1. Description of Communication Skills
GXEX1406
Thinking and Communication Skills
Description of Communication Skills

2. What is Communication?
GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 1 Description of Communication Skills

3. What is Communication?
When you explain an idea to someone, you are trying to share the idea.
If your communication is successful, then both you and the other person have a common understanding about that idea.
If the communication is unsuccessful, then you may have a misunderstanding that can affect your working relationship and your business.
In essence the real communication that occurs is not merely the words spoken or written by you, but also what another person understands about the words or actions you have used.
GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 1 Description of Communication Skills

4. What is Communication? (cont…)
Transmission of a messages from one person to another
Transfer of meaning between and among people

5. The importance of Communication Skills to You
Because communication is so important in business, businesses want and need people with good communication skills.
The recruiters ranked four communication skills (writing, speaking, listening, and interpersonal communicating) in the top criteria for selecting employees.
Unfortunately, business’s need for employees with good communication skills is all too often not fulfilled.
By improving your communication ability, you improve your chances for success.
GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 1 Description of Communication Skills

6. Activity 1
We spend a lot of our time communication everywhere. We do this in many ways. Complete the following table by considering your communication at ____________ over the last two days.
Who did I communicate with?
Why did I need/want to communicate
How did I communicate?
GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 1 Description of Communication Skills

7. Objectives of Communication
To enquire
To inform
To persuade
To entertain

8. Factors involved in the communication process:
Perception: ‘we know that we exist because we perceive’
Sender: formulates the message; ensure credibility
Message: what is communicated; can vary in complexity; simple & complex
Channel: nonverbal, oral, written and electronic methods
Audience: its size, familiarity with the content, attitudes towards subject
Transfer of meaning: goal of all communication activity; meaning transferred may be different from the intended meaning of the sender
GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 1 Description of Communication Skills

9. Factors involved in the communication process (cont…):
Feedback: indicates the transfer of meaning in the message; weather an accurate conception of the original message was made; evaluate the effectiveness of the message sent.
Noise: refers to any interference with the clear transfer of meaning; e.g. acoustics, sound system, disturbances.
GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 1 Description of Communication Skills

10. Factors involved in the communication process (cont…):
Channel e.g. verbal, written, non-verbal, electronic
Message
Sender
Influenced by:
Feeling
Attitudes
Values
Experiences
Culture
Self-esteem
Receiver
Influenced by:
Feelings
Attitudes
Values
Experiences
Culture
Self-esteem
Interference
Feedback
GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 1 Description of Communication Skills

11. Communication in IT industry
Explain technical information
Understand and implement policies
Answer the telephone
Respond to enquiries from clients and colleagues
Negotiate solutions to hardware and software problems, service agreements, supply issues, etc.
Implement ethical work practices and procedures.
Represent yourself, your team and your organization to clients.
Educate others about new technology.
GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 1 Description of Communication Skills

12. Activity 2
Think of someone you know personally who you believe is a good communicator.
a. What skills do they have that make them a good communicator?
b. Share your ideas in a small group and produce a list of communication skills.
c. Compare your responses with the list in the text (next slide). Can you add anything more?
GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 1 Description of Communication Skills

13. Skills of a Good Communicator
Speaks and writes clearly
Listens actively to other people
Shows that they understand the other person’s ideas by giving feedback
Looks at the other person when speaking or listening
Gives the other person time to say what they want to say
Shows respect for the views of others
Asks questions to show interest and makes sure they understand the other person
Uses appropriate non-verbal behavior such as gestures and facial expressions
Does not interrupt or speak over the top of the other person.
GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 1 Description of Communication Skills

14. Activity 3
Prepare in 10 minutes about ________ and do a short presentation (not more than 1 minute) in front of the class.
GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 1 Description of Communication Skills

15. Activity 3 (cont…)
By not pointing to anybody, think and list of bad communication habits (presenter and listener).
Share with the group and list of communication habits within yourself that you want to get rid of.
GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 1 Description of Communication Skills

16. Activity 4
Complete the following table by adding those skills you think necessary to convey your meaning accurately when communicating.
Sender
Receiver
GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 1 Description of Communication Skills