Communication

Question 1

Communication

Answer 1

The transactional and relational process involving the meaningful exchange of information

Question 2

Professionalism

Answer 2

Means:
Acting decisively and knowledgeably
Adapting to new situations
Adding value to the performance of an organization

Question 3

3 characteristics of communication

Answer 3

Situated
-Communication happens in a particular environment or socio cultural context
Relational
-Effective communication happens when you take into account the people and the purpose of the communication
Transactional
-Communication is a 2 way street - you must adapt to one another as the conversations progresses

Question 4

Barriers to effective communication

Answer 4

Noise: physical or psychological obstacles that can inhibit the true meaning of the message coming across ex: Call failed, misunderstanding
Channel Overload: message transmitted over a specific channel exceeds the capacity ex: voicemail full, Zoom meeting runs out of time
Information Overload: too much info is given for someone to absorb or handle properly, can leave receiver feeling annoyed or overwhelmed
Semantic Interference: Words can mean different things to different people and meaning can change in different contexts = misinterpretation
Emotional Interference: strong feelings of joy, hostility or resentment can interfere with an individual’s ability decode a message (ex: angry email)
Written work is not edited: if there are too many spelling or grammatical errors then this can take away from the overall message

Question 5

Overcoming communication barriers

Answer 5

Be time and time-sensitive: it’s always best practice to respond as soon as you have the info they request. If it is an emotionally charged situation it can be helpful to let some time pass and let them cool off.
Be purposeful: make sure you make the purpose of your communication apparent at the beginning of your conversation/ communication piece
Be a good listener/ careful reader: give your full attention to the message and to the context of the message
Be context sensitive: make sure you are using the right mode of communication for the situation you are in, take into consideration previous interactions with that person/ organization, type of relationship, socio cultural factors
Be proactive: if not sure what you have heard/ read, verify the facts and get more info

Question 6

Interpersonal communication

Answer 6

Interpersonal communication is the process by which people exchange information, feelings, and meaning through verbal and non-verbal messages: it is face-to-face communication.

Question 7

Components of Non-Verbal Communication

Answer 7

Proxemics (use of space): how close/ far away you are from the person you are communicating with impacts how your message gets across
Chronemics (use of time): time is a valuable commodity - how punctual you are, how long you are willing to listen, pace of the conversation all influence how a message is received
Vocalics (paralanguage): non-verbal vocal qualities ex: pitch, volume, tempo, laughing, crying, yelling, “umm”, “okay”, “you know”
Kinesics (body language): gestures, posture, eye contact, facial expressions, image/clothing, hair, makeup

Question 8

Upward communication flow

Answer 8

the movement of info from subordinates → superiors

Important to create a working climate where opinions and ideas can be shared freely with all people in a workplace

Question 9

Downward communication flow

Answer 9

the movement of info from superiors → subordinates

Used to clarify strategy, policy or expectations as well as boost moral and instil a feeling of loyalty

Question 10

Horizontal communication flow

Answer 10

the movement of info that enables at the same level to share ideas

Question 11

Culture

Answer 11

the shared values, customs, and patterns of behaviour of a particular group or society including rules, beliefs, language and structures.

Question 12

Ethnocentrism

Answer 12

The tendency to make false assumptions based on the limited experience that one’s own culture or ethinic group is superior to others

Question 13

High Culture Context (Japa, China, Korea, Arab countries)

Answer 13

communication relies heavily on non-verbal, contextual and shared cultural meanings.

Question 14

Low Culture Context (Germany, Scandinavia, North America)

Answer 14

meaning is created through the literal content of the message, rather than how it is said.

Question 15

5 Ways to bridge the gap between different cultures

Answer 15

1. Show Respect
2. Gain knowledge and develop awareness
3. Avoid negative judgments
4. Cultivate a work environment that values diversity
5. Ask questions to seek common ground