1. Speaking, Writing, and Listening Skills
Building Relationship Skills

2. Key Concepts Compare and contrast verbal and nonverbal communication
List 4 strategies for speaking effectively
Describe how to listen actively

3. What is Communication?
Every second of every day, people all over the world send messages to each other
Message- any thought or feeling that you share with another person
You send messages when you speak, write, or even move, and you receive messages when you read, watch, or listen
Communication- process of sending and receiving messages
Good communication is the foundation of strong relationships
Communication skills help you reach your goals, speak up for yourself, build friendships, and succeed in your career
Communication is a valuable skills and like any skill it requires practice

4. Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
People communicate and express themselves verbally and nonverbally
Verbal communication- communication using words, both spoken and written
Communication takes place without words, too
People send many messages through facial expressions, posture, eye contact, touch, gestures, and more
Nonverbal communication- communication without words
Most communication is a mixture of verbal and nonverbal messages

5. Verbal Communication
Communication is successful when your message is received as you intended it
You can speak well by organizing your thoughts, paying attention to your delivery, and relating to your listeners
Organize your thoughts- before you talk, organize your thoughts in your mind or on paper
Make sure you know your main point
Be aware of your feelings before speaking
Think twice before saying anything you might later regret

6. Verbal Communication
Enunciate- speak each sound clearly and distinctly
Speak up so others can hear you
Keep in mind that speaking very quickly or slowly may cause people to tune out
Avoid making assumptions- do not assume you know what other people think, how they feel, or what they want (and vice versa)
Ask, and let them speak for themselves
Share your experiences and feelings, and speak for yourself
Relate to your listeners- think about what is appropriate
Tailor your communication to fit your listeners and the occasion
Find a balance between talking and listening

7. Verbal Communication
Check for understanding- check that your audience understands what you are saying
Ask questions
Try expressing your ideas in a different way
A positive attitude gets better results than a negative attitude
Express thanks and appreciation
Pick the right time- pick a time when listeners are interested in communicating with you

8. Nonverbal Communication
All forms of nonverbal communication: gestures, facial expressions, posture, eye contact, physical distance, and even your appearance communicate your thoughts and feelings
Can use nonverbal communication to make your message stronger
Can learn to “read” other people’s nonverbal communication to help you understand their thoughts and feelings

9. Nonverbal Communication
Body language- use of gestures and other body movements to communicate
Posture- way you hold your body
Facial expressions- can encourage or discourage communication
Eye contact- looking into another person’s eyes show that you are friendly, confident, and interested in the speaker
Be aware that in some cultures looking directly into the listener’s eyes can be a sign of disrespect

10. Nonverbal Communication
Tone of voice- your emotions can come through in your tone of voice
Strive to use a tone and inflection that accurately conveys your message
Physical distance- the closer the relationship, the less distance people put between each other when they speak
Appearance- clean and healthy appearance sends a message that you respect and care about yourself and others

11. Writing Effectively
Whether you are writing an or filling out a job application, you will need writing skills to communicate your ideas and present yourself well
Be clear- helps people understand your message
Focus on your main point
Be concise and direct, without a lot of extra words
Organize your thoughts- outlining helps put your ideas in a logical order and helps you decide which of your ideas are main points and which are minor points
Rewrite and revise- start with a first draft, then reread
Reword sentences to make them clearer
Take out words and phrases that do not support your point
Rearrange ideas if necessary
Check spelling, grammar, and punctuation

12. Active Listening
Active listening- listening and responding with full attention to what another person says
Concentrate
Focus on understanding what the speaker is actually saying rather than what you expect him/her to say
Pay attention to body language
Try to minimize distractions
Keep an open mind
Temporarily set aside any prejudice or opinions you may have about the topic at hand
Try not to judge a message before the speaker is done
Give feedback
May be a simple “yes,” “I see,” question, or statement
Try rephrasing in your own words what you think the speaker said
Nonverbal feedback includes maintaining eye contact, nodding your head to show understanding, or shaking your head when you don’t understand

13. Review __________ means to speak each sound clearly and distinctly.
Enunciate
Why is outlining important?
Helps you decide which of your ideas are main points and which are minor points
Describe types of verbal and nonverbal feedback
Verbal can be a question, statement, or words such as “yes” or “I see”
Nonverbal can include keeping eye contact and nodding or shaking your head

14. Review Compare and contrast verbal and nonverbal communication
Verbal uses spoken and written words
Nonverbal takes place without words
List 6 strategies for speaking effectively
Organize your thoughts
Enunciate
Avoid assumptions
Relate to your listeners
Check for understanding
Pick the right time

15. Review Describe how to listen actively
Listening with full attention and responding to what another person says
Involves:
Concentrating
Keeping an open mind
Giving verbal and nonverbal feedback