it is a poor management and mean colleges though. If there is disrespect and ignorance of simple yet powerful things there would be the same reply. It just how communication works. It's reciprocal. You can really change a place, although this doesn't guarantee anything.
In the past I was constantly changing jobs hoping that new place would be better. But in a nut shell they were all the same just places and people different. What was wrong? Communication between people was OK. Ofcourse there were different individuals, but in most cases we were friendly. I think it just because I hated to be tighten up to the set hours of work. Actually working for somebody else was the most big issue. After I left my last job for maternity leave, it was clear that coming back to hamster wheel would make me depressed from the very first minute I enter the workplace. How can I be useful to the society then?
Back to work.
A lot of my coworkers were bad mouthing about their job, responsibilities and wages. The boss is not noticing them, he should pay more etc. But they still considered that looking for something else was too much hazzle. Then why not change something inside your present job? "No one will appreciate this anyway. When boss starts paying me more, I might think to put more effort"- was an often reply. Why not vice versa?
Maybe something should be done for the boss to notice you. Any initiation would be appreciated. Plus why should he raise your pay if you don't ask for that? Some people though didn't hesitate to ask, but often were refused and thought it was unfair. But bosses have their own problems on their shoulders and there are tens of such individuals, they won't notice one unless you do something to stand out.
There are people who take advantage from any situation. They would do anything to be promoted even if that at a cost of others. They would definitely use every opportunity to show their "existence". They would do extra tasks and there is nothing wrong with that. But sometimes things go too far.
I remember one girl at one of my jobs. She wanted to be promoted to supervisor position and it was such an obvious thing. Every day she would bring coffee or homemade meal for the manager, she reported about others and things like that. And she was so open about this it left me speechless. She got the position and everyone hated her. Does such cost worth the trouble? Does power over people who hate you give you any satisfaction? Such a spoiled relationship with work mates. I wonder what her thoughts were each day she was meeting with people?
By the way her name was Meana. Maybe names do have some influence on their owner's life? I wonder
Arms are appendages that can freely move. With the help of arms we are able to accomplish so many things I bother mentioning here. Arms take part in a language of deaf-and-dumb. They are extremely useful parts of the body and can be helpful in decoding body language.
By the way, when you suspect somebody in deceit pay attention for arms kept still. Usually that is the first place the liar starts to control theirselves. They can hold one arm with another to make them both still.
Our arms are extremely helpful in supporting real talk. People articulate their words, emphasizing their meaning. It really help bonding with a small child and eases communication process with them.
We can observe what kind of person is the speaker as they wave their hands during talk. When somebody is excited or confident they tend to wave more frequently and in bigger amplitude. Less confident people use less waving space and it's close to the body.
Arms can show friendly and threatenning gestures as well as actions. Saying that, slow moves often with curved arms show friendliness or comfort, whereas quick direct moves toward target considered as threat. Arms can be used both as weapon and defensive tools. Martial arts are another way of nonverbal communication.
Crossing arms has so many meanings. Generally speaking they can serve as a doorway to the person. So crossing them make a block between person and the outer world. That can be done to block attack or hide something within the person inner self.
Crossed arms show a straight signal and can make others feel rejected, so they may send the according respond like disagreeing.
Crossed arms may mean inner discomfort or vulnerability of the person or lack of trust in other person.
The extent of the crossing shows how firmly the person is closed. If crossing arms is supported with crossed legs as well than it's a big cut out.
Croosed arms is not always a negative sign. People may cross arms when they are cold. Sometimes we fold arms using it as a relaxing position.
To break crossed-arm position a person can give the other person something to hold.
So,defined crossed arms as defensive position, we can say that noncrossed arm position (usualy held still across the body) means confidence and trust. This may also indicate power.
More specific on parts of arms in future posts.
Improving Communication in Business and Personal Life
source:www.changingminds.org
