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Understanding Communication Competence

The document discusses communication competence as a critical dimension of good communication. It identifies four components necessary for competent communication: knowledge of what to say, skill in how to say it, passion for what is said, and compassion for who it's said to. Competent communication results in messages that are both relationally appropriate based on social and interpersonal expectations, and content effective in achieving instrumental, self-presentation, and relational goals. Competent communicators consider both the relationship and content dimensions of every message.

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52 views2 pages

Understanding Communication Competence

The document discusses communication competence as a critical dimension of good communication. It identifies four components necessary for competent communication: knowledge of what to say, skill in how to say it, passion for what is said, and compassion for who it's said to. Competent communication results in messages that are both relationally appropriate based on social and interpersonal expectations, and content effective in achieving instrumental, self-presentation, and relational goals. Competent communicators consider both the relationship and content dimensions of every message.

Uploaded by

gaochcang
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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COMMUNICATION COMPETENCE

A Critical Dimension of Good Communication

• Good Communication is Competent Communication


 Communication competence is essential to satisfy fundamental human needs
(Communication and survival):

o Safety – the need to feel protected from dangers, difficulties, and privations that
threaten our physical well-being
o Security – the need to feel relationally accepted, cherished, and unconditionally
loved by others
o Self-efficacy – the need to feel that we’ve impacted our world in a way that
makes a difference through our own unique capabilities
o Significance – the need to feel appreciated, respected, and esteemed by others for
our worthwhile contributions
 Only cooperation accomplished through communication can satisfy our fundamental
needs
o If we don't communicate, then we will die – physically or psychologically

• Core Components of Competent Communication (Spitzberg & Cupach)

Appropriate for
Knowledge
Relationships
Skill Competent
Passion Communicator
Effective
Compassion
Content
 Four prerequisite factors or ingredients for competent communication
o Two interconnected capabilities:
 Knowledge – know what to say
 Skill – know how to say it
o Two interconnected motivations:
 Passion – care about what to say
 Compassion – care about who it’s said to
 Two characteristic outcomes or results of competent communication
o Relational appropriateness – satisfies our expectations
 Social expectations – common to cultural context
 Interpersonal expectations – unique to relationship
 Conflict management expectations – rules of engagement
o Content effectiveness – accomplishes my goals
 Instrumental goals – winning your cooperation to achieve what I
desire
 Self-presentation goals – getting you to see me the way I want to be
seen
 Relational goals – developing the kind of relationship with you I
hope for

• Dual Dimensions of Competently Communicated Messages


 Two dimensions of every message: relationship and content
 A communicator can focus on neither, either, or both of these dimensions when
communicating

frank high competent


Content

low high
Relationship

fearful low friendly

 Practical application – competent communicators think before they speak:


o Frank – think about how our relationship should govern and guide what is said
o Friendly – think about how my goals can be clearly and convincingly articulated

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