Communication is the process of conveying information between two or more people. The communication process is the steps we take in order to achieve a successful communication.
We communicate for a variety of reasons! We use communication to share information, comment, ask questions, express wants and needs, develop social relationships, social etiquette, etc. Communication is much more than wants and needs. Our main reasons for communication change over time just slightly. Based on the research of Janice Light, during the life span, we are communicating for social reasons over 50% of the time. Wants and needs make a very small part. Exchanging information grows through the years.
Competent Communicator Characteristics There are 5 characteristics of a competent communicator. Adaptability Competent communicators are able to assess what is going to be appropriate and effective in a given context and then modify their behaviors accordingly. Cognitive Complexity The ability to consider a variety of explanations and to understand a given situation in multiple ways is called cognitive complexity. Empathy Good communicators practice empathy, the ability to be “other- oriented” and understand other people’s thoughts and feelings. Ethics Competent communicators are ethical communicators. Ethics guides us in judging whether something is morally right or wrong. Self-Awareness Good communicators are aware of their own behavior and its effect on others.
The communication process refers to a series of actions or steps taken in order to successfully communicate. It involves several components such as the sender of the communication, the actual message being sent, the encoding of the message, the receiver and the decoding of the message. There are also various channels of communication to consider within the communication process. This refers to the way a message is sent. This can be through various mediums such as voice, audio, video, writing email, fax or body language. The overall goal of the communication process is to present an individual or party with information and have them understand it. The sender must choose the most appropriate medium in order for the communication process to have worked successfully.
The communication process has several components that enable the transmission of a message. Here are the various parts:
Sender: This is the person that is delivering a message to a recipient. Message: This refers to the information that the sender is relaying to the receiver. Channel of communication: This is the transmission or method of delivering the message. Decoding: This is the interpretation of the message. Decoding is performed by the receiver. Receiver: The receiver is the person who is getting or receiving the message. Feedback: In some instances, the receiver might have feedback or a response for the sender. This starts an interaction.
In order to successfully communicate, it's important to understand how the process works. Here are the seven steps in the communication process:
The sender develops an idea to be sent. The sender encodes the message. The sender selects the channel of communication that will be used. The message travels over the channel of communication. The message is received by the receiver. The receiver decodes the message. The receiver provides feedback, if applicable.
