1. 8 Myths and Misconceptions about Communication in Organizations

2. Myth 1: Meanings are in words
What a word means to us may not mean the same to someone else
Meanings are in people, not words
What we say to others might convey a meaning we are not trying to convey

3. Myth 2: Communication is a verbal process
How we say something and how we act impact just as much as what we say
Communication is not only a verbal process but a nonverbal process as well
Nonverbal actions can contradict verbal messages and when they do most people believe the nonverbal

4. Myth 3: Telling is communicating
Telling is only part of communication
Must be sensitive to other people’s views and communication skills
Telling someone something is not communicating with them

5. Myth 4: Communication will solve all our problems
Communication can either create or help overcome problems
Communication should be adjusted to the situation
Forcing people to communicate sometimes will cause matters to get worse
Communicating more effectively can help avoid some situations that result in problems

6. Myth 5: Communication is a good thing
Communication is a tool
Communication is neither a good nor a bad thing
The way you use communication determines if it is a good thing or bad thing
We use communication for both positive and negative purposes

7. Myth 6: The more communication, the better
The quality of communication is important not the pure quantity of it
The more people talk to one another, the better the decision made is not always the case
Ignorance does not produce intelligence

8. Myth 7: Communication can break down
Human communication does not break down rather we communicate unsuccessfully
You cannot NOT communicate
Communication is always being expressed even without words, hence nonverbal communication

9. Myth 8: Communication is a natural ability
Communication is a learned ability
We acquire our communication skills through our education as well as our experiences
Communication competence can be learned
Practicing can and will help you communicate better