Oral communication involves the exchange of verbal messages through speech. Studies show that 70% of communication time is spent communicating, with 45% listening and 30% speaking. Oral communication skills are important for problem solving, resolving conflicts, influencing others, and being an effective negotiator. Non-verbal communication such as gestures, facial expressions, and body language also provide important messages that account for over 50% of communication. Developing strong oral and non-verbal communication abilities can improve relationships and outcomes in various settings like meetings, negotiations, and conversations.

1. Oral communication
Meaning :-
 Known as verbal communication
 Interchange of verbal messages
 Speech precedes writing
 Studies say that 70% of our time goes in communicating out of which 45% relates to listening
and 30%to speaking
 Need for Learning :-
 To help problem solving
 To resolve conflict
 Influence people to work together
 Persuade others
 Assertive without being aggressive
 Develop listening skills
 Be an effective negotiator
 Make a proposal
 Principles :-
 One has to know when to talk, and when not to talk but listen
 How to talk – tone, pitch, modulation
 Be able to interpret the listener’s facial expressions, physical gestures, movements, attitude
 Control over own body talk
 According to the research conducted by Albert Mehrabiam,
A speaker’s total message comprises of –
Verbal – 7%
Tone of Voice – 38%

2. Visual – 55%
 Characteristics of effective OC :-
 Consider the objective
 Interest level of the receiver
 Be sincere
 Simple language, familiar words
 Be brief and precise
 Generalize- avoid vagueness
 Give full facts
 Do not assume
 Polite tone and words

3.  Cut insulting message
 Give time to respond

Barriers to effective OC :-
 Listening is psychological act affected by several factors-
 Status – feeling of superior
 Halo effect –based on impressions of the listener
 Complexes - lack of confidence
 Closed and all knowing mind
 Poor retention
 Premature evaluation ,hurried conclusions
 Abstracting – partial or selective listening
 Slant - biased presentation

4.  Cognitive dissonance - failing to accept any thing new
 Language barrier
Conversation Control
 Is an art
 Ability to listen and reply smartly, positively at appropriate time
 Includes technique of changing the direction of conversation smoothly
 Ability to allow a discussion uninterrupted
 Result of mutual understanding and agreement
Factors that help conversation control
 Ability to notice cues and clues
 Recognizing cues and clues

5.  Interpreting signs and signals
 Parallel conversation
 Sequential conversation
 Reflection and empathy
 Sense of time as a skill
 Summarizing
Applications of conversation control
 Meetings
 Agenda as a control-
- Advance circulation of agenda papers
- The chair person
- The procedure
 Be assertive without being aggressive
 Conversational attack and controlled response
 Negotiations through conversation control
Non Verbal Communication
 Which does not involve words or speech
 Involves medium of gestures, signs, bodily movements, facial expressions, tone of voice,
colour, time, space, style of writing, choice of words
 Significance
• 70-90% communication is non-verbal
• Words—objective information
• Actions speak louder than words
• Words conceal actions reveal

6. • Non-verbal—true feelings and attitudes
• Central to interpersonal relationships
• Leaders and managers—to create impression, manage
interaction
• Greater impact
Characteristics of non verbal communication
 Instrumental body movements
 Conscious or unconscious
 Classification of non verbal communication:-
 Symbols of body language- emblems, illustrators, body manipulators, facial expressions,
regulators (eye movements)
 Face facts
 Positive gestures
 Negative gestures
 Signs of nervousness - hands in pockets, covering mouth with hand , scratching, biting nails,
glancing sideways, drumming fingers, tapping your foot, sitting on the edge of the chair,
rocking your legs, straightening your tie, setting hair, etc
 Some more are- adjusting glasses, blinking a lot, playing with jewellery, clicking pen,
frequently sipping water, starting to smoke etc
 Gestures showing aggressiveness- staring, pointing at someone, showing a fist, folding both
arms, bending over someone
 Gestures of rudeness- shake hands too hard, give a limp handshake, stand too close, puff,
whisper in a gathering, yawn, smirk, look at watch, work while someone talks etc.
 Gestures of self importance- eyes closed while talking, head bent backwards while talking,
steeping with fingers, peering over glasses, waving key rings etc
 Lack of good sense - banging table at a joke, chewing pens, air quoting, waving hands around
you, wringing hands, wiping hands across face etc.

7.  Showing superiority of position – shouting orders, smoking in someone’s space, unwanted
touch, continuing to work as others speak etc
 Lateral gestures – wordless signs of power, position, taste, culture such as decoration, size of
office, dress, grooming
 Also include broad categories like- physical setting, dress-clothing and shoes, personal space
 Personal space can be categorized as – public zone, social zone, friendly zone, intimate zone
 Advantage of learning Non Verbal communication
 Ability to act as a victim of power posturing
 Reassuring actions and gestures
 Avoid the double cross, use comfort gestures skillfully
 Using comfort gestures skillfully
 Reassuring standing postures
Types of Non-verbal Codes
• Kinesics
• Oculesics
• Haptics
• Proxemics
• Appearance &Artifacts
• Paralanguage / Vocalics
• Chronemics
• Kinesics
Articulation of body
• Facial expressions : Infinite in variety; Neutral, relaxed, tense, uplifted, droopy; 55% impact
• Postures : Right posture: Head position, legs, angle of the body, body relaxation and tension,
height; Perceived competence

8. • Gestures : Arms & Hands; Conscious & Spontaneous
• Oculesics
Eye Contact
• Direct and powerful form; most noticeable
• Effect on three components of credibility: dynamism, competence, trustworthiness
• Avoidance of eye contact
• Gaze and mutual gaze
• Differ among cultures
• Helps both the sender and receiver
Proxemics
Spatial Relationships
• Personal space / personal bubble / comfort zone
• Territorial boundaries directly influence daily encounters
• Distance is crucial to send right signals
• Intimate, personal, social, public
• Culture-specific
Appearance &Artifacts
• Crucial first impression / Creates an image
• Major factor in judging a person / provides the first available data
• Clothing, grooming, accessories
• Status, personality, credibility, capability
• Inferences are made—right or wrong

9. • Necessary to pay attention
• Paralanguage / Vocalics
• Voice communicates something beyond language
• Paralanguage: all vocally-produced sound that is not a direct form of linguistic communication
• Non-lexical vocal communication: Tone, inflection, pitch, intensity, articulation, rhythm,
quality
• Dysfluencies / pauses , tempo / pacing
• Chronemics
• Use of time as a message system
• Punctuality, deadline, waiting time
• Create an impact
• Amount of importance we give
• Rules and customs vary in cultures
• Haptics
Touch / Tactile Communication
To comfort
To establish dominance
To establish bonds
Intentions, feelings, relationship, respect
Functional , social, friendship, love
Important means—convey warmth, comfort, reassurance

10. Guidelines for developing non verbal communication
 Watch and read the non verbal cues
 Know your own body language
 Touching and its context
 Communication break down
 Lack of rapport- key word is harmony