COMMUNICATION

SKILLS
Aparna Agrawal
Asteya
09/04/2012
WHAT IS COMMUNICATION??

 Process

 Transmission/Exchange

 Thoughts

 Words

 Ideas

 Sharing Information
IMPORTANCE OF
COMMUNICATION

“The way we communicate with others and with

ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our

lives”

- Anthony Robbins
IMPORTANCE OF
COMMUNICATION

 Self (Leadership)

 Family (Relationships)

 Society

 Business

 Workplace
IMPORTANCE OF
COMMUNICATION

 Self (Leadership)

 Affects Self Confidence

 Represent Followers (Mahatma Gandhi/Obama)

 Family (Relationships)

 Positive Bonds

 Prevent Misunderstandings
 IMPORTANCE OF
COMMUNICATION
 Society
 Man is a Social Animal

 Business
 Networking

 Dealing with Partners/Stakeholders

 Workplace
 Coordinating with other Employees/Mgmt
 Expressing Ideas
BARRIERS IN COMMUNICATION

“The single biggest problem in communication is the

illusion that it has taken place.”

- George Bernard Shaw

BARRIERS IN COMMUNICATION
 Listening Barriers
 Interrupting

 No Eye Contact
 Ignoring

 Speaking Barriers
 Inconsistency

 Lack of Clarity
 Not Understanding the Receiver
BARRIERS IN COMMUNICATION
 Other Barriers
 Muddled Messages
 Stereotyping

 Wrong Channel
 Language

 Lack of Feedback
 Distractions

 Poor Listening Skills

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

There is all the difference in the world between

having something to say and having to say

something.

- John Dewey
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
 Ways to Communicate Effectively
 Avoid Noise
 Organizing Thoughts

 Actions Speak greater than Words

 Be Concise
 Translate for the Audience
 Listen Carefully
 Negotiate
REFLECT
 Errors in Communication
 Your experiences
 What went wrong
 Tone/Accent
 Expression
 Medium
 Use of colloquial terms
 How can they be avoided
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
 Use “I” Messages
 Your Feelings
 No Blaming
 Positive Language
 Be Open
 E.g.
 You are lying
 I feel I don’t know the whole truth
 You did a bad job
 I think you have potential to do much better
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
 Change the following to “I” sentences
 You never call me.
 I wish you would call me more often.
 You don’t listen to me!
 Sometimes I feel I am not being listened to
 You make me angry!
 I feel hurt/irritated when you do this.
 That’s a dumb idea!
 I think we can try a different idea.
 No one does anything.
 I feel I do all the work here.
 You annoy me, go away!!
 I need to “Me” time now.
TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
 Verbal & Non – Verbal
 Verbal

 Oral
 Written

 Non – Verbal
 Postures
 Gestures
 Body Language
TYPES OF COMMUNICATION

Non – Verbal Communication

You cannot shake hands with a

clenched fist.

- Indira Gandhi
ACTIVE LISTENING

 Handy Tips

 Focus

 Avoid Judgment

 Interest

 Empathy

 Interpret and Clarify

ACTIVE LISTENING

The proof of good listening is an

appropriate response.

- Judi Brownell
KNOW FIRST THEN SPEAK!!!
Do you think your colleague

Not sure na……until you know him/her well….

Till then you can only guess or ASSUME!!
KNOW FIRST THEN SPEAK!!!
Then why do we believe that our colleague

You also CANNOT know this by just looking at a person for a few
days…..not until you understand him/her
KEEP JUDGMENTS ASIDE

 Avoid excessive interpretation

 When in doubt, ASK

 Tell the truth, politely

 Appreciate and then continue

 Give genuine appreciation

 Don’t Assume!!
MORALITY IN COMMUNICATION

 Be Yourself

 Be True

 Converse from Heart

 Connect to the Person

 Be Open to Multiple Viewpoints

 Be Yourself
 ASSERTIVENESS
 Assertive Behavior:
 Standing for own rights w/o infringing on others
 "I win; you win“

 Passive/Nonassertive Behavior:
 Giving up own rights and defers that of another person
 "I lose; you win”

 Aggressive Behavior:
 Standing for own rights w/o regard for others
 "I win; you lose"
ASSERTIVENESS

Learn to say

“NO”
TIME MANAGEMENT
Covey’s Four Quadrant TODO

Due Soon Not Due Soon

Important

Not
Important
TIME MANAGEMENT
 Get Started
 Maintain a Routine
 Don’t Commit to too many things
 Divide Large Tasks
 Write Things Down
 Prioritize

 Set Start & Stop times

TIME MANAGEMENT
 Plan Realistically
 Have a List “A” & List “B”
 Take Breaks consciously (Mails/FB)
 Organize

 Outsource

 Meetings

 “Do Not Disturb”

TIME MANAGEMENT

Time Wasters:

 Procrastination

 Poor Organization

 Ineffective Meetings

 Failing to Delegate

 Lacking Priorities
TIME MANAGEMENT

 80 – 20 Rule

This argues that typically 80% of unfocussed

effort generates only 20% of results. The

remaining 80% of results are achieved with

only 20% of the effort.

DECISION MAKING

Cookies
(ppt)
DECISION MAKING

 Constructive Environment
 Good Alternatives
 Explore Alternatives
 Choose the Best Alternative
 Verify your Decision
 Communicate your Decision & Take Action
DECISION MAKING

 Constructive Environment

 Objective

 Process

 Good Alternatives

 Brainstorming

 Organize Ideas
DECISION MAKING

 Explore Alternatives

 Risk

 Implication

 Choose the Best Alternative

 Verify

 Communicate & Act

THANK YOU!!

aparna@asteya.net
aasteya@gmail.com
GROUP COMMUNICATION

 Avoid!!!

 Group Think

 Ganging Up

 Venting

 Talkative vs. Quiet

 Group Conflict

 Over Preparation
GROUP COMMUNICATION

 Remember

 Watch Yourself

 Read & Prepare

 Respect

 Control

 Acknowledge

 Beware of “isms”
GROUP COMMUNICATION

 Remember

 Brain Storm

 Be Ready to Talk

 Network

 Make People feel Needed

 Say “Thank – You”

 ASSERTIVENESS

Be Assertive in Five Simple Steps

 Stick to factual descriptions

 Don’t exaggerate, just describe

 Use “I Messages”

 When you [their behaviour], I feel [your feelings]

 “When you [their behaviour], then [results of their behaviour],

and I feel [how you feel]”

 ASSERTIVENESS

Benefit:

Assertive communication can strengthen your

relationships, reducing stress from conflict and

providing you with social support when facing

difficult times.
ATTITUDE

 Shun

 Apathy

 Superiority

 Lack of Concern

 Arrogance

 High Handedness

 Egoism
ATTITUDE

 Embrace

 Openness

 Humility

 Creativity

 Care

 Positivity