Communication Training, What Is Communication & How To Improve Interpersonal Verbal & Non Verbal Competence Skills

This best communication training article is one of a series.  So, what is this and how do you improve communication?  We look at interpersonal, competence, non and verbal skills.

This article focuses upon people and not information technology and it is here we ask the question, what is communication?  We then go on to create a definition surrounding it.

We look at verbal and non-verbal communication, form, content and function. Whilst we keep referring back in how to improve communication, we look at the influences of roles, labels and personal meanings that help make, or not, effective communication.

. .

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

In order to know how to improve communication, we need to understand what is involved in this. It means lots of different things to lots of different people, however, what is communication really? Firstly, what we need to do is look at all aspects of communication from non verbal to verbal but before we do this, here is a definition:

Communication is: 'a process of encoding, transmitting and decoding signals in order to exchange information and ideas between participants' (Owens, 1984). Furthermore, it is 'responses which the person makes intentionally in order to affect the behaviour of another person and with the expectation that the other person will receive and act on that message' (Kieran, Reid and Goldbart, 1987).

It is, therefore, a process where 'signals' are expressed between people involving an exchange of some kind. These exchanges have an inpact on the participants which results in some form of behaviour are displayed in one form or another.

This can be verbal or non verbal and the expectation can lead to understanding or misunderstanding, depending on the perspective of the individuals concerned.

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

Now non-verbal communication is one to do with body language and even the silences. It seems that everything we do, or don't as the case may be with, can be communicated. Almost anything that we do, we display a form of behaviour - we communicate whether we want to or not. We can not escape from communication unless we are alone.

Non-verbal communication can lead to accidental self-exposure, for example, where others can watch for hidden forms of communication. These include:

• Body language
• Facial expressions
• gestures
• Out of sync silences

All these can mean so much more when attempting not to communicate! However, all these factors are not really important when the interaction is not face to face. But what is important is the breathing and the pauses. This in itself can tell a story!

So to sum up, the importance of non-verbal communication, by how we present ourselves, our behaviour, facial expressions and responses to social ques have a direct impact on how others receive us and how we receive others. In order to improve communication, we have to be aware of these subtle non-verbal responses. This is called 'unintentional communication'.

The key to success, here, is to ensure that we turn this idea on its head and create 'intentional communication' instead of 'unintentional communication'. This becomes a method that portrays what we want to portray rather than leading to others thinking about us in the way that we wouldn't want them to. By controlling our non-verbal behaviour, therefore, we control others responses to us.

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

So, by learning how to improve communication, we can operate at a more sophisticated level. However, that doesn't mean moving away from more spontaneous and basic methods of communication, it just means that we have become more aware and more sensitive to the impression that we might give to others.

Now let's think about the form, content and function of communication. The function of communication is about establishing and maintaining contact between people. This could be whether it is for a short or long duration.

The 'form' of communication can come in various manners. It is verbal and non-verbal. It could be a letter, e-mail, telephone conversation or a reciprocol interaction in person. The content, however, is about what is meant by that communication. It could be what it is said, how it is said and what is written, for example.

In order to improve communication, therefore, an idea of the structure of communication is important. It teaches us to be organised in how to express what we want to say in the most appropriate of times.

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

Whatever the nature of the connection between communication and relationships, the function of 'getting in touch' with other people is fundamental in what makes us human. This is about interpersonal communication formulated on human contact, either verbally or non-verbally.

Influences on communication involves three main themes:

• Roles and situations
• Labels and stereotypes
• Personal meaning

Roles and situations is about the actual influence, how we behave and interact. Your role, as a partner in communication, provides a structure as to how we ought to behave in certain situations and predicting outcomes about how other people are likely to behave. Understanding your role, therefore, can help improve communication

Labelling and stereotyping during communication and making unfounded assumptions of others to whom we are communicating with, will have an effect on the value of the outcome. This could be negative or positive, depending on how the communication is presented. Understanding labelling and stereotyping in the communication process, therefore, can help improve communication technique. It is best, therefore, to avoid these types of assumptions.

Personal meaning is about personal perspective or how you are as a person. This affects how you interpret communications, thereby, your responses can have a 'knock on' effect. We all understand messages by actively selecting, interpreting and a distorting manner. We all live in our own reality and personal meaning could result in misunderstanding another's point of view. In highlighting the issues around personal meaning, it is hoped to improve communication techniques.

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

In order to learn how to improve communication, we asked the question 'what is communication?'. We then looked at lots of facets to do with interpersonal communication with our fellow human beings. Firstly, we examined a definition. This provided a structure to the complexities of communication. Secondly we examined the importance of both non-verbal and verbal communication and, thirdly, we looked at form, content and function of communication. Lastly, we discovered that roles, labels and personal meanings have an influence on the value of communication. This ends this part of a series of communication training for the time-being. In order to get the most out of this, please visit my other hubs on this.

© This work is covered under Creative Commons License

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

A special thank you to the Open University for their help in this, k668

Follow Me On Twitter, Myspace and Facebook!

Just Click Here and follow the links!

Disclaimer

Use this article at your own risk. This article does not give legal opinions or advice.  Any action or outcome that may result from this article is the sole responsibility of the reader.  This article is assumes no responsibility or legal claim against it.