Friday, July 18, 2008

Not as Easy as 1-2-3!


Communication at it's roots can be broken down into 3 "simple" components.

1. Thought
Information (concepts, ideas, feelings, etc.) is formulated in the mind of the potential sender.
Many instances of communication should stay in this phase. I don't know anyone who has acquired a taste for shoe leather!

2. Encoding
Message is sent to receiver in the form of words and/or symbols.
A critical phase in the communication process. Select those words and/or symbols wisely!

3. Decoding
Receiver translates words/symbols into information they can understand.
This is the most unpredictable phase. Regardless of how carefully we select our words/symbols, we cannot control how others receive and interpret information. And, believe it or not, there are many people who intentionally seek problems or offensive information in any/all communication regardless of the intent of the sender.

Tip: When we absolutely must communicate with this type of person, try to manipulate the situation so they are the "encoders." You'll save yourself a lot of time, effort and needless stress.

For more information, contact me today!

http://www.donnamariawalker.com/

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