COMMUNICATION

Lecture notes
COMMUNICATION
Communication is the act of conveying intended meanings from one entity
or group to another through the use of mutually understood signs and
semiotic rules .

PURPOSE OF COMMUNICATION
To inform
To persuade
To inspire

TO COMMUNICATE AND SPEAK IS IMPORTANT

BECAUSE
• The best way to get your message across
• It will allow you to make a difference in your life and the people
around you
• Increases your self-confidence
• Makes you more comfortable around people
• One of the best ways to get a better job.
• Allows you to display what you know and improve on it
• It differentiates you in the workplace
• AT SOME POINT IN LIFE, YOU WILL NEED TO DO IT

ELEMENTS OF PERSONAL COMMUNICATION

Which one is more effective?
Verbal or Non – Verbal communication?
• 7% spoken word
• 38% voice, tone
• 55% body language
FACTORS TO A SUCCESSFUL PRESENTATION
ACTIVITY
• Spoken words
– Organization
– Proper Word Choice
– Grammar and Syntax
• Voice and Tone
• Purposeful Body Movement
• Utilizing Presentations and Visual aids
• Presenting yourself as the speaker

ORGANIZATION
An organized speech/material will have 3 essential parts:
• A powerful, attention grabbing OPENING
• An organized BODY
• A memorable CLOSING
• START IT RIGHT
• A powerful opening is a VERBAL HANDSHAKE. To
• achieve this, always remember that “SPEECHES TELL but
STORIES SELL”

THE AUDIENCE CHECKLIST

• How many will you be talking to?
• Where will they be coming from?
• How much do they know about your topic?
• Who is the major decision maker in the room?
• Who are your major antagonists / protagonists in this meeting?
ALWAYS BITE THE TAIL
• The way you start a conversation should also be the way you end it.
• By remembering how you opened a conversation (the topic or your
introduction) and ending it in the same manner will allow for a clear
path to take and a stronger closing.
• This will also help you not move away from what you really want to
talk about.
• To end one’s conversation, the speaker may focus on providing the
LEARNING/MESSAGE that he/she wishes to impart to the
audience. The speaker may also wish to include a short summary
reminding the audience of the important points in the conversation
or speech.

PROPER WORD CHOICE

When writing your speech/material, you may want to consider the following
as you choose your words:
• The occasion when the speech will be delivered
• The audience that will be listening to you speak
• The objectives of the speech and the entire session

GRAMMAR AND SYNTAX

Correct grammar is necessary in delivering a clear message.
Grammar includes correct spelling punctuation and sentence construction

VOICE, TONE AND RHYTHM

A speaker’s confidence, emotional state and attitude is often revealed in
his voice. Important elements include its LOUDNESS and
SOFTNESS including PITCH.
Another important element is considering the POWER of the PAUSE
within speeches. This allows your audience to properly digest the
information that you are providing them.
PURPOSEFUL BODY MOVEMENT
Remember NODS:
• Neutral
• Open
• Defined
• Strong

COLLABORATION
Collaboration is a working practice whereby individuals work together to a
common purpose to achieve business benefit.
Collaboration enables individuals to work together to achieve a defined
and common business purpose.
PURPOSE OF COLLABORATION
• It promotes Self – Analysis
• It results in Problem Solving
• It makes You Look at the Bigger Picture
• It Teaches us new lessons in life
IT PROMOTES SELF ANALYSIS
• Collaboration challenges people to think, articulate and receive
clarity about their competencies. It serves as a mirror that gives them
a glimpse of their strengths and weaknesses. Because two heads
are better than one, teams work better together and plug each
other’s gaps.
IT RESULTS IN PROBLEM SOLVING
• When a variety of knowledge and skills are pooled, it
creates a talent pool that is vast and more competent, able
and experienced. Virtual collaboration minimizes or even
eliminates the need for finances and infrastructure.
IT MAKES YOU LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE
• No two people are the same, and when you have several
people from different backgrounds working for you, you will
need to know how to leverage those differences and identify
how they can complement each other. You also need to
understand that even if the project does not shape up the
way you wanted it to in the end, the partnership could still
achieve a great deal.