Speaking, Writing, and Listening Skills

Building Relationship Skills

Compare and contrast verbal and nonverbal communication

List 4 strategies for speaking effectively Describe how to listen actively

Key Concepts

Every second of every day, people all over the world send messages to each other◦ Message- any thought or feeling that you share with

another person◦ You send messages when you speak, write, or even move,

and you receive messages when you read, watch, or listen Communication- process of sending and receiving

messages◦ Good communication is the foundation of strong

relationships◦ Communication skills help you reach your goals, speak up

for yourself, build friendships, and succeed in your career◦ Communication is a valuable skills and like any skill it

requires practice

What is Communication?

People communicate and express themselves verbally and nonverbally◦ Verbal communication- communication using

words, both spoken and written◦ Communication takes place without words, too◦ People send many messages through facial

expressions, posture, eye contact, touch, gestures, and more

◦ Nonverbal communication- communication without words

Most communication is a mixture of verbal and nonverbal messages

Verbal and Nonverbal Communication

Communication is successful when your message is received as you intended it

You can speak well by organizing your thoughts, paying attention to your delivery, and relating to your listeners◦ Organize your thoughts- before you talk, organize

your thoughts in your mind or on paper Make sure you know your main point Be aware of your feelings before speaking Think twice before saying anything you might later

regret

Verbal Communication

◦ Enunciate- speak each sound clearly and distinctly Speak up so others can hear you Keep in mind that speaking very quickly or slowly may cause

people to tune out◦ Avoid making assumptions- do not assume you know

what other people think, how they feel, or what they want (and vice versa) Ask, and let them speak for themselves Share your experiences and feelings, and speak for yourself

◦ Relate to your listeners- think about what is appropriate Tailor your communication to fit your listeners and the

occasion Find a balance between talking and listening

Verbal Communication

◦ Check for understanding- check that your audience understands what you are saying Ask questions Try expressing your ideas in a different way A positive attitude gets better results than a

negative attitude Express thanks and appreciation

◦ Pick the right time- pick a time when listeners are interested in communicating with you

Verbal Communication

All forms of nonverbal communication: gestures, facial expressions, posture, eye contact, physical distance, and even your appearance communicate your thoughts and feelings

Can use nonverbal communication to make your message stronger

Can learn to “read” other people’s nonverbal communication to help you understand their thoughts and feelings

Nonverbal Communication

◦ Body language- use of gestures and other body movements to communicate

◦ Posture- way you hold your body◦ Facial expressions- can encourage or discourage

communication◦ Eye contact- looking into another person’s eyes

show that you are friendly, confident, and interested in the speaker Be aware that in some cultures looking directly into

the listener’s eyes can be a sign of disrespect

Nonverbal Communication

◦ Tone of voice- your emotions can come through in your tone of voice Strive to use a tone and inflection that accurately

conveys your message◦ Physical distance- the closer the relationship, the

less distance people put between each other when they speak

◦ Appearance- clean and healthy appearance sends a message that you respect and care about yourself and others

Nonverbal Communication

Whether you are writing an e-mail or filling out a job application, you will need writing skills to communicate your ideas and present yourself well◦ Be clear- helps people understand your message

Focus on your main point Be concise and direct, without a lot of extra words

◦ Organize your thoughts- outlining helps put your ideas in a logical order and helps you decide which of your ideas are main points and which are minor points

◦ Rewrite and revise- start with a first draft, then reread Reword sentences to make them clearer Take out words and phrases that do not support your point Rearrange ideas if necessary Check spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Writing Effectively

Active listening- listening and responding with full attention to what another person says◦ Concentrate

Focus on understanding what the speaker is actually saying rather than what you expect him/her to say

Pay attention to body language Try to minimize distractions

◦ Keep an open mind Temporarily set aside any prejudice or opinions you may have about

the topic at hand Try not to judge a message before the speaker is done

◦ Give feedback May be a simple “yes,” “I see,” question, or statement Try rephrasing in your own words what you think the speaker said Nonverbal feedback includes maintaining eye contact, nodding your

head to show understanding, or shaking your head when you don’t understand

Active Listening

__________ means to speak each sound clearly and distinctly.◦ Enunciate

Why is outlining important?◦ Helps you decide which of your ideas are main

points and which are minor points Describe types of verbal and nonverbal

feedback◦ Verbal can be a question, statement, or words such

as “yes” or “I see”◦ Nonverbal can include keeping eye contact and

nodding or shaking your head

Review

Compare and contrast verbal and nonverbal communication◦ Verbal uses spoken and written words◦ Nonverbal takes place without words

List 6 strategies for speaking effectively◦ Organize your thoughts◦ Enunciate◦ Avoid assumptions◦ Relate to your listeners◦ Check for understanding◦ Pick the right time

Review

Describe how to listen actively◦ Listening with full attention and responding to

what another person says◦ Involves:

Concentrating Keeping an open mind Giving verbal and nonverbal feedback

Review