Miscommunication

Miscommunication

1. It can lead to confusion, animosity, misunderstanding

2. What happens when we communicate?

   • Transmission model
     • Views communication as a message that moves directly from one person to another
       • This simplistic model doesn't account for communication's complexity.
   • Transaction model
     • Acknowledges the many added challenges of communicating
       • With this model, it is more accurate to think of communication between people
         • As we communicate our message, we receive feedback from the other part.
           • Through the transaction, we create meaning together.

3. When communicatin, one person expresses her interpretation of a message and the person she's communicating with hears his own interpretation of that message.

4. Our perceptual filters continually shift meanings and interpretations.

   • Like knowledge or past experience, age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or family background.

5. Every person interprets the message they receive based on their relationship with the other person and their unique understanding of the semantics and connotations of the exact words being used.

6. People can also be distracted by other stimuli, such as traffic or growling stomach. Even emotion might cloud their understanding and by adding more people into a conversation..

7. The complexity of communication grows exponentially due to peoples own subjectivities.

8. There are simple practices that can help us all navigate our daily interactions for better communication.

   • 1: Recognizing that passive hearing and active listening are not the same.
     • Engage actively with the verbal and nonverbal feedback of others and adjust your message to facilitate greater understanding.
   • 2: Listen with your eyes and ears as well as with your gut.
     • Communication is more than words.
   • 3. Take time to understand as you try to be understood.
     • Be open to what the other person might say.
   • 4: Be aware of your personal perceptual filters.
     • Culture, community and family, influcence how you see the world.