COMM-1321 Midterm Study

Human Communication

the process of understanding our experiences and the experiences of others through the use of verbal and nonverbal messages

Communication

essential process and skill that helps people make sense of things in both personal and professional contexts

Communication Bravado

behavior where people perceive their communication as effective, while those around them perceive it as ineffective

Critical Functions of Communication

sending and receiving messages, offering feedback, and identifying the role of different communicators

Role-Taking

tailoring their message/assuming a specific role depending on the individual needs of the receiver and what verbal and nonverbal cues the receiving is sending based on the message (feedback)

Previous Communication Experiences

depending on whether an experience positive or negative, it helps form the basis for how you communicate in similar transactions in the future. Therefore, from a business standpoint, your initial communication impression is of critical importance.

channels of communication

Mediums used to transfer message from 1 party to another. Includes print media, internet, phones, broadcast media, etc.

Cultural influences on communication

Culture is an ongoing social institution that has its own set of behavioral rules. ex. Board meeting/interview vs hanging out with friends

Relationship influences on communication

you communicate different with your significant other than you would with your boss

Senders ______ messages with verbal and nonverbal cues to help others understand what you mean.

encode

Receivers_____ messages. Your message is not always successfully transferred.

decode

Message

the information sent/said by the speaker

Feedback

The receiver's response to a message

Channel

the method by which you send your message

Context

the location, time, and occasion where communication occurs.

Noise

anything that interferes with, distorts, or slows down the transmission of information; external or internal (losing ability to focus on a message)

Communication Apprehension

the fear or anxiety associated with real or anticipated communication with another or others

trait communication apprehension

means that one possesses a "shy trait

context-based communication apprehension

Describes a fear of communicating in certain contexts, for example, a fear of public speaking

audience-based communication apprehension

a person's fear of speaking to certain people or groups

situational communication apprehension

A short-lived anxiety that occurs during a specific encounter. Examples include interviews, speaking to a professor about an assignment, or speaking to a significant other about a situation.

Causes of Communication Apprehension

novelty, formality, subordinate status, peer evaluation, dissimilarity, conspicuousness, lack of attention, prior history

Novelty

apprehension towards a new task

Formality

apprehension while preparing/organizing something to be in the spotlight

subordinate status

apprehension when someone in charge evaluating you

peer evaluation

apprehension when peers are evaluating you

dissimilarity

apprehension when you have nothing in common with the audience

conspicuousness

apprehension when you are in the spotlight

lack of attention

apprehension when the audience is bored/uniterested

Prior history

apprehension when you re-encounter an experience that was negative the first go around

ethics

the general term for the discussion, determination, and deliberation processes that attempt to decide what is right or wrong, what others should or should not do, and what is considered appropriate in our individual, communal, and professional lives

Ethical Considerations

the variety of factors important for us to consider in any scenario in which we're making a decision, conducting an evaluation, or making a selection

ethical dilemmas

situations that do not have a clear right or wrong answer

values

moral principles or rules that determine ethical behaviors

organizational values

specific principles or guidelines such as safety, teamwork, integrity, or ownership that are typically outlined in support of any given organizational mission or goal.

verbal communication

communication that spoken words and verbal fillers; created through language

communication rules

shared understanding of what communication means and what constitutes appropriate communication given the context

regulative rules

specify when, how, where, and with whom to talk about certain things; appropriateness

constitutive rules

define what communication means by prompting us to count certain kinds of communication

nonverbal communication

communication without the use of words; Your "walk, stance, posture, and footsteps, What you wear and how you look, move, and gesture, as well as the facial and eye expressions

purposes of nonverbal communication

to express emotion, to convey interpersonal attitudes, to present one's personality, such as character, disposition, or temperament, and to accompany verbal communication.

nonverbal communication can

accent or moderate parts of verbal message

Codes of nonverbal communication

-appearance
-body movement, gestures, and posture
-eye contact
-facial expressions
-touch
-voice
-physical environment, space, and territory
-vocal expression

Vocal expression (vocalics)

how people use their voices to communicate and express themselves

Space (Proxemics)

study of how people move around in and use space to communicate

environment

The constructed or natural surroundings that influence your communicative decisions, attitude, and mood

physical appearance

the way our bodies and overall appearance nonverbally communicate to others and impact our view of ourselves in everyday life

artifacts

Clothing and other appearance aspects that send nonverbal messages and help others form perceptions of us, both good and bad

body movements

kinesics

Kinesics

general term for the study of human movement, gestures, and posture

emblems

specific, widely understood meanings in a given culture that can actually substitute for a word or phrase.

illustrators

gestures that complement, enhance, or substitute for the verbal message.

affect displays

facial expressions and gestures that display emotion.

Regulators

gestures used to control the turn-taking in conversations.

adapters

gestures we use to release tension.

facial expressions (oculesics)

critical codes that have been studied by nonverbal communication scholars

neutralization

The process of using facial expressions to erase how we really feel

masking

hiding an expression connected to a felt emotion and replacing it with an expression more appropriate to the situation

intensification

If we use an expression that exaggerates how we feel about something,

Deintensification

if we reduce the intensity of our facial expression connected to a certain emotion

touch (haptics)

is the most powerful form of nonverbal communication; it's also the most misunderstood and has the potential for severely negative consequences if not enacted appropriately

functional/professional touch

These touches typically take place within the context of a professional relationship and are low in intimacy

social/polite touch

connected to cultural norms, such as hugs or pats on the back; convey relatively low intimacy within a relationship

friendships/warmth touch

type people use to show their platonic affection toward each other

love/intimacy touch

highly personal and intimate. People communicate strong feelings of affection toward each other with these kinds of touches

sexual arousal

touches are extremely intimate

content layer

information being explicitly discussed; descriptive information such as the time of a meeting, a project due date, or the names of the coworkers assigned to a team

relational layer

reveals how you feel about the other person; whether you like or dislike the other person, feel in control or subordinate, feel comfortable or anxious, and so on

customer service and sales

success in productivity and sales was linked to the distance between sales representatives and prospects, salesperson posture, handshake techniques, facial expressions, arm movements, hand movements, and placement of the legs and feet.
-rely primarily on

Journalism and Television Broadcasting

Those in the public eye must demonstrate effective nonverbal and verbal communication

public service

Individuals who work in environments such as libraries or government offices are sometimes viewed as distant and unhelpful.
-Individuals are trained in nonverbal communication can replace negative perceptions of themselves with positive ones

Hospitality Management

In restaurants, eye contact, facial expression, body position, and posture of the staff, including servers and cashiers, affect how customers rate the value of the service

medical professions

As physicians compete to attract and retain a strong client base, their services can be interpreted positively by potential patients through correct body language on the part of the physicians and their employees.

teaching professions

There is evidence that the nonverbal communication of teachers influences the evaluation direction (positive or negative) and level of performance they receive from their students

legal professions

A study has indicated that lawyers can project a favorable impression of themselves and their firms for prospective clients through sustained eye contact and other forms of body language, such as an erect but relaxed sitting position and close proximity t

Accounting and Finance

In the same vein as lawyers, accountants can benefit through the technique of maintained and appropriate eye contact, good posture, and close proximity to clients

management (private and public)

job evaluations of employees by their supervisors have been found to correlate with smiling, gaze, hand movement, and body orientation

Job-seeking process

1. exploring
2. researching
3. applying
4. interviewing
5. following up
6. negotiating

Career Exploration

Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, explore careers interest you.

Shadowing/job shadowing

where students learn about a job by walking through the work day as a shadow to a competent worker

internship

A position in which a person receives training by working with people who are experienced in a particular field.

resume

illustrates how you fit this position and this organization and highlights the skills you possess relevant to the skills required by the position for which you are applying.

generic resume

starting point

customized resume

Make sure each resume fits each company and position. Do not just send out one resume to every organization.

chronological resume

emphasizes employment and/or experience history, listing elements in reverse chronological order

functional (skill based)

emphasizes skills and attributes that can be applied to a variety of employment situations

objective

a one- or two-sentence declarative statement about your career goals

summary

summary of skills and traits

references

should not be listed on your r�sum�

white space

there needs to be a balance because too much white space = lack of qualifications; too little, too much text = more difficult to read

cover letters

accompany your resume and serve to introduce you as a potential employee, highlight your resume, and demonstrate your writing skills

cover letter should:

Begin the cover letter by stating that you're interested in a specific position (state the exact position title). In the next paragraph or two, highlight why you are qualified for this position, making specific reference to the required skills and qualifi

Before the interview

prepare your message, anticipate the questions, script your answers, practice your answers, prepare your appearance, and reduce your nervousness

Preparing your message

have a clear understanding of the information you plan to present, Review the duties you'll be responsible for in this position, review your r�sum� and cover letter, and make a list based on important points you learned while doing your research

anticipating questions

practice both behavioral questions and traditional questions.

behavioral questions

explore how you have handled past situations and ask you to respond to hypothetical situations.

traditional questions

interview questions that seek factual information an applicant, such as educational background and work experience

scripting answers

-Answering interview questions using a three-part formula:
-Directly answer the question
-Back up the answer with a specific example
-Tie the answer back to this company and/or this position

during the interview

-try to monitor your nonverbal communication. Sit up straight, maintain eye contact, and avoid speaking too quickly or using vocal fillers
-be a good listener
-ask follow-up questions
-remain positive

illegal questions

Interview questions that violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII, by asking questions regarding race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age when hiring or promoting employees

Following up after an interview

thank your interviewer verbally, formalize with thank you letter

negotiating

-once an offer is made, negotiate terms not just salary