Keep Communication Going Please download the Keep Communication - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Keep Communication Going (APR 2013) 1

Keep Communication Going

Please download the Keep Communication Going Worksheet and Handouts before beginning this class.

Keep Communication Going (APR 2013) 2

Principles of Communication Communication is . . . – A process by which information is exchanged between individuals (Merriam Webster)

• The message sent is not always the message received.
• It is impossible to NOT communicate.

– Impacted 7% by words, 38% by voice qualities, 55% by body movements

(A. Barbour “Louder than Words: Nonverbal Communication”)

– Both Content and Feeling: to truly understand a

message, you must pay attention to both the content of the message and the feeling behind the message.

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12 Communication Roadblocks

• Keeps people from communicating effectively
• Blocks conversation, hinders the other person’s problem

solving efficiency, and increases the distance between the people communicating

• Judging – most people have a very natural tendency to

judge other people and to approve or disapprove what the

• ther person is saying.
• Sending Solutions - often the solution is OUR solution and

can often compound a problem or create a new problem without resolving the original dilemma.

• Avoiding Other Concerns - notable for getting

conversations off track.

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12 Tips for Effective Communication

• Put your friendship first
• First know and clarify

what you DO want

• Say precisely what you

mean

• Practice active listening;

ask clarifying questions

• “I” messages focus on the

speaker’s feelings about a specified behavior and the effect that behavior has on the speaker

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12 Tips for Effective Communication

• Reply, don’t react
• Emotions are never wrong;

accept the feelings

• Hear the “PLEASE” behind

the words

• 100% honest, 100% of the time; fosters trust
• Don’t be a mind reader; don’t make assumptions
• Only address one issue at a time
• Practice clear communication

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Communication Scenario 1 You spent 2 hours today creating a delicious meal for a special occasion. Your partner is just arriving 2 hours after you expected him/her. How do you communicate clearly? “When __________happens, I feel (an emotion) … What I would like from your now is _______. In the future I would like for you to . . . .”

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Communication Scenario 2 You got pulled into an impromptu meeting at work just as you were leaving. You knew your partner was planning something special today, but you were not able to get away on time. You are nervous about how your partner will react to your 2-hour late arrival. How do you communicate clearly? When __________ happens, how do you feel? What would you like from me now? In the future, what would you like from me?