Week 2
 Attendance
 “Who Am I?” Due
 Good News!
 Chapter 4
 Gestures Power Point/Extra Credit Quiz
 Body Language/Steering Wheel Videos
 Communication Inventory
 Chapter 5
 Team Building – Back to Back
 Flexing Power Point
 Listening Inventory
 Team Building – Drawing Bugs
 Inventory writing
Improving Personal and
Organizational Communication
Chapter 4
Before Class Starts…
 Be thinking of how you will answer the
attendance question…”What is your biggest pet
peeve?”
The Communication Process

All organizational communication is on a
continuum
Impersonal
Interpersonal
Impersonal Communication

One-way information giving process

Transmit or transfer of information

Used to give basic information:
– company policies, instructions, facts

Methods include:
– memos, letters, e-mail, voice mail,
manuals, bulletin boards
Impersonal Communication
 Advantage:
 easy
ways to get the word out
 Limitations:
 limited
feedback from receiver
 understanding of message not known
 timing of message not controlled
Interpersonal Communication
 Two-way communication
 Verbal exchange of thoughts or information
between two or more people
 Descriptions include:
 share,
discuss, argue, interact
 Formats include:
 meetings,
interviews, phone calls,
traditional classes
 Response from receiver necessary for
effectiveness
Interpersonal Communication
 Advantages:
 builds
stronger, more personal
relationships
 sender can be sure the message was
understood
 Limitations:
 takes
time, often not feasible
Effective communication is composed of
3 basic elements:
Sender
Message
Receiver
Figure 2.1
Diagram of Simple
Communication Process
Figure 2.1
Complex Communication
 Most communications are more complicated
 Messages travel through filters which can alter the
way your message is understood
 Need to be aware of possible distortions so
miscommunication can be interpreted
Figure 2.2
Diagram of More Complex
Communication Process
Communication Filters
 Semantics
 Emotions
 Attitudes
 Language/Culture differences
 Role expectations
 Gender-specific focus
 Nonverbal messages
Semantics
 Study of relationship between words and their
meaning(s)
 We often assume that the words we use mean the same
things to others, but this assumption can create
problems.
 Abstract terms are subject to more interpretations of
meaning
 Example: Some words have imprecise meanings
and can be interpreted in different ways: job
satisfaction, downsizing, and word
processing…others?
Emotions
http://www.collegeslackers.com/video/angry_ford_customer
 Powerful communication filter
 Receivers may think with their emotions
 Strong emotions can prevent reception, or distort the
strength of a message
 May shift attention from the message content to
feelings
 Example: An angry client can easily ruin
effective communication.
Attitudes
 Negative and positive attitudes can create
resistance or bias to a message
 Attitude may be based on: voice, accent,
gesture, dress, delivery, mannerisms and/or
speaker’s topic
 For example: The listener may not like
the speaker’s voice and have a hard time
listening to the intended message,
therefore breaking down
communication.
Language and Cultural Barriers
 Language
 English
is the dominant language in the
global marketplace, however….
 Accommodate the needs of those whose
first language is not English.
 Considerations when using English with
non-native speakers
speak
slowly, clearly
avoid slang
ask if clarification is needed
Language and Cultural Barriers
 Culture
 An
accumulation of values, forms of
expression, beliefs, and language
 Shapes one's interpretations of what events
mean
 Communication problems can be caused
by conflicting cultural assumptions
Language and Cultural Barriers
 Cultures have different standards for
 how
fast you should talk
 how much you should talk
 how long you should pause between ideas
 how long you should wait after someone
finishes talking before you say something
Role Expectations
 Influences how people expect themselves, and
others, to act
 Two ways they can distort communication


People may identify others too closely with their roles
(example: “It’s just the boss again saying the same
old thing.”)
People use their roles to alter the way they relate to others or
“position power” (example: managers expecting
employees to accept what they say simply because
of their authority.)
Gender-Specific Focus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxtUH_bHBxs
 Learned gender roles can influence the way men and women
communicate
 Genders conditioned to approach communication in different
ways
 Males: take charge
 Females: facilitative and cooperative
 Maybe you have a biased about women in charge or maybe you
are a ‘man hater’ and do not want to be told what to do by
another male in your life.
 Contrary to the comedian…..most recent research finds the
communication styles of men and women to be more alike than
different.
Impersonal…….Interpersonal
Communication Activity
 Need a volunteer to give out verbal directions




for drawing a picture
Need everyone else to get out a blank piece of
paper
Get ready to create a ‘picture’
No questions allowed, not even for clarification
Watch and listen for communication filters that
may be getting in the way
Impersonal…….Interpersonal
Communication Activity
 Let’s try it again….
 You can ask questions this time around.
 Turn your paper over and get ready to draw the
picture again.
 Which version of the picture was better (using
impersonal communication or interpersonal
communication?)
 Hopefully the picture using interpersonal
communication!
Communication Filter Practice
 In your team, read through the following scenarios….
 Which filters are getting in the way?
 What might be the result?
 Discuss all points of view.
 Discuss as a whole group in 5 minutes or so.
You’re at a Party
COMPLETE THIS
INVENTORY TO
DETERMINE YOUR
PERSONALITY
PREFERENCE.
Week 3
 Read the resume, cover letter supplement (pg. 326-
346)
 Begin working on your “rough draft” of resume and
cover letter



Due 6th class
You will also write a cover letter to a person from a job ad you
find in the paper or on the internet. This is a job you would
like to have once you have received your degree. If there is not
a person listed to send resume to use my name, Ms. Deb Holst.
Use the company address listed in the ad for the “inside
address” on your cover letter.