Communication Skills Life Skills

COMMUNICATION SKILLSAparna AgrawalAsteya09/04/2012

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

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

IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION

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

Other Barriers

Muddled Messages

Stereotyping

Wrong Channel

Language

Lack of Feedback

Distractions

Poor Listening Skills

BARRIERS IN COMMUNICATION

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

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.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

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

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

KNOW FIRST THEN SPEAK!!!

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

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”

ASSERTIVENESS

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.netaasteya@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”

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.

ASSERTIVENESS

ATTITUDE

Shun

Apathy

Superiority

Lack of Concern

Arrogance

High Handedness

Egoism

ATTITUDE

Embrace

Openness

Humility

Creativity

Care

Positivity