Speaking, Writing, and Listening Skills Building Relationship Skills

Key Concepts Compare and contrast verbal and nonverbal communication List 4 strategies for speaking effectively Describe how to listen actively

What is Communication? Every second of every day, people all over the world send messages to each other Message- any thought or feeling that you share with another person You send messages when you speak, write, or even move, and you receive messages when you read, watch, or listen Communication- process of sending and receiving messages Good communication is the foundation of strong relationships Communication skills help you reach your goals, speak up for yourself, build friendships, and succeed in your career Communication is a valuable skills and like any skill it requires practice

Verbal and Nonverbal Communication People communicate and express themselves verbally and nonverbally Verbal communication- communication using words, both spoken and written Communication takes place without words, too People send many messages through facial expressions, posture, eye contact, touch, gestures, and more Nonverbal communication- communication without words Most communication is a mixture of verbal and nonverbal messages

Verbal Communication Communication is successful when your message is received as you intended it You can speak well by organizing your thoughts, paying attention to your delivery, and relating to your listeners Organize your thoughts- before you talk, organize your thoughts in your mind or on paper Make sure you know your main point Be aware of your feelings before speaking Think twice before saying anything you might later regret

Verbal Communication Enunciate- speak each sound clearly and distinctly Speak up so others can hear you Keep in mind that speaking very quickly or slowly may cause people to tune out Avoid making assumptions- do not assume you know what other people think, how they feel, or what they want (and vice versa) Ask, and let them speak for themselves Share your experiences and feelings, and speak for yourself Relate to your listeners- think about what is appropriate Tailor your communication to fit your listeners and the occasion Find a balance between talking and listening

Verbal Communication Check for understanding- check that your audience understands what you are saying Ask questions Try expressing your ideas in a different way A positive attitude gets better results than a negative attitude Express thanks and appreciation Pick the right time- pick a time when listeners are interested in communicating with you

Nonverbal Communication All forms of nonverbal communication: gestures, facial expressions, posture, eye contact, physical distance, and even your appearance communicate your thoughts and feelings Can use nonverbal communication to make your message stronger Can learn to “read” other people’s nonverbal communication to help you understand their thoughts and feelings

Nonverbal Communication Body language- use of gestures and other body movements to communicate Posture- way you hold your body Facial expressions- can encourage or discourage communication Eye contact- looking into another person’s eyes show that you are friendly, confident, and interested in the speaker Be aware that in some cultures looking directly into the listener’s eyes can be a sign of disrespect

Nonverbal Communication Tone of voice- your emotions can come through in your tone of voice Strive to use a tone and inflection that accurately conveys your message Physical distance- the closer the relationship, the less distance people put between each other when they speak Appearance- clean and healthy appearance sends a message that you respect and care about yourself and others

Writing Effectively Whether you are writing an e-mail or filling out a job application, you will need writing skills to communicate your ideas and present yourself well Be clear- helps people understand your message Focus on your main point Be concise and direct, without a lot of extra words Organize your thoughts- outlining helps put your ideas in a logical order and helps you decide which of your ideas are main points and which are minor points Rewrite and revise- start with a first draft, then reread Reword sentences to make them clearer Take out words and phrases that do not support your point Rearrange ideas if necessary Check spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Active Listening Active listening- listening and responding with full attention to what another person says Concentrate Focus on understanding what the speaker is actually saying rather than what you expect him/her to say Pay attention to body language Try to minimize distractions Keep an open mind Temporarily set aside any prejudice or opinions you may have about the topic at hand Try not to judge a message before the speaker is done Give feedback May be a simple “yes,” “I see,” question, or statement Try rephrasing in your own words what you think the speaker said Nonverbal feedback includes maintaining eye contact, nodding your head to show understanding, or shaking your head when you don’t understand

Review __________ means to speak each sound clearly and distinctly. Enunciate Why is outlining important? Helps you decide which of your ideas are main points and which are minor points Describe types of verbal and nonverbal feedback Verbal can be a question, statement, or words such as “yes” or “I see” Nonverbal can include keeping eye contact and nodding or shaking your head

Review Compare and contrast verbal and nonverbal communication Verbal uses spoken and written words Nonverbal takes place without words List 6 strategies for speaking effectively Organize your thoughts Enunciate Avoid assumptions Relate to your listeners Check for understanding Pick the right time

Review Describe how to listen actively Listening with full attention and responding to what another person says Involves: Concentrating Keeping an open mind Giving verbal and nonverbal feedback