1. Communication Skills An important thing to have!

2. Why are communication skills important?  We spend most of our lives with other people.  Communication: the process where a person sends a message to another person to transmit info or get a response.

3. Communication Skills  Good communication skills – help develop satisfying and healthy relationships.  Poor communication skills – can get in the way of forming & maintaining good relationships & can lead to misunderstandings & bad feelings.

5. Types of Communication  There are two types of communication:  Verbal – words we use as well as the tone & loudness of our voice.  Nonverbal – body language, facial expressions & gestures.

6. WARNING!  MISUSE OF EITHER VERBAL OR NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION CAN CREATE CONFUSION OR MISUNDERSTANDING!

7.  In your notebook write down a recent misunderstanding you had.  What was the cause of the misunderstanding?  How could the misunderstanding have been avoided?

8. How to avoid misunderstandings  A misunderstanding results from failing to communicate clearly.

9. How Do We Avoid Misunderstandings? 1) Send the same message on verbal and non-verbal channels. Make sure what you say and how you say it are the same. Make sure what you say and how you say it are the same.

10. 2. Be specific Say exactly what you mean. If you are not specific the other person may now know what you mean. Say exactly what you mean. If you are not specific the other person may now know what you mean. 3. Ask questions Works well if you are teaching someone – “I don’t understand.” Works well if you are teaching someone – “I don’t understand.”

11. 4. Paraphrase Make sure a message is clear by repeating what is being said. Make sure a message is clear by repeating what is being said. “Okay, let me make sure I understand what you mean…the sky is blue.” “Okay, let me make sure I understand what you mean…the sky is blue.”