Topic 1:

If one person is unwilling to participate in the communication process, there is little the other person can do to create effective communication. Do you agree/disagree?

Effective communication is a two way process where the speaker analyses the message sent through selecting a number of checking methods that help to avoid conflict and draw the audience into the communication process. The process involves the interaction of a number of elements including individual perception through which the sender and receiver filter information, the barriers which can affect the flow of communication and the context within which it occurs. For communication to be effective, it is important to understand how the communicating participants may interpret the message. This essay will firstly consider the communication methods that create effective communication. It will then explain each method starting first with perception checking to reduce uncertainty and result in more accurate perceptions. The essay will then look at conscious ways of raising levels of awareness between communicating participants through the methods of audience analysis and communicating empathy effectively.

Effective communication is achieved by analysing why the message is not effective and selecting a method or a combination of methods to communicate effectively to the selected audience type. The message is not effective as the participant is closing up and not contributing to the conversation. The sender needs to find out why by using communication checking methods to break down the barrier or barriers. Because new experiences and environments are continually confronting peoples day-to-day life they use knowledge and understanding from their past experiences to make sense of their world. (Baker, Barrett & Roberts 2002, p. 44). These experiences give rise to individual feelings, mood, and memories and are influenced by age, environments, beliefs, and education. People send and receive messages according to the factors, which comprise their field of experience. This concept 1

displays how two people discussing the same subject at the same place at the same time can have different perceptions. Many who believe they communicate effectively fail to evaluate their self-concept and how their views can influence. Alessandra & Hunsaker (2005, pg. 1)

explain communication as a two-way process involving sending and receiving messages, and state that throughout the education processes, individuals learn how to put thoughts and feeling into words, and how to send a message. Perception, audience analysis and empathy are three of many methods that people use to evaluate the effectiveness of their explanations of communication. In this paper three of these methods have be chosen to explain the process of creating effective communication. By understanding known communication methods, people can learn to tailor their communication whether be verbally or nonverbally for the particular audience.

There are many strategies that can be implemented to eliminate communication barriers. In seeking to communicate effectively in the face of communication barriers, it is important to recognize all of the possible barriers and not limit the use of strategies. In some cases it is possible to apply a strategy that has previously proved useful. In other cases, however, new solutions must be found. Perception results from what exists in the outside world and experiences, desires, needs, and wants, loves, and hatreds. Among the reasons perception is so important in interpersonal communication is that it influences communication choices. Successful interpersonal communication depends largely on the accuracy of interpersonal perceptions and perception awareness. When people become aware of their perception, they are able to subject them to logical analysis and critical thinking. This process results in perception checking, reducing uncertainly and makes individual perceptions more accurate. The goal of perception checking is to further explore the thoughts and feelings of the other person, which will help the unwilling person in the communication process, participate as both begin to understand each other. Reducing uncertainly will not only make communication more effective it will also improve the personal opinions of each participant towards the other and make the interaction more satisfying (Neuliep & Grohskopf, 2000; Douglas, 1994). With 2

this simple technique, the chances of misinterpreting anothers feeling are lessened and at the same time the other person has the opportunity to elaborate on their thoughts and feelings. As the unwilling person begins to participate and displays their thoughts and feelings, the sender is able to filter the information and better control the message process. The method of perception checking has weakened the barrier allowing the flow of effective communication to begin.

Whilst perception checking is instrumental in creating effective communication, it cannot be used alone. Analysing the audience is a conscious way of raising levels of awareness between the communication participants. This method can also help smooth the path to effective communication. If, for example, the sender knows that the unwilling participate has strong religious values, they would try to avoid contradicting these values if they were attempting to create an effective communication on human rights. The sender has taken the incentive to get to know their listener by showing their commitment to understanding them. The listener now feels apart of the process as they begin to build a similarity. Generally, people like others who are similar to them nationally, in race, abilities, physical characteristics, intelligence, and attitudes (Pornpitakpan, 2003.). Audience analysis is important has it implies that the sender knows enough about their audience to either avoid certain words that may be misunderstood or be misconstrued or words that need additional explanations or definitions. It is also very important to analyse both the verbal and nonverbal communication. Likewise this analysis allows the planning ahead of the communication type the sender will use. Choosing words based on the judgement of reducing uncertainly through perception checking and analysing the audience will help to eliminate any communication barriers and allow others to participate in the communication process, as they do not feel intimidated in anyway yet are comfortable to share their feelings and thoughts.

As the participant begins to communicate they are immediately offering feedback on the 3

listeners (sender) perception and audience analysis. This gives the listener extra tools to help create effective communication. The sender is now a listener as they have acquired knowledge of the other so as to avoid further barriers and make more reasonable decisions in their effective communication plan. As the listener receives this information they begin to understand their participant and during the communication process will remember and evaluate the information to give more accurate responses. Understanding is the state in which the listener learns what the participant is thinking, by which they grasp the thoughts and emotional tone expressed in verbal content and through nonverbal content such as gestures and facial expression. In understanding, the sender is able to remember and evaluate this information collected and reflect back perceived meaning giving the speaker an opportunity to offer clarification and correct any misunderstandings (Gordon, 1975). In communicating their understanding back it is especially important to avoid sending what Gordon (1975) calls solution messages, these are messa ges that tell the person how he or she should feel or say.

Rather than sending a solution message as the sender becomes aware of how the unwilling participate feels they then can begin to use empathy to further lessen the communication barrier. Reflecting back the feelings that are being expressed help to check the accuracy of perceptions and to show commitment to understanding. Offering tentative statements about what the person is feeling and when appropriate using self-disclosures to communicate understanding keeping the focus on the person can foster an open and honest relationship. Once the communication relationship becomes open and honest this displays peoples willingness to self-disclose relevant personal information. Openness in interpersonal communication also includes a willingness to listen openly to and to react honestly to the message of others. Actively listening is not merely repeating the speakers exact words, but rather putting together into an understanding of the others total messa ge. Corner & Drollinger suggest that when combined with empathic listening, it proves an effective mode for success 4

in communicating (Corner & Drollinger, 1999). The unwilling participate is now comfortable to contribute as they too have developed an understanding of their communicating opponent, it is crucial to keep this line of openness and honesty flowing to maintain effective communication.

In conclusion, if one person is unwilling to participate in the communication process, the other can use a number of communication checking methods to break down the barriers and result in effective communication. It is important to point out that not all methods have been discussed in this essay, as there are many, however the methods explained show how to create effective communication. Reducing uncertainly by way of perception checking lessens any hesitation the unwilling participant may have as they begin to feel they are being understood. Gathering information by analysing the audience and offering feedback through communicating empathy effectively creates an opportunity for the unwilling participant to express their thoughts and feelings, the two way process of effective communication is in creation. Clearly explaining that they are trying to understand not evaluate, judge, or criticize by reflecting back to the unwilling participant the feelings that have been expressed, in order to check perception accuracy are all ways to help communicate effectively. Research has proven that communication checking methods when used in the correct circumstances create effective communication.

Bibliography

Anthony J. Alessandra & Philip L. Hunsaker, 2005, Interpersonal Communication Questing, Listening & Feedback Skills, Norwood; Mass, 27th March 2011, http://library.usq.edu.au/Record/vtls000531617

Joseph A. DeVito, 2007, The Interpersonal Communication Book, Hunter College of the City University of New York

Gerd Antos & Eija Ventola, 2008, Handbook of interpersonal communication, Berlin; Walter de Gruyter, viewed 27th March 2011, http://www.usq.eblib.com.au.ezproxy.usq.edu.au/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=429266

Elizabeth Baker, Mary Barrett & Lesley Roberts, 2002, XV, 434p. :ill, Milton, Queensland, viewed 27th March 2011, D:\content\index.html

Joseph A. DeVito, 2009, Human Communications The Basic Course, 11th Edition, Person Education Inc., New York, pp. 90-171.

Tyler, S, Ryan, C & Kossen, C 2005, Communication: a foundation course, 2nd edn, Pearson Education, Frenchs Forest, 302.2 Tyl.