The document discusses the various elements that must be considered to achieve effective communication. It identifies that all verbal and nonverbal aspects of a communication must be balanced and complementary. It then examines several key areas that must be aware of including: the personal characteristics of the sender and receiver, the environment of the communication, differences in audience, ensuring the message is clear, choosing an effective arrangement for the message, properly presenting the message, and evaluating the communication's effectiveness. Achieving harmony across all these elements is necessary for a message to be understood and impact its intended audience.

1. The Communication Puzzle
Cheryl Bennett
Professor Leiske
Com 200
February 28, 2010

2. The Communication Puzzle
In order for communication to be both effective
and successful, all of its pieces need to fit and
complement each other. All of the verbal pieces need
to balance the nonverbal pieces. Without this
harmony, the image and/or message will be confusing
and therefore unsuccessful and ineffective within the
chosen audience.

3. Contents
 Introduction  Message Awareness
Personal Awareness  Message
 Location Awareness  Arrangement
 Audience Awareness  Presentation
 Evaluate
 Audience
 Communication Cycle
 Gender Awareness
 References 1 & 2
 Cultural Awareness

4. What are the Pieces?

5. Personal Awareness
A. Emotional state
B. Body language
a. Facial expression
b. Body position and stance
C. Appearance
a. Clothing
b. Hygiene
D. Voice volume and tone
E. Preconceptions and Prejudices
F. Communication Flexibility
G. Communication style
(Hybels and Weaver, 2007, pp. 31-38)

6. Location Awareness
A. Size of area
B. Setting: formal or informal
C. Encounter: Private or Public
D. Time of day because of attention
spans; Early or Late
E. Weather because of attention spans;
Hot, Cold, Dry, Wet, Windy, Calm, etc.
F. Area rules
(Hybels & Weaver, 2007, pp. 143-
144)

7. Audience Awareness
A. Cultural differences
B. Gender differences
C. Age
D. Educational, Emotional, and/o
r Intelligence level
E. Verbal cues
F. Nonverbal cues
G. Size of; One person or a
group of people.

8. Audience
A. Who are you trying to reach?
B. Why that particular group?
C. Watch their nonverbal cues to help stay focused.
D. Keep the audience in mind when forming your message, and
choosing your method.
E. Provide feedback to their responses.

9. Gender Awareness
Female Male
communication communication
Roundabout Straight-talking
Intuition Factual
Empathetic Logical
Cooperative Aggressive
Bond/Relationship seeking Status/Competition seeking
(Svecz, 2010)

10. Cultural Awareness
A. Every culture has policies about
proper verbal and nonverbal behavior.
B. Every culture displays emotions
differently.
C. Every culture has its own world views.
D. Every culture has its own word
definitions and meanings.
(American Advertising Federation, 2010)

11. Message Awareness
A. Age, education, culturally
appropriate
B. Clear and Focused
C. Easily understood
D. Length; attention span
E. Relevance to topic and/or
audience
(Hybels and Weaver, 2007, pp. 122-126)

12. Message
A. What do you want and need to say?
B. What is the focus of your message, its importance?
a. To give information, or teach
b. To sway opinions towards your own
c. To exchange ideas, clarify understandings
d. To connect with another individual or group, express empathy
e. To express your feelings, wants, needs, or feedback towards someone else
C. How do you want to say your message; what form should it have;
written, spoken, or both?
D. What do you want your audience to take away from your message?
(Hybels and Weaver, 2007, pp. 122-126)

13. Arrangement
A. Choose a form that relates to your audience the best
a. Auditory (speech)
b. Visual (props, presentations, etc.)
c. Kinetic (audience involvement)
d. A mix of the above methods
B. Consider their informational needs and wants.
C. Consider the culture, educational background, intelligence
level, and emotional need of the audience.

14. Presentation
A. How can you make the broadest impact?
B. How can you multiply the effect(s) of your message?
C. How do you wish to deliver your
message, verbally, nonverbally, or a mix of both?
D. Which style best suits your audience and message?
E. Is it flexible to change per audience?

15. Evaluate
A. What worked and why?
B. What didn’t and why?
C. What did you learn?
D. What could or would you change next time?
E. What would improve future communications?
F. Are your communication skills flexible to change in regards
to your audience, your location, and your message’s
arrangement and presentation?

16. The Communication Cycle

17. Message
Evaluate Convey
Respond Receive
Interpret
(Hybels and Weaver, 2007, p. 83)

18. References

19. American Advertising Federation, (2010).
Cultural Barriers. Retrieved from http://www.aaf.org/default.asp?id=911
on February 27, 2010.
AnimationFactory. (2008.) 3-D Animated Clipart 2. Jupitorimages
Corporation: New York.
Hybels, S., & Weaver II, R., (2007). Communicating Effectively. New York:
McGraw Hill.

20. Svecz, A., (2010). Gender Communication: The Impact Gender has on
Effective Communication. Retrieved from
http://trainingpd.suite101.com/article.cfm/gender-communication
on February 27, 2010.