Improve Communication - The Three Levels Of Verbal Communication 656vz

The Three Levels of Verbal Communication

by Diane M. Hoffmann, ph.d./th. The Three Levels of Verbal Communication Before we can improve verbal communication and increase its effectiveness, we must understand how it works and where the players fit within the field of communication. First of all, in any verbal communication there are always a sender (speaker) and a receiver (listener). Within the process that takes place between the sender and the receiver, are activities going on. The activities that take place within the verbal communication process contain responsibilities both individuals have. In verbal communication, first there is a Sender (the one initiating the communication, i.e. a speaker or a writer. Second, there is a Receiver (the one receiving the communication or the Listener). Here's the two-way process observed: If only the Sender communicates effectively, a one-way communication situation ensues, with the negative result of communicating at 50%. The same goes for the Receiver’s side, if only the Receiver takes the time and effort to communicate, it is only communication at 50%. To achieve 100% verbal communication, the efforts of both players are needed. And we are not talking about a mere physical participation, but one of body, soul and spirit. Communication is too important to give it light consideration. It is being considerate to ourselves as well as to other persons with whom we are communicating. Words have the power to either bless or curse – even without our knowing about it. In our analogy of the three levels of verbal communication, the process goes like this: The activities we talked about earlier are responsibilities of the participants found in between the two essential communicators, which are:

• the Information being communicated such as issue, topic, subject, instruction, opinion etc; • the Means by which this information is being communicated (verbal, nonverbal, written, using telephone, face to face, letter, book, etc.) • the Way in which the information is being communicated (how we use our words, tone of voice, writing style, organized or disorganized manner, etc.) Each side is responsible for making this process work which comprises Information, Means and Way. Both sides have three levels of Active Responsibility to process the activities used in communication. Level I is where the exchange of communication takes place between the sender and receiver. Level II is where the Translating and Interpreting of that communication takes place.. This is done by the thought processes of each the Sender and the Receiver according to each his/her experiences, and frame of references in their various walks of life (business, personal, moral, ethical, etc.). This is where the major complications of communication arise (good connection/bad connection). If everyone thought the same, saw things the same way or reacted in the same manner, communication would be straightforward. However, there are hundreds of combination of understanding, therefore communication can be Translated and Interpreted in many different ways from the original inception of a thought. This is analogous to our thousands of neuron connections in the human brain wherein the "power" for effective communication is found in the bombardment of thoughts and ideas between the neuron connectors. Level III is where we get and give , Understanding and Awareness. • . Both sides are responsible to see that the communication has been Sent and Received as intended. This is identified by asking the right questions at the right times. “Can you please repeat the steps for closing the shop, to make sure I didn't leave anything out?” “Let me run through the requirements as I understand you’ve outlined them”. Both sides ask for when needed. • Understanding. Effective communication requires a common Understanding between the parties communicating. The Sender Transmits with Understanding to the Receiver. The Receiver Interprets with Understanding from the Sender. • Awareness. Finally, each side requires an Awareness of the interferenres also going on such as cultural differences, linguistics, diction, clarity of speech and expression, verbal, nonverbal parts, etc. In essence, Level I activities are the "what" responsibilities of the verbal communication (Information, Means, Ways of Sender and Receiver). And Level II & III are the "how" of the activities of Level I (tools of verbal communication)./dmh

You may print this article making sure to include this bio without any changes: Diane M. Hoffmann is the founder of Hoffmann-Rondeau Communications and the web site http://communication-verbal-nonverbal.com which is the home of her e-books "Improve Communication, Verbal and Nonverbal" and "Improve Communication, Organization and Training" as well as her 296-page printed book "Contextual Communication, Organization and Training".