| Communicating is a vital part of success in all areas of | | | | hear us? If we wrote a letter - did they get it? If we |
| life. Communication problems contribute to: | | | | sent an SMS - did they understand it? |
| - People leaving their jobs, | | | | 4. Decoding - this is how the person getting the |
| - Relationships problems - separation and divorce | | | | message interprets the message. It may or may not |
| - Parenting difficulties | | | | be the same as what the sender intend. Have you |
| - Loneliness and depression | | | | ever received an email that sounded off-hand and |
| You can see that communication is one of the most | | | | thought the sender was annoyed? It may be that the |
| important ingredients in success and happiness. One of | | | | sender was overloaded with work and only had a few |
| the leading causes of problems in relationships is | | | | seconds to send a quick email - that was all. But you |
| unclear communication. When you think about it - it's | | | | were expecting a friendlier message. |
| not surprising. There are so many opportunities for | | | | 5. Receiver - this is the person receiving the message. |
| communication to go wrong. Let's look at how. | | | | We are all different so we have different ways of |
| There are 5 parts to all communication and at every | | | | interpreting messages based on all sort of things like: |
| stage something can be unclear so the process starts | | | | language, culture, physical wellness, stress levels, |
| to go off track. | | | | personality,age etc. |
| 1. Sender - this is the person (or autoresponder!) | | | | All these factors mean there are lots of ways |
| sending the message. Are they clear about what | | | | messages can get confused, misinterpreted or 'lost in |
| message they are sending and exactly how they | | | | translation.' |
| want it to be received? | | | | The solution to all this is to be as clear and detailed as |
| 2. Encoding - this is what is said either in speaking or | | | | we can when we send messages. This doesn't mean |
| writing - which words are used. Do they give the | | | | sending long- winded messages - it means being clear |
| meaning that the sender intended? The person getting | | | | and to-the-point. Exactly which pub do you want to |
| the message may think that the person sending it is | | | | meet at and exactly what time? |
| annoyed whereas the person sending it may have just | | | | Add a friendly touch - it only takes a few more |
| been in a hurry.Is the message clear? Justin might say | | | | seconds. |
| to Lisa 'Let's meet for a drink at the local pub' Is Justin's | | | | Be aware of people's cultural or religious backgrounds |
| 'local pub' the same pub as Lisa's'local pub.Making | | | | or that English might be their second language or that |
| assumptions can lead to confusion. | | | | they might have some sort of disability. |
| 3. The Channel - this is how you send the message. | | | | You can see from this that communicating clearly |
| Are you saying it? Writing a letter? Sending an email? | | | | means we need to be aware of these 5 areas where |
| An SMS? Messages can be confused or | | | | our messages can get confused. Taking the time to |
| misinterpreted because the channel used created a | | | | remember these 5 areas can make the difference |
| problem. Also, the sender might choose a channel that | | | | between communication success and failure. |
| upsets the receiver. We've all heard about people | | | | Successful people are clear communicators because |
| ending relationships by SMS. How do think the receiver | | | | they take the time to 'respect the receiver' - it's not |
| of that feels? If we said something - did the person | | | | that difficult and well worth the effort. |