Professional Documents
Culture Documents
III. Competent communication is more than just being well-liked, glib, able to give polished presentations, or
interact with others one-on-one or in groups or teams.
A. Messages should be understood.
1. One of the aims is to create clarity of expression and common understanding.
2. Examples of headlines that have appeared in U.S. newspapers.
a. “Panda mating fails: Veterinarian takes over”
b. “Drunks get nine months in Violin case”
c. “Include your children when baking cookies.”
d. “Police begin campaign to run down jaywalkers.”
e. “Local high school dropouts cut in half.”
B. The message should achieve its intended effect.
1. Often, when we communicate, it is intended to achieve some goal or outcome.
2. The goal may be to entertain, persuade, or disseminate information.
3. Effective communication means the outcome received was the outcome sought.
C. The message should be ethical.
1. Ethics—beliefs, values, and morals we use to determine what is right or wrong.
2. Philosophers have debated for centuries whether or not there is a universal moral and ethical code.
3. Honesty is the key element to ethical communication.
a. To withhold information, lie, or distort truth is not ethical or effective.
b. Example of Paul, who explains an absence during an exam by citing the death of his
Grandmother who is quite well and alive. Paul’s dishonesty would qualify his communication as
inappropriate and unethical.
IV. Communication Principles
A. Communication has purpose
1. When people communicate they have a purpose for it.
2. Kathy Kellerman (’92) states “all communication if goal-directed” whether or not the purpose is
conscious”
B. Communication is continuous
1. We constantly communicate with our words and actions
2. We need to constantly be aware of the messages we are sending
C. Communication messages vary
1. spontaneous messages are spur of the moment thoughts and comments
2. scripted messages are conversations that have worked in certain past situations
3. constructed messages are messages we create when scripted messages do not apply or work
D. Communication is relational
1. It defines how we feel about someone
2. It defines who is in control
a. Complementary relationship- one person gives another power or control in the relationship
b. Symmetrical relationship – both are trying to be in control or both abdicate control in the
relationship.
E. Communication is culturally bound
1. What message is formed and how it is interpreted depends on the cultural background of the
participants.
2. We often miscommunicate with another because we unknowingly violate a cultural rule
F. Communication has ethical implications
1. All the major religions have moral codes on how to treat others (Golden Rule). Professions also
have ethical codes (Medicine, law and journalism)
2. There are five standards in developing one’s ethics
a. truthfulness and honesty are standards that refrain us from lying, cheating and stealing. We are
most likely to lie when caught it a moral dilemma, a choice involving unsatisfactory alternatives.
b. Integrity means maintaining a consistency of belief and actions
c. Fairness means achieving the right balance of interests without regard to one’s own feelings
without showing favor to any side in a conflict.
d. Respect means showing regard or consideration for a person and for that person’s rights.
e. responsibility means being accountable for one’s actions.