Communication Concepts and Process

Study Notes

Communication is the process of sharing information and understanding between individuals or groups.
It is essentially the act of conveying ideas, opinions, facts, values, and other kinds of information.

The word "communication" originates from the Latin word "communicare", meaning "to make common to many, share".

Idea Formulation: The sender develops the message they want to convey.
Encoding: The sender transforms their ideas into a form that can be transmitted. This could be verbal (spoken or written), non-verbal, or visual.
Decoding: The receiver interprets the message based on their understanding of the encoding methods used.
Feedback: The receiver responds to the message, indicating they have understood and processed the information.

Information Sharing: Efficient and effective communication enables the sharing of essential information.
Problem Solving & Decision Making: Communication facilitates collaboration and exchange of ideas, leading to better problem-solving and decision-making.
Motivation: Communication can inspire, motivate, and encourage individuals to achieve goals.
Building Relationships: Communication fosters positive interactions and strengthens relationships between individuals and groups.
Job Satisfaction: Effective communication within an organization can contribute to higher job satisfaction and morale.
External Relations: Organizations use communication to maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, and other external stakeholders.
Boosting Morale: Clear and positive communication helps boost employee morale and overall team spirit.
Instructions and Orders: Communication is vital for providing clear instructions and directives.
Advice & Persuasion: Communication is used to offer advice, persuade individuals, make suggestions, and secure agreement.
Education & Training: Communication serves as the foundation for education, training, and knowledge transfer.

Verbal Communication: Involves using spoken words to convey messages and thoughts.
- Includes both oral and written communication.
- Tone and pitch can convey emotions and the speaker's attitude towards the listener.
Non-Verbal Communication: Involves using visual cues and body language to communicate.
- Includes facial expressions, body movements, gestures, eye contact, touch, distance, pitch and tone of voice.
- Non-verbal cues can add meaning and context to verbal communication.
Visual Communication: Uses images, graphics, symbols, and other visual elements to convey information.
- Examples include charts, photographs, sketches, videos, graphs, emojis, and GIFs.
- Visual communication effectively communicates information and concepts that might be difficult to express with words alone.