2. What is Communication?
Communication can be defined as the
process by which people share ideas,
experience, knowledge and feelings through
the transmission of symbolic messages.
The means of communication are usually
spoken or written words, pictures or
symbols. But we also give information
through body language, gestures, and looks,
facial expressions can show how we feel and
what we think about an issue or another
person.
3. Interpersonal Communication
(IPC)
Interpersonal communication is humanity’s most
important characteristic and its greatest
accomplishment. It is humans ability to turn
meaningless grunts into spoken and written
words, through which they are able to make
known their needs, wants, ideas and feelings.
4. Another Definitions
Interpersonal communication is a person to person, twoway, verbal and non verbal interaction that includes the sharing
of information and feelings between individuals or in small
groups that establish trusting relationships.
Interpersonal Communication is a complex process that can
be described in simplified terms by a Sender and a Receiver
who exchange messages containing ideas and feelings, mixed
together.
5. Interpersonal communication can be in the
form of lecture, role play, group discussion,
drama, meetings, counseling.
In addition, visual aids, such as posters,
charts, flyers, pamphlets, and audio visual aids
such as, video, films, radio, taped messages.
These can be used to reinforce IPC.
6. WHY DO WE NEED INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION?
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We cannot be human alone.
We live in a world filled with other people.
We live together, work together and play together.
We need each other for security, comfort, friendship and love.
We need each other to mature through dialogue.
We need each other to achieve our goals and objectives.
None of these needs could be addressed without
interpersonal communication
9. THE WAY OUR MINDS WORK
• Perceptions of the reality
We collect information
We collect only a small amount,
We collect selectively,
We collect in a certain order,
We arrange the information into categories ,
We form our reality
10. •Stereotypes and Prejudices
We often find people stereotyped around
characteristics of:
Age: all teenagers love rock and roll and do not respect the elders
Race: all Chinese people look alike
Religion: all those belonging to Islam are terrorists
Vocation: all lawyers are greedy
Nationality: all Roma people are dirty
Places: all people living in a certain city are lazy
Things: all Swiss watches are perfect
11. Stereotypes and Prejudices Contd..
Main Characteristics:
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They are more simple that the reality
They are acquired from “cultural mediators” rather than own experience
They are erroneous by their very nature
They are resistant to change when absorbed in childhood, stubbornly
coloring our perceptions and behaviour.
12. SENDER’S BEHAVIORS
• Different meaning of the words
• Hiding Thoughts and Feelings
• The Sender may be blind to her emotions or
blinded by them
13. RECEIVER’S BEHAVIORS
• Hearing through own filters
• Receivers are easily distracted
• Reactions that block communication
16. READING BODY LANGUAGE
• Focus attention on the important clues
• Note discrepancies
• Be aware of your own feelings and bodily
reactions
• Reflect the feelings back to the sender
17. SPEAKING
When sending a message as speakers you
should
• Know what you mean and express it clearly, with respect and
sensitivity.
• Check or build the common understanding of the words you
use, because words can have different meanings for different
people, especially if coming from different cultures and
educational backgrounds
• Use de-escalatory language, resist the temptation to make
personal attacks and accuse, by replacing accusatory “you”
statements with less provocative “I” statements.
18. Knowledge and skills needed for effective
interpersonal communication
• Adequate knowledge of subject
area
• An understanding of one's own
values and willingness to
withhold judgment about the
other people’s values.
• Skills in verbal and nonverbal
communication.
• Ability to show empathy and
encourage others.
• Skills in asking questions and
listening.
• Tolerance and patience
• Ability to paraphrase and
summarize the concerns of
individuals and the community.
• Ability to observe and interpret
behavior of other people.
• Ability to use language that
other people understand.
• Skills to effectively use support
materials.
• Confidence
• Flexibility
19. Success for YOU…
…in the new global and diverse
workplace requires
excellent communication skills!
