1. Basic Skills of Human Communication

2. CHS 382 Objectives:
Recognize the basic knowledge regarding the fundamentals of health education/health promotion
Identify different approaches and strategies of health promotion.
Illustrate communication skills utilized in various health settings.
Relate basic communication skills to health education/health promotion profession

3. Outline: Basic communication skills profile Hearing Vs Listening
The concept of communication
Basic communication skills profile
Hearing Vs Listening
Overview of the communication process
Aspects of communication
Barriers in communication
Essentials of successful communication
NVC

4. How good are your communication skills?

5. What does communication mean?
Communication is the art of transmitting information, ideas and attitudes from one person to another.
Communication is the process of meaningful interaction among human beings

6. Communication - Meaning
Communication is a dynamic process…
Through this process we convey a thought or feeling to someone else.
How it is received depends on a set of events, stimuli, that person is exposed to.
‘how you say’ ‘what you say’ plays an important role in communication.

7. Communication is a Series of Experiences
Smell
Hearing
Seeing
Taste
Touch

8. Basic Communication Skills Profile
________________________________________________
Communication Order Learned Extent Used Extent Trained
____________________________________________
Listening First First Fourth
Speaking Second Second Third
Reading Third Third Second
Writing Fourth Fourth First

9. Myths about Listening Listening and hearing are the same
Good readers are good listeners
Smarter people are better listeners
Listening improves with age
Listening skills are difficult to learn

10. You must choose to participate in the process of listening.
Hearing Vs. Listening
Hearing – Physical process, natural, passive
Listening – Physical as well
as mental process, active,
learned process, a skill
Listening is hard !!
You must choose to participate in the process of listening.

11. Active Listening
The process of hearing spoken words and noting nonverbal behavior.
Active listening takes energy and concentration.

12. VALUE OF LISTENING Listening to others is an elegant art.
Good listening reflects good manners.
Listening carefully to the instructions of superiors improve competence and performance.
The result of poor listening skill could be disastrous in business, employment and social relations.
Good listening skill can improve social relations and conversation.

13. Stages of the Listening Process:
Hearing
Focusing on the message
Comprehending and interpreting
Analyzing and Evaluating
Responding
Remembering

14. Barriers to Active Listening:
Environmental barriers
Physiological barriers
Psychological barriers
Selective listening
Negative listening attitudes
Personal reactions
Poor motivation

15. Improving Listening Skills
By not being Preoccupied
Being Open Minded & Non Defensive
Minimizing Interruptions
Effective Listening is: Hearing, interpreting when necessary, understanding the message and relating to it.
By Asking Questions

16. The Communication Process

17. An individual has an idea to communicate
Elements of the Communication Process
An individual has an idea to communicate
SENDER

18. The idea is encoded……. Perception Self-concept Family Culture Skills
Feelings
Attitudes
Values
SENDER
Individuals ENCODE ideas according to their own unique perceptions

19. The encoded idea is sent in a message…
SENDER Self-concept Family Culture Skills Feelings Attitudes Values
RECEIVER Self-concept Family Culture Skills Feelings Attitudes Values
MESSAGE
Individuals DECODE ideas according to their own unique perceptions

20. The receiver responds with feedback
SENDER Self-concept Family Culture Skills Feelings Attitudes Values
RECEIVER Self-concept Family Culture Skills Feelings Attitudes Values
MESSAGE
FEEDBACK
Feedback helps to ensure that the message received has been decoded correctly

21. Channel - the means of conveying the message
SENDER Self-concept Family Culture Skills Feelings Attitudes Values
RECEIVER Self-concept Family Culture Skills Feelings Attitudes Values
MESSAGE
FEEDBACK
CONTEXT
Context - the situation, environment or circumstances of the communication

22. Interference changes or distorts the message
CHANNEL
SENDER Self-concept Family Culture Skills Feelings Attitudes Values
RECEIVER Self-concept Family Culture Skills Feelings Attitudes Values
MESSAGE
FEEDBACK
CONTEXT
Interference changes or distorts the message

23. The communication process is continuous…
CHANNEL
SENDER Self-concept Family Culture Skills Feelings Attitudes Values
RECEIVER Self-concept Family Culture Skills Feelings Attitudes Values
MESSAGE
MESSAGE
MESSAGE
INTERFERENCE
FEEDBACK
FEEDBACK
FEEDBACK
CONTEXT

24. Sender - the one who conveys the message to another person.
To sum up, there are essential aspects of the communication process as the following: ….
Sender - the one who conveys the message to another person.
Message - the thought, idea, or emotion conveyed.
Channel - how the message is sent.

25. Aspects of Communication (Cont.)
Receiver - physiological/ psychological components.
Feedback - the receiver’s response to the sender.
Influences - Culture, education, emotions and other factors involved.

26. Developing Effective Feedback Skills:
Focus on the specific topic
Keep feedback impersonal
Keep feedback goal oriented
Make feedback well timed
Ensure understanding
Direct feedback toward a subject that is controllable by the recipient

27. Barriers in Communication (that have to do with the SENDER)
Unwillingness to say things differently
Unwillingness to relate to others differently
Unwillingness to learn new approaches
Lack of self-confidence
Lack of enthusiasm
Prejudice

28. Barriers in Communication (that have to do with the SENDER)
Disagreement between verbal and non-verbal messages
Negative self image
Lack of feedback
Lack of motivation and training
Language and vocabulary level
Lack of self awareness

29. Barriers in Communication (that have to do with the RECEVER)
Selective Perception
Unwillingness to change
Lack of interest in the topic/subject
Prejudice & belief system
Personal value system

30. General Barriers in Communication
Environment
The venue
The effect of noise
Temperature in the room
Mood
Other People – Status, Education, competition
Time

31. General Barriers in Communication
Inappropriate medium
Assumptions/Misconception
Emotions
Language differences
Poor listening skills
Distractions

32. ESSENTIALS OF COMMUNICATION “Dos”
Always think ahead about what you are going to say.
Use simple words and phrases that are understood by every body.
Increase your knowledge on all subjects you are required to speak.
Speak clearly and audibly.
Check twice with the listener whether you have been understood accurately or not

33. ESSENTIALS OF COMMUNICATION “Dos”
In case of an interruption, always do a little recap of what has been already said.
Always pay undivided attention to the speaker while listening.
While listening, always make notes of important points.
Always ask for clarification if you have failed to grasp other’s point of view.
Repeat what the speaker has said to check whether you have understood accurately.

34. ESSENTIALS OF COMMUNICATION DON’Ts
Do not instantly react and mutter something in anger.
Do not use technical terms & terminologies not understood by majority of people.
Do not speak too fast or too slow.
Do not speak in inaudible surroundings, as you won’t be heard.

35. ESSENTIALS OF COMMUNICATION DON’Ts
Do not assume that every body understands you.
While listening do not glance here and there as it might distract the speaker.
Do not interrupt the speaker.
Do not jump to the conclusion that you have understood every thing.

36. Non-Verbal Communication

37. Definition of NVC
“All communication other than that involving words and language” “Bodily communication, other than words and language”

38. Categorisation of NVC – Paralanguage
Paralanguage consists of the non-verbal elements that accompany speech. It includes:
The way we speak (also known as prosodic features)
Volume, pitch, intonation, speed of delivery, articulation, rhythm
The sounds we make other than language
Laughter, crying, yawning, sighing, screeching, coughing
Filled pauses such as ‘Mmmm’, ‘Ahhh’, ‘Ummm’
Unfilled pauses

39. Categorisation of NVC – Physical Appearance
Clothing, hairstyle, make-up, jewellery, tattoos, piercings, glasses, accessories such as bags
You only have to think of the huge industries associated with the above examples to recognise the cultural significance of physical appearance

40. Categorisation of NVC – Physical Appearance
Many societies had (and some still do have) highly regulated codes of dress, often linked to rank and status
It is the body’s capacity to communicate aspects of an individual’s identity which makes us so aware of our physical appearance

41. Categorisation of NVC – Physical Appearance
Self expression in contemporary culture is also limited by requirements to wear uniforms or to observe dress codes
Not necessarily restricted to schools and public services
Many corporations and organisations expect employees to communicate a corporate rather than an individual identity

43. Further Categories of NVC - Activity
Body movement (kinesics)
Closeness (proxemics)
Touching (haptics)
Eye movement
Smells

44. Body Movement – Kinesics:
Gesture, facial expression, posture, head nodding, orientation
Emblems – gestures with specific cultural meanings attached
Illustrators reinforce words of speakers

45. Closeness – Proxemics:
Study of how we use space and distance
Ideas of ‘personal space’, ‘invasion of personal space’ and ‘comfort zones’
Use of objects as ‘markers’ to indicate ownership of space

46. Proxemics

47. Touching - Haptics
Physical contact such as holding, stroking, shaking hands, guiding
Linked to proxemics
Touch is very important in our early development
Many rules and taboos regulating physical contact

48. Eye Movement:
Eye movement, length and direction of gaze, changes in pupil size
We are hypersensitive to information imparted by eyes
Can be argued eyes reveal the truthfulness of what is being said

49. Smell:
Humans do not have a particularly well-developed sense of smell compared with other species
Perfumes and deodorants send powerful messages.
A rapidly growing industry has developed around the use of smells

50. Complex Messages:
Rare for these non-verbal codes to operate in isolation from one another, or separately from language
We create and perceive messages using signs from a range of verbal and non-verbal codes
To make this even more complex, these signs and codes to not always pull in the same direction

51. Communicative Competence
A competent communicator will:
Recognise and use different verbal and non-verbal styles as they are suited to different social situations
Recognise the relation between verbal and non-verbal elements in communication

52. In conclusion:
…In the new global and diverse workplace requires excellent communication skills!