Understanding Communication

AN INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION

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What as per you is the meaning of communication?

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“Communication is the single most important leadership

skill.”-- Lin Bothwell

The Art of Leadership

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The Meaning and Definition of CommunicationWhat is ‘communication’?

According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary the word means

‘the act of imparting, especially news’,

OR

‘the science and practice of transmitting information’.

It also means ‘transference and understanding of meaning.

Perfect ‘communication’ is creating the perfect mental picture.

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Communication is the exchange of meaning , facts, ideas, opinions or emotions with others.

Communicate is derived from the Latin word ‘communicare’ – means share or participate.

The Meaning and Definition of Communication

Why do you think humans need to communicate?

The Purpose(s) of CommunicationThe purpose(s) of communication (in a group or organization) is/are:

1. Controla)Formal: instruct, sell etc.b)Informal

2. Co-ordinate

3. Motivatea)Appreciationb)Goal setting

4. Emotional Expressiona)Colleagueb)Social Interaction: greet, abuse, cheat etc.

5. Information Sharing

6. Problem Solving

7. Conflict resolution

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Communication Process

Sender / Source

Encodes

Expresses

MessageChannel

Person to

person

Radio, TV

Telephone

Internet,

Print media,

etc.

ReceiverHears/sees/perceives

Gives Attention

Understands

Accepts message

Message

VerbalNon-

Verbal

Feedback improves and completes the communication

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Types of Communication

Communication

Verbal Non verbal

Oral

Paralanguage

Written

Body Language Sign Language

Posture(Erect, Slouching

Body Language

Hand Gestures(Waving, Pointing)

Sounds(Laughs, Sighs, Groans)

Head Movements(Nods, Shakes)

Eye Movements(Winking, Rolling)

Distance (Proxemics)Too Close, Aloof

Facial Expressions(Smile, Frown, Smirk)

Body ContactTouch, Handshake

Patting, Back Slapping

Different Communication Networks

Communication Networks

Vertical Horizontal

UpwardDownward

Grapevine

Downward Communication… The communication channel which pushes the flow of information

downward known as downward communication.

Information flows downward through various tiers of its

hierarchical structure.

Generally used to:

Give orders/instructions/information to the employees.

Management’s way of exercising control over the employees.

Includes notices, circulars, instructions, group meetings, orders,letters,

etc.

Disadvantages:

Distortion of the original message sometimes.

Strictly hierarchical.

May be time-consuming.

Downward Communication

Board of Directors

Managing Director

General Manager

Heads of Departments

Heads of Departments

Heads of Departments

Officers Officers Officers Officers Officers Officers

W O R K E R S

Upward Communication… The communication channel which pushes the flow of information

upward is known as upward communication.

Information flows upwards through various tiers of its hierarchical

structure.

Generally used to:

Get feedback from the employees/ members of the organization.

To keep in touch with the market/ public sentiments and opinions.

Includes media like suggestion boxes, phone calls, emails, feedback

forms (online and offline),meetings, reports, grievance committees etc.

Could be disrupted by :

Hesitation of the lower-level employees in giving honest opinion/

feedback.

Feeling of insecurity by middle-level employees etc.

Upward Communication… The communication channel which pushes the flow of information

upward is known as upward communication.

Information flows upwards through various tiers of its hierarchical

structure.

Generally used to:

Get feedback from the employees/ members of the organization.

To keep in touch with the market/ public sentiments and opinions.

Includes media like suggestion boxes, phone calls, emails, feedback

forms (online and offline),meetings, reports, grievance committees etc.

Could be disrupted by :

Hesitation of the lower-level employees in giving honest opinion/

feedback.

Feeling of insecurity by middle-level employees etc.

Upward Communication

Board of Directors

Managing Director

General Manager

Heads of Departments

Heads of Departments

Heads of Departments

Officers Officers Officers Officers Officers Officers

W O R K E R S

Horizontal/ Lateral Communication

Board of Directors

Managing Director

General Manager

Heads of Departments

Heads of Departments

Heads of Departments

Officers Officers Officers Officers Officers Officers

W O R K E R S

Grapevine Communication

• An informal transmission of information, gossip or rumor from person to

person.

• Informal and unsanctioned information network within every organization.

• Helps the people in the organization understand what is happening around

them.

• Provides relief from emotional stress.

• Grapevine is an expression of healthy human motivation to communicate.

• Unstructured and not under complete control of management.

• Grows in every direction.

Grapevine Communication

Grapevine Communication

Types of Grapevine

• Single Strand:

• Message is passed from one person to another along a

single strand.

• Gossip:

• One person passes information to all the others.

• Probability:

• Each person tells others at random.

• Cluster:

• Most popular type of grapevine network.

• Some people tell a select few of the others.

• Which persons are active on the grapevine often

depends upon the message.

Grapevine CommunicationC

B

A

A

A

F

D

Single Strand

Gossip

Probability

Cluster

Any Questions ?

I am grateful to:

Shri Khushrwo Irani and Shri Sanjay Kale S & K Associates (Potential Unlimited), Nasik

for inputs in this presentation.

You can download this and other presentations at:

http://funnylanguage.wikispaces.com/downloads http://ppthakur.wordpress.com/downloads

P. P. THAKUR, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH, G.S. SCIENCE, ARTS & COMMERCE COLLEGE, KHAMGAON 444303