Life Skills

Life Skills

Life Skills?WHO defines Life Skills as Abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life. These are psychosocial competencies and are loosely grouped into 3 categories 1.Cognitive skills for analyzing and using information 2.Personal skills for developing and managing oneself 3.Inter-personal skills for communicating and interacting effectively with others

List of life skillsSome of the important life skills identified by WHO are Decision making Problem solving Creative thinking Critical thinkingEffective communicationSelf awarenessAssertivenessEmpathyEquanimityInterpersonal relationshipsStress ManagementResilience

CommunicationWhat is communication?Communication is the sharing of meaningful information between 2 or more people.It consists of the following : 1.The Sender 2.The Encoding process 3.The channel 4.The Decoding process 5.The Receiver

Communication ProcessSender is the source of the message Encoding is the conversion of the idea of the sender into a suitable language or code.Channel of communication includes face-to-face meetings , letters, emails, telephonic conversation, video conferencing etc.Decoding is the process of converting the message into information that the receiver can decipher and understand Receiver is the person(s) who receives the message

Communication SkillsCommunication skills comprise the following 1. Speaking skills 2. Listening skills 3. Non-verbal communication, body language etc.

Effective CommunicationEffective communication is a 2-way streetCommunication is effective only when whatever was sent is received completely and understood exactly in the sense intended originally.So effective communication is equally about articulation and listening

Need for Effective CommunicationA few decades ago, technical skills and knowledge were the essential (only )qualities looked for by most employers in a prospective employee. Today any employer looks for soft skills as well as technical knowledge.We have become part of a complex web of interdependency as evidenced by collaborative projects, social media, trade transactions that transcends boundaries and the availability of information at ones fingertipsSo effective communication skills are indispensible in todays world

Need for Effective CommunicationIn a Social contextMaintaining the social orderInteraction among members of a community as well as between communitiesEnsuring flow of knowledge from one generation to next and the continuance of cultureSharing and dissemination of knowledge especially in science and technology, that has a major impact on human standard of livingFostering family and other social relationships

Need for Effective CommunicationIn a business contextFacilitating flow of information up and down the chain of commandEnsuring clarity in specifications, procedures, proposals, standards, orders etc.Avoiding repetition of workUnderstanding customer needs and responding appropriatelyMaintaining organizational harmony

Levels of communicationThere are 5 levels of communication. These are- 1.Intrapersonal communication 2.Interpersonal communication 3.Group communication 4.Public communication 5.Mass communication

1.Intrapersonal CommunicationCommunication within oneselfMaybe triggered by internal or external stimulusUsually happens when a person is trying to make a decision by reflection, to introspect, to analyze a situation or to make oneself comfortable with a situation

2.Interpersonal CommunicationOne-to-one communication between 2 peopleUsually carried out to build an understanding or to influence each others thoughts and actions.The effectiveness of such a communication depends on the understanding between the 2 parties and the articulation of the message.Eg. Interaction between a couple, employer and employee etc.

3.Group CommunicationCommunication between 3 or more people in a groupUsually carried out to discuss and finalize some outcome based on shared objectivesEg. A team discussion to identify solution to problem

4.Public CommunicationInvolves a sender broadcasting a message to a select audienceThere may or may not be a feedback from the audienceEg. Political leader addressing an election rally Professor lecturing an entire class

5.Mass CommunicationTransmission of message to larger audience through print or visual mediaDiffers from all other communications in that there is no personal connection between the sender and receiversNo feedbackEg. Newspapers, Radio, Television, Blogs etc.

Flow of CommunicationIn general, flow of communication can be (i) One way and (ii) Two way 1.One way communication Refers to messages originating from one end onlyReceiver(s) has no role to respondEg. News broadcast, monologues by an instructor etc.

Flow of Communication2.Two way communicationInvolves two or more partiesConstant flow of information back and forth between involved partiesCan be further classified into (i) One to One Communication (ii) One to Many Communication (iii) Many to One Communication

Flow of CommunicationIn an organizational context, flow of communication can be (1) Upward (2) Downward (3) Horizontal

1.Upward CommunicationFlow of information from a lower level to a higher level in an organizationUsually involves suggestion for improvement, feedback , grievances and complaints, reporting of problems, performance reports etc.Can be through emails, letters to suggestion box, face-to-face etc.

2.Downward communicationFlow of information from a higher level to a lower level in an organizationUsually involves instructions to subordinates, assignment of goals and objectives, plans or change of plans, priorities to be followed, policies and procedures, problems that need o be addressed etc.Can be through emails, memos, phone call, face-to-face, via an intermediary etc.

3.Horizontal CommunicationFlow of information among people at the same level in a organizationUsually involves giving or taking tips, advice or help, seeking or giving information, data sharing for coordination of activities etc.Can be through face-to-face, emails, notes, instant messages, phone calls, group discussions etc.

Use of Language in CommunicationLanguage is a system of human communicationAlthough sign language, body language, pictorial language etc. are also considered languages, the common usage of the word language means verbal expressions- either spoken or writtenFor effective communication, both sender and receiver must understand the same language

Use of Language in CommunicationHow you tell something is almost as important as what you tell in effective communicationSome easy ways to make language effective- 1.Short and simple 2.Concrete and specific language 3.Precise and clear messages 4.Positive attitude 5.Appropriate level of familiarity / intimacy

Communication NetworksCommunication network is the pattern of interaction between different members of an organizationSome popular communication networks include Vertical network Chain network Wheel network Circular network Y network All channel network

Significance of Technical CommunicationTechnical communication is the conveying of scientific, engineering or other technical information using appropriate vocabulary / diagram.Technical communication should be 1. Clear and matter-of fact 2.Employ technical terms 3.Give importance to reasoning and logical thinking rather than aesthetics

Technical CommunicationSome examples of technical communication include Collaboration between engineers of various specialization in the development of a productEngineering drawings depicting design of a productTechnical documents like service manuals, product manuals etcAnnual reports of companiesTraining materials for students and practising engineers

Types of Barriers to CommunicationPhysical Barriers involve objects obstructing view or eye-contact or transmission of sound wavesSemantic Barriers involve misunderstanding or confusion with the meaning of a message or the feelings behind a messagePsychological and Emotional Barriers create mental blocks that prevent people from opening up and interpreting the message in its true sense This may involve listeners perception of speaker and vice versa, emotional states of both, lack of trust etc.

Types of Barriers to Communication4.Cultural Barriers - Different cultures attribute different meanings to the same words, gestures, signs, symbols etc. So language , mannerisms, body language etc. can create confusion in cross cultural communications common in todays workplace5.Gender Barriers : Thinking and communication styles of men and women are different. This can often affect communication where men and women have to work together

MiscommunicationIt is the failure to communicate adequately.Can occur due to 1.Lack of clarity in message 2.Sloppy language habits like using slang, acronyms, buzzwords, jargons etc. 3. Assumptions of prior knowledge 4.Trying to convey a lot of information in a short span 5.High noise levels and distractions 6.Language incompatibility etc.

NoiseNoise is a hindrance to communicationNoise can by physical or psychologicalPhysical noise consists of ambient noise such as wind, people talking, sound of machinery, signal noises affecting clear transmission etc.Psychological noise consists of those related to thoughts , emotions etc. and pertaining to semantics that interfere with the interpretation of a message

How to overcome noiseDetect the source of noise and eliminate or bring down the noiseRaise the volume of speakingUse of clear and easily understandable words will help to better understand the message even in the midst of noiseListen activelyRepeat keywords