Effective communication skills are critical for success in nearly any profession. Successful professionals know the importance of communication. They understand the process and how, if correctly used, it will help them be more successful on and off the job. Here are 7 elements that are essential to successful communication.1. Sender
Unfortunately, in the transference of information, the other person(s) may not understand the message the way the sender intended. In fact, it is not uncommon for the other person(s) to respond in some affirmative manner communicating the message was received. This does not mean the message was understood the way the sender intended. 2. Receiver
3. MessageWhile you may carefully choose the words to speak, words alone represent a small percentage of what is received by the other person. In fact, according to the literature, words carry the least value in the message.
4. Channel
5. Noise
6. FeedbackFeedback is the process of determining if the message has been properly received. This can be initiated by the sender or receiver. The sender, for example, may ask the receiver to repeat the message to confirm that the message was received as intended. On the other hand, a good listener will provide feedback to confirm that he/she correctly received the message. Feedback may occur in four ways.
Feedback Examples
Each of these different forms of feedback has a place in the communication process. Two things occur when feedback is provided. First, it helps ensure the message was clearly received. Second, it is a way of valuing the sender. When the receiver takes the time to make sure the message was correctly heard and understood it communicates that the sender is important…valuable. 7. ContextContext is another way of taking into consideration the setting. Examples of context include:
Click on the link below to see a helpful diagram of the communication process. https://www.switzeronleadership.com/wp-content/uploads/Communication-process-diagram.pdf
Maryland GovPics/CC-BY 2.0 The seven elements in the speech communication process are as follows: sender, message, receiver, feedback, channel (or medium), interference and situation. All of these elements interact to determine the effectiveness of the communication. A change in any one of them is capable of producing a different result. The sender is the one delivering the message. The sender functions as a speaker or a writer depending on the method of communication. The message is what the sender wants to convey. In oral communication, non-verbal language becomes part of the message, intentional or not. While the message is extremely important, whether or not it is effectively communicated largely depends on the other elements. The receiver is the targeted audience. For oral communication, he is a listener. For written communication, he is the reader. He brings his own life experiences to the table, and these influence what he hears (or reads) and understands. Feedback refers to responses from the audience. These responses indicate what has actually been communicated or understood and influences how the sender continues. The channel or medium is the vehicle through which the communication takes place, whether oral or written. Interference has the potential to greatly affect the message. Any noise made during the delivery or any interruption aimed toward the receiver affects his understanding and the accuracy with which he hears or reads the message. The situation of the communication affects the message as well. Degrees of formality, comfort and emotion all affect the reception of the message. Ultimately, the goal of communication is to get the message across and have it received as intended. |