Communicating effectively is the most important soft skill. It involves clearly conveying messages to others as a two-way process of both sending and receiving information. To communicate a message successfully, one must effectively encode the message, choose an appropriate channel to transmit it through, and ensure the receiver can properly decode and understand the intended meaning. Effective communication requires skills from both the sender and receiver at each stage of the process.
2. Communicating effectively is the single most important soft skill one must
possess today. The main intent is to convey messages to other people clearly
and unambiguously. Communication is also about receiving information that
other people send. Thus, communication is a two-way process.
It establishes a link between the sender of a message and the receiver of
that message. This process is completed only when the sender and the
receiver of the message are certain that the actual message conveyed by
the sender has reached its destination, the receiver.
Communicating a message is akin to marketing a message. First, one
should have a product (a particular message) that he wants to sell
(successfully transmit or convey) to others. The product (the message)
should be attractively packaged so that it can be accepted by the buyer (the
receiver of the message) without any difficulty.
3. . To encode a message, one must possess the necessary encoding
skills. Languages are codes. A code may be defined as any group
of symbols that can be structured in a way that is meaningful to
another person. The English language, like any other language, is a
code—it contains element that are arranged in a meaningful order.
A code has a group of elements (vocabulary) and a set of
procedures for combining these elements meaningfully (syntax).
Next is the message content, i.e., the message that is selected by
the source to express its purpose. Content, like codes, has both
element and structure. When more than one piece of information is
to be presented, they should have some order or structure.
An individual may sometimes be identified by his characteristic way
of structuring messages. This is because the individual
communicates in a way that is distinctive to him. He uses a
distinctive way or method, which has become his habit by constant
use.
4. Stimulus and response are the two terms that are
frequently used in any discussion on the communication
process. A ‘stimulus’ is anything that a person can
receive through one of his senses. In fact, it is anything
that can produce a sensation. And a ‘response’ is
anything that an individual does as a reaction to the
stimulus.
These two terms, stimulus and response, are ultimately
connected with the whole learning process. The
communication objective of the source is to bring about a
change in the behavior of the receiver.
5. 1. The sender—the source of the message
2. The encoding process
3. The channel used
4. The decoding process
5. The receiver—the person who receives the message
a. The source, in any communication process, is the most critical part of the
communication process. The message has to be planned and prepared for
features including articulation clarity, modulation, and pauses and pitch.
The sender must be conscious that non-verbal components of the
communication are also transmitted through the channel. The source of the
message has great responsibility. He should have an idea about the
receiver. It may be also that he wants to convey his message to a group of
persons. Finally, at the end of the communication, he must satisfy himself
that the intent of the communication has been met.
b. The Encoding Process:
As language is a code, the encoding process is of vital importance. What the
sender wants to covey must be encoded correctly. He must have a good
vocabulary and good knowledge of grammar and syntax. Any flaw might
distort the meaning of the message he wants to convey.
6. c. The Channel:
Messages are conveyed through various channels. Any written communication
such as emails, organization memos and formal letters are examples of
channels. Face-to-face meetings, video conferencing, telephonic conversa-
tion, PC-to-PC communication, .webcast etc., are different communication
channels.
d. The Decoding Process:
Just as successful encoding is a skill, so is successful decoding. Here the
person decoding the message through a particular channel such as a letter,
e mail, telephone, etc., must be capable of deciphering or understanding that
message. He must have enough knowledge to understand that message.
e. The Receiver:
The person receiving the message should be prepared for the message. Often,
the receiver, upon receiving the message. Fig. 3.2 Visual reaction to a
message takes on the role of a sender and responds. At other times, the
receiver of the message may show his visual reaction to the message
through non-verbal communication
7. Some key attributes of pronunciation etiquette are given
below:
i. Make eye contact while speaking. This will not only give you
confidence, but also will also inspire others to listen to you.
ii. Try to make your voice sound pleasing and soft.
iii. Don’t speak in a monotonous voice; this might have a
soporific effect on the audience. Change the modulation of
your voice occasionally.
iv. Even if you feel nervous, never show it to the audience; just
slow down your speech and remain calm.
v. Don’t mumble. Speak clearly.
vi. Use words the meanings of which are absolutely clear to you.
This might save you from any embarrassment later.
Vii. At the end, Say thanks to the audience, Invite them to ask
questions.
8. When it comes to learning to pronounce English words
correctly, you can find the correct pronunciation of words in
any dictionary. But it is given in phonetic transcription after
each word. monophthongs/diphthongs
9.
10. An INcrease in salary is welcome.
Is it possible to inCREASE production?
I gave her a birthday PREsent.
I preSENTED her something she wanted.
11. Stress/Accent: Greater vibration of Vocal cords is termed
as Stress/Accent. English is an accented language.
Putting emphasis by using greater breath force on few
syllables in a word is Word Stress. Syllable (a part of word
with one/few consonants and usually one vowel) can be
identified as the shortest unit of sound. In a word,
speaking few syllables with more emphasis is stressing on
the syllables thus helping you speak in proper accent.
Examples of syllables: /ta/ble has two syllables. First
syllable is stressed /ˈteɪ/b(ə)l/ , /ˈbʌt(ə)n/ in button first
sound is stressed.
12. Types of Word Stress
primary stress: the loudest syllable in the word. In
one-syllable words, that one syllable has the primary
stress Primary stress is marked in IPA by putting a
raised vertical line [ˈ] at the beginning of the syllable.
secondary stress: syllables which aren't completely
unstressed, but aren't as loud as the primary stress.
Secondary stress is marked with a lowered vertical
line [ˌ] at the beginning of the syllable.
13. unstressed syllables: syllables that have no stress at
all. In English, almost all of these have schwa [ə] for
their vowel, though [i] will also often be unstressed, like
the [i] in happy [ˈhæpi]. (Very rarely, another non-schwa
vowel might be unstressed, like
the [o] of potato [pəˈteto] for most speakers.)
14. Intonation/Pitch/Tone: Sound variation with relation to
the pitch is known as Intonation. Tone shares/exhibits
exact intention of the speaker; Intonation can be divided
into two parts:
a) Rising- In case of Question/doubt and Order generally
our tone increases, A questions asked in a falling tone
doesn’t sound like a question. it is denoted with ‘/’ symbol,
b) Falling—This tone is used for statement and request. It
is denoted with ‘’ symbol. A statement in a rising tone,
sounds like a doubt/surprise.
15. a-Rise to Fall—Is denoted with ‘/’ symbol. Shows the
sudden change from doubt to confirmation in a
speaker’s voice, reflects on his mood from high to
medium (nucleus) to low.
b- Fall to Rise—is denoted with ‘/’ symbol, it also
reflects the mood of the speaker, sudden change is the
pitch pattern of voice makes the voice lively and shows
the real state of a speaker’s thought pattern.
Example
“I can't believe he gave you a ride home!” Boredom,
16. Speech and Personality
One of the key facets of personality development is speech.
This is the ability of a person to effectively communicate
verbally. Some people are gifted with verbal communication
skills, while others are simply to shy and unsure of their
abilities to even want to try. Speech is important in so many
ways; be it at home, at school, or at the workplace, you need
to be able to articulate well the thoughts and ideas you have.
Importance:
Gaining Positive Perception from Others
Venting off emotions( Into Words Our Thoughts and
Ideas through Oral Expression )
17. Tips to Improve Your Speech Communication Skills :
First of all, you should be confident about yourself. You need
to believe that you are capable of verbally expressing
yourself.
Secondly, use polite speech and body language. Now this is
something other people miss out on; the words you use and
the actions you make will show the type of person you are so
this is something you should be careful of.
Thirdly, modulate your voice and do not speak too fast or too
slow. Voice quality, along with body language and content,
always plays a very crucial role on how people will perceive
you when you speak.
18. Personality: The sum total of ways in which an individual reacts and interacts with others.
Personality is a pattern of stable states and characteristics of a person that influences his or her
behavior toward goal achievement.
“A relatively stable set of characteristics that influences an individual’s
behavior.”
PERSONALITY DETERMINANTS—
•Heredity
•Environment
•Situation
•Culture
•Family and social background
21. EMPATHY: It’s the ability to step into the shoes of another
person, aiming to understand their feelings and perspectives,
and to use that understanding to guide our actions. That
makes it different from kindness or pity.
SIX HABITS OF EMAPTHETIC PEOPLE
1. Cultivate curiosity about strangers-historian Studs Terkel:
“Don’t be an examiner, be the interested inquirer.”
2. Challenge prejudices and discover commonalities.
3. Try another person’s life.
4. Listen hard—and open up.
5. Inspire mass action and social change.
6. Develop an ambitious imagination.
22. Considerateness-Having or showing regard for the needs or
feelings of others.
“I find that being considerate of others and keeping what I
say and what I do in agreement makes for a great night’s
sleep.”
– Steve Maraboli
Personality Traits of Considerate people—
1. Mistaken for an extrovert
2. Home is where the heart is
3. Take your responsibilities personally
4. Deep down you are emotional
5. Perfectionist
6. Have a hidden side away from people.
23. Leadership—Trait Theory—Leaders are born, they are not made. Few Traits
are—
Knowledge of the business
Initiative
Tenacity(persistence)
Energy
Good cognitive skills and capable of using good judgement and decisions
Flexibility
Creativity
Charisma
Emotional Intelligence
Drive and motivation to succeed
Confidence
Honesty and integrity