COMMUNICATION

MAN 203

Reported by:

MECHELLE E. MACASPE, RN
Communication
> a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a
common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.
> communication helps us build relationships by allowing us to share our
experiences, and needs, and helps us connect to others.
Therapeutic Communication – interpersonal interaction between the nurse and
client during which the nurse focuses on the clients specific needs to promote
an effective exchange of information.

What makes Effective Communication?

> It's about understanding the emotion and intentions behind the
information. As well as being able to clearly convey a message, you need to
also listen in a way that gains the full meaning of what's being said and makes
the other person feel heard and understood.
Types of Communication
1. VERBAL COMMUNICATION
> Occurs when we engage in speaking with others. It can be face-to-
face, over the telephone, via Skype or Zoom, etc. Some verbal
engagements are informal, such as chatting with a friend over coffee or
in the office kitchen, while others are more formal, such as a scheduled
meeting.
> Verbal Communication skills are:
• Listening before speaking • Confidence
• Read & Write • Open Mindedness
• Talk with an objective • Be friendly
• Eye contact
2. NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
> What we do while we speak often says more than the actual
words.
> includes facial expressions, posture, eye contact, hand
movements, and touch.
> Nonverbal communication is as important than verbal
communication,
it is estimated that one-third of meaning is transmitted by words,
& two-thirds is communicated non-verbally. The speaker may verbalize
what he or she thinks the listener wants to hear, while nonverbal
communinication conveys the speakers actual meaning.
> It involves the unconscious mind acting out emotions related to
the verbal content, the situation, the environment, and the relationship
between the speaker and the listener.
TYPES OF NONVERBAL COMMUNIACATION
• Facial Expression
> an expressive face portrays the person’s moment-by-moment thoughts, feelings,
and needs.
> It often can affect the listeners response. Strong and emotional facial expressions
can persuade the listener to believe the message.
• Body Language
> Such as gestures, postures, movements, and body positions are forms of nonverbal
communication.
> Closed body positions such as crossed legs or arms folded across the chest, indicate
that the interaction might threaten the listener, who is defensive or not accepting. A
better, more accepting body position is to sit facing the client with both feet on the
floor, knees parallel, hands at the side of the body, and legs uncrossed or crossed only at
the ankle. This open posture demonstrates unconditional positive regard, trusting,
caring, and acceptance.
• Vocal Cues
> Are nonverbal sound signals transmitted along with the content. The voice volume,
tone, pitch, intensity, emphasis, speed, and pauses augment the senders message.
> Volume, loudness of voice can indicate anger, fear, happiness, or deafness. Tone can
indicate if someone is relaxed, agitated, or bored.
• Eye Contact
> The eyes have been called the mirror of the soul because they of ten reflect our
emotions. Messages that the eyes give include humor, interest, puzzlement, hatred,
happiness, sadness horror, warning, and pleading.
> Is looking into the other persons eyes during communication, is used to assess the
other person and the environment and to indicate whose turn it is to speak; it increases
during listening but decreases while speaking.
• Silence
> One piece of communication that accompanies our nonverbal reactions is silence. We
can convey approval, disapproval, anger, or other messages through a silent response.
3. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

> All forms of written communication have the same goal

to disseminate information in a clear and concise manner –
though that objective is often not achieved. In fact, poor
writing skills often lead to confusion and embarrassment, and
even potential legal jeopardy.

> One important thing to remember about written

communication, especially in the digital age, is the message
lives on. Thus, there are two things to remember: first, write
well – poorly constructed sentences and careless errors make
you look bad; and second, ensure the content of the message
is something you want to promote or be associated with for
the long haul.
4. LISTENING

> Active listening is one of the most important types of communication because if
we cannot listen to the person sitting across from us, we cannot effectively engage
with them. 

5. VISUAL COMMUNICATION
> We are a visual society. Televisions are running 24/7, Facebook is visual with
videos, images, etc., Instagram is an image-only platform, and advertisers use imagery
to sell products and ideas. Think about from a personal perspective – the images we
post on social media are meant to convey meaning – to communicate a message.
7 C’s OF COMMUNICATION
BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION
> Communication barriers can be defined as obstacles that one may face when attempting to
effectively communicate with another person. These barriers can be anything that can
misrepresent and/or avert someone during the communication process. This process involves a
sender, receiver, and message.
What Are the Barriers of Communication?
• Physical barriers - These barriers are environmental challenges people face during
communication due to their surroundings.
• Emotional barriers - This barrier can stem from a person's existing feelings toward a
subject or person(s) involved in the communication process.
• Cultural barriers - These barriers derive from differences in a variety of categories, such
as religion, language, traditions, and power distance.
• Cognitive barriers - Cognitive barriers are a combination of emotional and cultural
barriers, such as word connotation affecting the message during the communication process.
• Systematic barriers - These barriers stem from a lack of structure in an environment,
often seen in workplaces where roles are not clearly assigned or vocalized.