Effective
Communication
Barry Tryon
May, 2017
Effective Communication
“Communication makes the world go round. It
facilitates human connections, and allows us to
learn, grow and progress. It’s not just about
speaking or reading, but understanding what is
being said - and in some cases what is not being
said. I believe that communication is the most
important skills any entrepreneur [leader] can
possess.” (Branson, 2017)
Definitions
• Webster
1.
2.
3.
4.
An act or instance of transmitting
Information communicated
A verbal or written message
A process by =which information is exchanged between individuals through a
common system of symbols, signs, or behavior,
5. The exchange or information (Communication, n.d.b.)
• Business Dictionary
• Communication is a “two-way process of reaching mutual understanding, in which
participants not only exchange (encode-decode) information, news, ideas and
feelings but also create and share meaning. In general, communication is a means
of connecting people or places. (Communication, n.d.b.)
Prior Experience
• Grade School Playground at Recess
• Leadership/Communication Experiences
• High School
• College
• Church Pastor
• Conference Administrator
Knowledge Base
A theory is useful in that it
1) informs the questions we ask,
2) frames the comprehensiveness of our
assessment,
3) offers a vantage point that respects diversity and
complexity,
4) provides a lens through which we organize vast
amount of information or view data, and
5) engages us to design better strategies to help us
achieve behavior change.
(Tryon, 2017)
Knowledge Base
Shannon/Weaver Theory
(1963)
• Transferring a message from
one person to another.
• What can to wrong!
Figure 1. Shannon and Weaver’s Communication Model. From
Tegan Bogle
https://www.thinglink.com/scene/623470620159508482
Knowledge Base
• Uncertainty Reduction
Theory
Berger and Calabrese (1975)
• Reduce uncertainties
between two people in
initial conversation
• 3 Phases
• Uncertainty
• Uncertainty Reduction
• Information Seeking
• 3 Strategies
• Passive
• Observe from a distance
• Active
• Talk with others
• Interactive
• Talk with person
Knowledge Base
Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Uncertainty
Information
Uncertainty
Seeking
Reduction
Knowledge Base
• Altman & Taylor (1973)
• Stages of disclosure
• The more time people
spend together the
deeper a conversation
and self-sharing can get
Figure 3. Social Penetration Theory. Retrieved from
https://educ5102.wikispaces.com/Social+Penetration+T
heory
Knowledge Base
• Politeness Theory
• People have a public
self-image they want to
protect
• Social Exchange Theory
• Business world
• Rewards/costs
• The higher the cost of a
relationship the less
chance of growing
• The higher the rewards in
a relationship the better
chance of growing
Knowledge Base
• Glasser’s Round Table
Training
• 1st day of class Seminar
• Summer Institute for
Faith and Learning
(SAU)
New Practice
• Activities
• Continued public
speaking skills
• Interpersonal Ministry
Class
• 1st Day of Class Focus
• Course Syllabus redesign
• Artifacts
• Letters/emails/class
evaluation
• Class Notes
• Student interpersonal
communication theory
assignment
• Student evaluations
• Course Syllabus
• Student evaluation of 1st
day of class
• others
New Practice
Communication
and Other Competencies
• Communication ties to
ALL other
competencies!!
• Leadership of Others
• Leadership through
Organization
• Leadership through
research
Future Growth and
Learning
• Continued development and practice of public
communication skills
• Continued development of Interpersonal Ministry class
material/lectures/assignments
• Conflict Resolution (personal and class)
• 1st Day of class experience
• Communication to Millennials and Gen Z
Conclusion
• “Developing excellent communication skills is absolutely
essential to effective leadership. The leader must be able to
share knowledge and ideas to transmit as sense of urgency and
enthusiasm to others. If a leader can’t get a message across
clearly and motivate other to act on it, then having a message
doesn’t even matter.”
• Gilbert Amelio
• President/CEOP National Semiconductor Corp. (n.d.)
References (partial list)
• Homans, George (1961). Social Behavior: Its Elementary Forms. New York: Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich
• McKinney, M. (n.d.). Quotes on communication. Retrieved from
www.leadershipnow.com/communicationquotes.html
• Perlman, B., & McCann, L. I. (1999). Student perspectives on the first day of class. Teaching of
Psychology, 26(4), 277-79.
• Perry, L. M. (1973). Biblical preaching for today's world. Chicago: Moody Press.
• Shannon, C. E., & Weaver, W. (1963). The mathematical theory of communication. Chicago:
University of Illinois Press.
• Taylor, D. A. (1968). The development of interpersonal relationships: Social penetration
processes. The Journal of Social Psychology, 75, 79-90.
• Tryon, L. (2016). Theoretical concepts: Foundation for Education & motivation patients, part 1
[PowerPoint slides].
• Turner, L.H. & West, R. (2010). Introducing communication theory, 4th ed. New York: McGraw Hill.
References (partial list)
• Altman, I. & Taylor, D. (1973). Social penetration: The development of interpersonal relationships.
New York: Holt.
• Blau, Peter (1964). Exchange and power in social life. New York: Wiley.
• Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: Some universals in language usage. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
• Communication. (n.d.a). In Merriam-Webster. Retrieved April 1, 2017 from
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communication
• Communication. (n.d.b). In Business Dictionary. Retrieved April 1, 2017, from
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/communication.html
• First Day of Class. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/first-day-ofclass/
• Gaffney, J. D. H., & Whitaker, J. R. (2015). Making the most of your first day of class. Physics
Teacher, 53(3), 137-139. doi:10.1119/1.4908079
• Glasser, P. & S. (2006). Be quiet be heard. Ashland, OH: Communications Solutions Publishing.