INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

1. INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION • The transfer of information from one person to another, both verbally and non-verbally. • 75% of our waking hours are spent communicating.

2. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS… • Of a message, 7% of it is verbally communicated… • …and 93% is nonverbally communicated.

3. NOT OPPOSITES… • Verbal and nonverbal communication are intricately interwoven. • If nonverbal cues do not match the tone and implication of the spoken word, the flow of communication is hindered. • The receiver of the message tends to base the intention of the sender on the nonverbal cues he receives. • In effect, a miscommunication from the sender results in a misinterpretation of the receiver.

4. VERBAL COMMUNICATION • Verbal communication is organized by language. • Therefore, follow the Do’s and Don’ts of sending messages • Prescription for clear reception of messages

5. DO’S AND DON’TS OF SENDING MESSAGES… • Do speak clearly and slowly. • Do maintain eye contact. • Do pay attention to tone, tempo, and pitch to ensure you are conveying the correct message. • Do try to leave out extra emotions.

6. …..cont • Don’t use meaningless words or expressions intermittently that distorts your message. • Don’t use phrases that lessen a person’s verbal image such as “you know what I mean” or “sort of.” • Don’t use harsh phrases such as “you don’t understand” or “you’re wrong” which downplay the intellectual capability of the listener.

7. Effective Reception… • The key to effective reception of messages is effective listening. • Listening is a skill that can be learned to enhance clarity in message exchange. • We spend 50% more time listening than we do talking. • Better listening skills develop better speaking skills because of awareness.

8. INEFFECTIVE LISTENING… • Without listening to details and context, important information can be left out. • Conflicts then arise. • Overlooked information inhibits solutions and results in lost business time and revenue. • Personal relationships will deteriorate.

9. HOW TO LISTEN EFFECTIVELY… • Eye contact is a number one priority for focus. • It lets the other person know you are paying attention. • Beneficial Listening: This means nodding or interjecting phrases such as “right” allows the speaker to know you are following his train of thought. • Try not to translate what is being said into what you want to hear: self-fulfilling prophecy. • Pay attention to nonverbal cues.

10. REAL COMMUNICATION… • Real communication occurs when we listen with understanding from the other person’s point of view. • Test yourself with a series of questions such as “what did I learn from the other person?” or “who did more talking and listening?” • Evaluate your answers and decide how to improve your communication next time.

11. NOT FOR EVERYONE…… • Effective listening is not for everyone. • To deal with the non-effective listener, clarify what you want to say prior to speaking. • If your ideas are clear, the listener is more likely to be receptive. • Before meeting, give the to-be-listener an idea of what you want to discuss.

12. NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION • Nonverbal communication is organized by body language, the oldest language. • Education teaches us to prefer using words, so we tend to overlook the impact of nonverbal cues. • Body language involves holding or moving your body to give or receive information. • Words can be manipulated, but gestures are harder to control. • When in doubt, trust the nonverbal message.

13. …cont • Nonverbal communication includes facial expressions, eye contact, tone of voice, body posture and motions, and even silence. • Of the 93% of nonverbal communication… • 55% is through facial expressions… • …and 38% is through vocal tones.

14. EVOLVED BODY LANGUAGE • Two types of body language evolved from evolution: • 1. Open body language: open hands and unfold arms to show you mean the other person no harm. In the past, it was used to show there were no weapons being concealed. • 2. Closed body language: we are physically showing we are hiding something or are not open to what the other person is saying. • Open body language is preferable to cooperation, negotiation, and open-mindedness.

15. FACIAL EXPRESSIONS… • Facial expressions continually change throughout conversation and are monitored constantly by the recipient. • They are primarily used to communicate emotions. • Evidence proves there are similarities across cultures.

16. COMMUNICATION THROUGH EYES… • Nonverbal communication is always revealed through the eyes. • Normal eye contact means communication is open. • Looking down indicates rejection. • Avoiding eye contact suggests that the person is not comfortable with the conversation’s topic or the other person. • Stares can indicate dislike. • A person may be sincere if the eyes move upward when discussing stories about the past, for eyes move upward to retrieve information. • However, if the eyes move side to side when recalling information, the person is likely to be lying.

17. COMMUNICATION THROUGH TOUCH… • Creates a more direct message. • Used improperly, it creates barriers of mistrust. • Touch conveys the emotional impact of the message as well as context. • In conjunction, personal space is a nonverbal tool. • The higher your position, the more and better space you will have and the easier it will be to invade the territory of a lower-status person.

18. YEAH OR NAY… • Nonverbal communication indicates whether one approves or rejects the message. • If the speaker shifts positions, and the listener shifts to match the speaker’s position, he is silently signaling approval. • In contrast, rejection positions include folded arms, crossed legs, or body turned away from the speaker.

19. SILENCE SPEAKS… • Silence can have a positive or negative impact on the communication process. • It can provide a peaceful situation by signaling agreement or create tension and uneasiness.