Demonstrative Communication/2013

Communication is the exchange and flow of information and ideas from one person to another; it involves a sender transmitting an idea, information, or feeling to a receiver (U.S. Army, 1983). There are 2 basic forms of communication, verbal and non-verbal but many barriers to successfully sending a message. Not only must the message that the sender is trying to send be sent in a clear context but the content of the message must hold a certain value to the receiver for them to actively listen to the message and truly hear what the sender is sending. If the message is not clear or there are barriers to the receiver getting the message then effective communication will not take place. The primary part of communication is the message or thought that the sender wants to send to the receiver. The senders primary role is to send the message in a context that keeps the receiver interested using Verbal, Non-verbal, Visual or written communication while ensuring that the message is being received and understood in the way that the sender intended. If the sender of the message sends to much information at once it can have a negative effect on the receiver as they may become overwhelmed with the information and not be able to keep up with the flow of the message and the sender will lose the impact of the message. While info overload can hurt the transmission of the message the Tone of the sender plays a very important role in the willingness of the receiver to receive the message. If the senders tone is mono-tone, rude, rough or even very soft (Tough to hear) the receiver may lose interest and begin to passively listen to the message which will enable the sender to effectively communicate the message. Although the sender’s role is vital to the communication process the receiver has the toughest role in my eyes. “The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.” (Ralph Nicoles) Although listening seems to be an easy task it is very elusive, it’s not act of hearing it’s the process of actively listening. I like to use this phrase in my day to day “We have 2 ears and one Mouth, what do you think is more important, talking or listening”. The receiver’s role in the communication process is extremely vital to the sender’s message; the receiver has many ways to let the sender understand the message is being received. The receiver can give the sender positive or negative feedback that the message is being received or not received well. Some of the ways a receiver can let the sender know that they are actively listening are, taking notes, asking questions that pertain to the topic, posture, demeanor, a smile, or even a nod of the head. The positive feedback will let the sender feel comfortable moving on and that the message is being received in the way the sender intended. The receiver can also give the sender negative feedback that consist of – Asking questions that do not pertain to the message (When is break or Do you know what time it is?), a Frown, Slouching, sleeping, not making eye contact, doodling. I am sure there are more but you get the point, this is also valuable to the sender as the sender will know that the message is not being received well and a change must take place perhaps a change of setting, change of tone, perhaps a break, or even a session of Q and A to get the receiver involved in the communication process. As you can see, the sending and receiving process of communication is difficult as it is, what happens when other barriers take place? There are many barriers to Demonstrative communication none more harmful than the other, if the message is not received for what every the reason there will be no understanding of the content. Some of the key barriers are - Culture and background, Noise, external and internal, Perception, Jargon and