Lecture 1 Communication process.

Understanding communication

Your success in your career is also based on your ability to do well in written and oral
communication. This ability to communicate effectively is a valuable asset for you, If your
career requires mainly mental rather than manual labour, your progress will depend on how
effectively you communicate your ideas to others who need or should receive them. Strong
communication skills are found in every job that you will be given the chance in the future.
Communication is a primary responsibility in many careers, such as customer
relations, labour relations, marketing personnel, public relations, sales, and teaching. It is also
required in government and non profit organizations. There skills play a major role at every
level.

1. Definition of Communication
The word communication means the act or process of giving or exchanging of information,
signals, or messages as by talk, gestures, or writing. Technically speaking, in the act of
communication, we make opinions, feelings, information, etc known or understood by others
through speech, writing or bodily movement.

2. Why do we communicate?
The purpose of any given communication may be:

a. To initiate some action
Initiating action may be achieved by two basic categories of communication.
Expressing needs and requirements: This can range from a baby's cry or even the
bleep of an alarm clock to an adults more precious expression of needs and wants.
In a business organization, it would include briefings, instructions and procedures
manuals. This will only be effective where the other person is willing to satisfy the
needs.

Persuading and motivating others: To carry out the desired course of action" in other
words, giving them a reason (other than one's own want or need) to perform that
action. Persuasion of this kind is likely to be a major element in marketing and sales: a
sales up cannot simply ask a customer to buy the product because she, the sale rep,
needs a success. She must show that there are benefits to the consumer, which will
make the purchase worthwhile,

b. To impart information, ideals attitudes, beliefs or feelings
Imparting information, ideas, attitudes, beliefs and feelings may have any number of
specific purposes.
Creating awareness
Creating understanding
Persuading others
Influencing others

c. To establish, acknowledge or maintain links or relations with other
people.

Establishing, acknowledging and maintaining relations with other people is a vital function of
communication,
Moreover, to understand communication we need to identify the possible problems that can
arise in it and explore skills for enhancing communication and managing such breakdowns.
Human beings are not passive, predictable objects who always interpret meanings and react
as they are " supposed to ".Communication can be viewed as an active process ,influenced by
all complexities and ambiguities of human behavior. Many models have been developed to
simplify and summarise the complex reality of the communication process and to aid our
understanding. Some of these are more helpful than others, but all have their shortcomings.
The 'Typical Communication Model " developed by Clamplitt ( 2005) demonstrates a number
of key elements in the communication process.

Context
Noise


Person 1 Channel Person 2

Sender -------------------- Message ------------------ Receiver

Receiver -------------------- Feedback ------------------ Sender


Typical Communication Model developed by Clamplitt ( 2005)



















E dyta