1. Effective
Communication 5
Some methods of communication are more appropriate for
certain tasks.
 Usually, you will be told what to do, but sometimes you may
have to make up your own mind.
 When deciding what method to use, think about the
following aspects:

2. Do you need a response
immediately?
 Talking to someone face to face or over the
phone means that you are both communicating
at the same time.
 This allows the person you are communicating
with to respond immediately to what you are
saying
 Communicating verbally is often very quick and
effective.
 Using written communication can take longer to
get a response.

3. Do you need a permanent record?
 Written forms of communication provide a
record of what has been said.
 This is a benefit if you need to refer back
to what has been said.
 There is usually no record of verbal
communication.
 It might be difficult to remember the
details of a conversation you had a few
weeks or months ago.

4. Who are you communicating with
and why?
 In the workplace you will need to
communicate with a range of people both
inside and outside the office.
 On some occasions you will need a formal
method of communicating.
 On others a more informal method will be
appropriate.

5. Question
Draw up a table with the following headings and place
each statement under the appropriate column:
Effective Poor communication
communication is is when you:
when you:

6. Question cont’d
 Don’t pay attention when someone is speaking.
 Listen carefully to understand what the other person means
 Use language that the other person can understand.
 Spell words incorrectly so people don’t know what you mean.
 Use appropriate language ( the right words for the situation).
 Use words people can’t understand.
 Use words that are alright to use with your friends, but not in the workplace
e.g. “Hi instead of hello”
 Keep talking without asking if the listener understands what you are saying.
 Use correct spelling when you have to write a message.
 Ask questions to check what the other person means.
 Don’t use facial expressions to help you communicate.
 Assume that the other person knows exactly what you are talking about
 Do not assume that the other person knows what you are talking about
 Check that the other person understands what you mean