Verbal_Nonverbal_Communication

Verbal/Nonverbal Communication COM 200 Interpersonal Communication December 6, 2010 Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Verbal and nonverbal communication as well as effective communication is essential due to the purpose it accomplishes. It enables us to interact with others. Through not only words, but from our tone of voice and by our gestures, posture, and facial expressions, we learn to communicate. How we are perceived by other people when using verbal and non verbal communication drives our interpersonal communications. Verbal and nonverbal communication requires that we use our minds, our bodies, and non verbal cues to communicate with others. This reflective paper will discuss different facets of communication and explain the principles and misconceptions in effective interpersonal communications, identify the barriers to effective interpersonal interactions, and uncover how to conquer those barriers. Last of all, it is imperative to understand how perceptions, emotions and nonverbal expressions affect interpersonal relationships. How does one define communication' What does effective communication include' One may think that there is a speaker and a listener. However, effective communication consists of several different aspects and dynamics. “Communication is the process in which people share information, ideas, and feelings. It involves not only the spoken and written word but also body language, personal mannerisms, and style; anything that adds meaning to a message” (Hybels & Weaver, pg. 8). The practice of exchanging ideas or communicating is an ever changing process. Communication consists of necessary fundamentals that without them being properly utilized may cause ineffective communication. However, when properly used, these essential basics create effective communication. The sender- receiver component, which is the first element, includes sending and receiving at the same time. The message, which is the second element, includes beliefs, opinions, and information the sender wants to tell to the receiver. Channels, which are the third element, are the methods in which the message is sent to the receiver, and the outcome of a response from the receiver is the feedback. This is the receiver’s answer to the communication from the sender. The last component of the elements that encompass communication, are sounds and surroundings, which are interconnected and function together. Variations in these fundamentals of communication can make it difficult to communicate effectively. After obtaining the information of the elements surrounding effective communication, we can now decide what characteristic to use to be more effective in our communication. One has to determine what formulates their communication repertoire, and then one can create an action plan to address the areas of weakness in order to develop those parts of one’s communication. How does one obtain the skills to utilize words' Native architecture, which is our inborn language-transmission and language-acquisition devices, transforms the structure of language through the FOXP2 gene that we possess. In addition, cognitive development and our environmental influence can determine our means to effective communication (Hybels & Weaver, pg. 107). Interpersonal communication is essential due to the purpose it accomplishes. Every time we start up a conversation with other people, we begin to find out information about them. In addition, we convey details about ourselves in an unlimited range of verbal and nonverbal cues. Foreseeing what responses and feelings the other person will display can give us an idea or some insight as to their character. For example, I can identify a communication that displayed a negative insight and the character of a co-worker. My co-worker approached me and told me that the company might be laying-off some of the employees. On one particular job site, I was being blamed for something that went array due to something that he had said. I knew that he said it was my fault. I confronted my co-worker, and asked, “Was this true'” Did you actually say that it was my fault'" He denied saying anything, and he did not want to talk about it. He told me, “end of discussion”. Therefore, I do not feel comfortable around him. We continue to work together on different jobs, but there is an atmosphere of distrust. The communication climate is very intense. When we are working together, he tries to avoid me and his conversation is brief. The spiral effect and insight of his behavior has diminished our relationship. The impact of my own behavior on the interaction is to let it go for right now. Since we still have to work together, it is better for the both of us to focus on our current jobs especially since neither one of us has been laid off. The purpose of communication is to get your message across to others explicitly and clearly. Doing this connects the efforts from both the sender of the message and the receiver. How a message is conveyed will say a lot about the context of their conversation. The context of communication may contain several critical fundamentals. What you bring to the communication is considered psychological context. Relational context explains your connection with other people. One’s communication with a complete stranger will be different compared to the interaction or conversation with a family member. The place or location of a relation suggests situational and environmental context. It is necessary to present cultural context, which is the last element and needs some important consideration because it may be the most significant in America since we maintain many integrated cultures in our society. Contemplate a communication within a different culture where in that culture it would be ill-mannered while talking to look them directly in the eye. Would one be able to properly respond to this type of communication barrier' Knowing the different ways to cultural communication is the solution. By creating a position in our known surroundings is a way to further our basis for using interpersonal relationships. My communication at work is very different from my communication at home. For example, when I am dealing with my superintendent, I give him eye contact to show that I am actively listening and paying attention to his instructions. On the contrary, when I am communicating at home with my wife, I may be in another room while talking to her, therefore we are not sharing eye contact, but she knows by the tone of my voice what I want. In our individual interactions, we possess desires that need to be satisfied which can be communicated verbally or nonverbally. Usually when I give eye contact, I am doing this to display my interest. If I am not responding in a conversation, it suggests that I am not interested. Usually, a communication or interaction is for a specific reason. However, if you babble on about unimportant subjects, no one will take you seriously. Communication barriers such as, monotony, inattentiveness, empathy, respect, opinions, and insincerity are some of the barriers to active listening. Listening includes the processes of listening preparation, receiving, constructing meaning, responding, and remembering (Hybels & Weaver, pg. 80). Knowing how to listen actively while not speaking or interrupting and expressing one’s beliefs is the correct move in the appropriate direction. One should attempt to comprehend the complete communication presented. When one formulates a deliberate attempt to pay attention to not only the words that the other person is articulating, one is now practicing more importantly active listening. For example, as I stated before, when I am speaking with someone I tend to give eye contact. This shows that I am listening and it gives a sense of relating to the person’s feelings. People know that I am truly listening because I ask questions, and I nod when they are speaking. I make sure that I do not interrupt people when they are talking since I do not like it when someone interrupts me. I listen until they are finished speaking and are waiting for me to respond. Since many issues arise during listening, one can conclude that this skilled behavior is something that some people learn better than most. I would have to say, that I am a good listener, and one must be deliberate with their listening to remind themselves frequently that their goal is to truly hear what the other person is saying. Set aside all other thoughts and behaviors and concentrate on the message (Schaming, 2010). Communication barriers demonstrate that they attribute to the difficulty to achieve successful communication. These barriers to effective communication make it challenging and irritating for individuals to communicate with each other and understand each other’s denotation and connotations of one’s conversation. Physical barriers can represent the distance in regions, overcrowded areas, or just individuals alienated from each other by physical inaccessibility. These barriers create an obstacle for individuals to get to know each other and communicate in an uninhibited and uncomplicated way. Perception is another barrier in view of the fact that people have their own beliefs in relation to our society and its standards. Subsequently, the disparity between one person’s viewpoint and another person’s perspective can create yet another barrier. Emotions can function as a communication barrier since individuals can become emotional. People do not tend to think rationally and certainly without doubts. This causes a difficult communication barrier due to the fact that the person may be skeptical, distrustful, apprehensive, or fearful or one could be feeling a number of other emotions. Culture establishes individual conduct or behavior blueprints in cultural societies, which have known to be barriers to effective communication. Language is one of the most important communication barriers since all of the people participating in communication are not fluent in or do not speak one and the same language making it extremely complicated to convey the message. Yet another barrier, called gender, is open to the elements since people beliefs are dissimilar when conversing about men and women comparative to logic and emotions. How we perceive the opposite sex is an important barrier due to gender. Cross-gender communications is, largely different from man-to-man and woman-to-woman communication. Women rely primarily on verbal communication whereas men primarily rely on nonverbal communication, which is ideal for them. For example, during the holidays, my wife and I usually spend much of our social time at our relative’s home. The women and men start out socializing together but later on during the evening, we break up into two groups. The women spend much of their social time talking and being physically close to each other. The men are often spending our social time participating in an activity together (watching TV, playing basketball) and using the activity itself to connect. Intrapersonal communication is communication that occurs within you. It involves thoughts, feelings, and the way you look at yourself. You are the only sender-receiver (Hybels & Weaver, pg. 15). Your interpersonal interactions with people can be influenced by your individual self-confidence using this type of communication. Interpersonal interactions happen once one tries to communicate directly one-on-one, normally in a comfortable, relaxed communication climate. This type of communication occurs mostly between two people, though it may include more than two (Hybels & Weaver, pg. 15).All of the previously mentioned elements and barriers are used in interpersonal communication. Perception is a very good reason that interpersonal communication may not be easily avoided. Our perception decides our communication with people even if we are not aware of the result of ones display of self. Perception is how you look at others and the world around you (Hybels & Weaver, pg. 30). What is also affected by one’s self-concept or intrapersonal communication is how one sees the world. One may want to have some knowledge of the intended receivers prior to communicating with others. Exploring opportunities well beyond the limitations of your self-perception is frequently necessary to transform one’s perception of others. How one reacts, classify, and translates stimuli can be considered perception. Built on ones inclinations and limitations, ones perception can definitely influence their interpersonal communication with others. From my experience, when I bottle up my feelings, my mind begins to think bad things about other people that are not necessarily true. This is because instead of talking about what is bothering me, I hide my feelings inside which makes the problem worse. Communication is the key to clear up any misunderstandings, or hurt feelings. However, I believe that it must be done respectfully and with a lot of listening and not jumping to conclusions. Proverbs 15:1 "An answer, when mild, turns away rage, but a word causing pain makes anger to come up. One’s crucial thought development going forward and previous incidents may get in the way of shaping their perceptions. Emotions and nonverbal reactions are more expressions of interpersonal communications. An enormous part of communication involves our emotions. It is much easier to identify people who express their emotions flat out than those individuals who keep their emotions hidden because the emotional person may tend to blow up. Managing your emotions is expressing them in a manner appropriate to the circumstances (Hybels & Weaver, pg.157). At times, we tend to allow our feelings to turn our direction and focus towards a passionate topic. It is difficult to cover up and hide our emotions from other people when we are worried, upset, or stressed. Not letting our feelings and emotions influence our reactions is a great skill to master. Recognizing emotion is identified as empathy. Empathy is the ability to recognize and share someone else’s feelings (Hybels & Weaver, pg.158). In general, to be empathetic means to allow an individual to share their feelings with you while you identify with and understand what they are going through at that particular time. For example, if someone lost a parent or anyone who is near and dear to their heart, and you have experienced the same loss, you can be empathetic to their circumstance. Nonverbal communications is capable of frequently expressing ideas just as clearly as any verbal or written communications. There is the use of facial expressions, body movement (kinesics), and clothing or body adornment (Hybels & Weaver, pg.138). Additionally, nonverbal cues can direct verbal communications. In its entirety, individual messages may include numerous aspects. For example, eye contact alone may imply communication and information. Eye messages provide turn-taking signals in conversations that regulate interactions. They indicate attentiveness, involvement, immediacy, and connection with others (Hybels & Weaver, pg.139). In conclusion, the different facets of communication have been discussed, and the principles and misconceptions in effective interpersonal communications have been explained. The barriers to effective interpersonal interactions have been identified, and how to conquer those barriers have been uncovered. It has been revealed how perceptions, emotions and nonverbal expressions affect interpersonal relationships. Verbal and nonverbal communication as well as interpersonal communication is essential due to the purpose it accomplishes. It enables us to interact with others. We can not escape interpersonal communication. References Hybels, S. & and Weaver, R.L., (2007). Communicating effectively (8th Ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. Schaming, R. (2010). Masterful Listening Skills for You and Me. Retrieved on December 6, 2010 from http://www.noomii.com/articles/85-masterful-listening-skills-for-you-and-me.