1. Principles of Architecture and Construction
Professionalism: Communication, Speaking, and Listening Skills
One of the greatest downfalls from the latest technology is the breakdown of formal communication skills.

3. Interpersonal Communication
Transmission of thoughts and ideas to another person that results in a response from that person
The ultimate goal of effective communication is to garner a response from the receiver of the message.

4. The Communication Process
Source or sender-seek to communicate with another (chooses the message and the message channel)
Encoding-putting the message into some form (words, symbols, or pictures that someone else can recognize and understand)
Decoding-process of converting the encoded message into concepts
The communication process can be easily disrupted. Communication breakdown can result from physical, personal, technological, and other barriers.

5. Challenges in Interpersonal Communication
Direction or flow of communication
Conflict with personality traits
Perceptual errors
Noise in the communication channel
Meaning of the communication
Business terminology
Deception and distortion in messaging
The nightly news and newspapers present one person’s or organization’s viewpoint. Individuals must sort through the millions of messages they receive each day to find the intended meaning.

6. How to Become a Better Communicator
Be a great listener
Ask questions
Keep it simple
Focus on the objective
Continually assess your own communication skills
Listening will resolve many of the communication breakdown problems. All individuals can become better communicators.

7. Interpersonal Communication Networks
Star Network
Circle Network
All-Member Network
Different work environments and professional organizations have a variety of communication networks. Some organizations have more than one type of communication network.

8. Star Network
All information flows through a central person—the center of the star
Greatest individual satisfaction
Drawback-only one person decides whether or not information is relevant for the network
One individual communicates everything in the star network. Some individuals do not like this autocratic type of leadership.

9. Circle Network All information flows in a circle
Any member of the network may be the starting point of information
Rated higher for overall effectiveness but lower for individual satisfaction
One may not see the end result of the communication
Sometimes communication breakdown results from many individuals communicating a message.

10. All-Member Network
Information may flow in any direction or pattern without going through a central person
Communication may spread more rapidly with this form of network
Rated higher for overall effectiveness but lower for individual satisfaction for the same reasons
Many organizations have chosen an all-member network to get the information to the intended audience. Sometimes communication becomes distorted with information flowing any direction.

11. Tips for Effective Presentations
Open with an Attention-Getting Question or Quote
Keep it Simple
Make Eye Contact
Use Visuals
Involve the Audience
Use a Form of Note Cards
Summarize
Personal attention spans are very short. Presentations must be to the point and interesting. A presentation must involve much more than sharing information with the audience.