COMMUNICATION
SKILLS
UNIT - 1
INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION
What is Communication ?
• The word ‘Communication’ comes from the
Latin word commūnicāre, meaning ‘to share’.
• communication is the ‘sharing’ of information
between two or more individuals or within a
group to reach a common understanding.
IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION
Communication skills are needed to:
• Inform: You may be required to give facts or information
to someone. For example, communicating the timetable of an
exam to a friend.
• Influence: You may be required to influence or change
someone in an indirect but usually important way. For example,
negotiating with a shopkeeper to reduce the price or helping a
friend to overcome stress due to exam or any other reason
• Express feelings: Talking about your
feelings is a healthy way to express them. For
example, sharing your excitement about
doing well in your exams or sharing your
feelings with your parents and friends
ELEMENTS OF
COMMUNICATION
• Communication is a two-way exchange of
information.
• Speaking and writing to someone are
examples of giving information.
• Reading and listening to someone are
examples of receiving information.
PERSPECTIVES IN COMMUNICATION
• Perspectives are ideas, views, or
fixed ways of thinking.
• These sometimes affect our
communication.
FACTORS AFFECTING PERSPECTIVES IN COMMUNICATION
Prejudice Fixed ideas, such as thinking “No one in my class likes
me” may stop a student from communicating openly in
the class.
Feelings Our feelings and emotions, such as lack of interest or not trusting
the other person affect communication. For example “I am not
feeling well, therefore, I don’t want to talk.
Environment ” Noise or disturbance in the surroundings may make
communication difficult. Example, talking to a friend in a function
where there is loud music being played by the orchestra.
Personal factors Personal factors include your own feelings, habits and ways of
thinking. For example, fear, and low confidence may make
communication difficult.
Culture Signs’ which have a different meaning in different cultures, such
as showing a thumb may mean ‘good job’ done for some people
but may be insulting to others.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Effective communication can happen if we follow the
basic principles of professional communication skills.
These can be abbreviated as 7 Cs,
• Clear
• Concise
• Correct
• Coherent
• Complete
• Courteous
There are different methods of
communication, which include non-
verbal, verbal and visual.
VERBAL COMMUNICATION
• Verbal communication is the sharing of
information by using words
• It is what most people use as a method of
communication.
• Verbal communication is important because if
you do not use the right words, you will cause
confusion and you will not be able to
communicate what you want.
ADVANTAGES OF VERBAL
COMMUNICATION
• Verbal communication is easy and quick. You can
say what you want and get a quick response.
• It is an easier form of communication when you
have to exchange ideas.
• You keep changing your communication as per
the other person’s reply
DISADVANTAGES OF VERBAL
COMMUNICATION
• The most common disadvantage of verbal
communication is the cultural differences between the
sender and receiver of the information.
• Since verbal communication depends on words,
sometimes the meanings become confusing and
difficult to understand if the right words are not used
PUBLIC SPEAKING
• Speaking in front of a large group makes
most people nervous.
• You can use the 3Ps (Prepare, Practice,
Perform) method to get over your fears, and
become a confident and effective speaker.
Speaking Think about your topic Think about what
Prepare your listeners need to know about the topic Think
about the best way to make your listeners understand
your topic Write what you plan to say
Practice by yourself first, talk in front of a mirror Talk in front
Practice of your family and friends and ask them what they think
Speak clearly, loudly and at the right speed (not very fast
nor very slow)
Take a few deep breaths if you are feeling nervous Think
Perform about what you have prepared and start speaking
confidently
