{"id":5,"date":"2019-05-11T11:48:05","date_gmt":"2019-05-11T15:48:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/tradescomminucation\/2019\/05\/11\/chapter-1\/"},"modified":"2021-01-05T11:46:34","modified_gmt":"2021-01-05T16:46:34","slug":"chapter-1","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/tradescomminucation\/chapter\/chapter-1\/","title":{"raw":"Verbal Communication Practices","rendered":"Verbal Communication Practices"},"content":{"raw":"
The [pb_glossary id=\"123\"]skilled trades[\/pb_glossary] are an environment in which clear and concise communication is essential for everything associated in your projects. Whether that\u2019s the everyday toolbox or safety meetings to the larger project progress meetings. Clear communication can be a complicated process, but the good news is each one of us can learn to engage others more effectively.<\/div>\r\n

Why Invest in Improving our Communication Skills?<\/strong><\/h4>\r\nSince communication is a natural and common occurrence one may think that there is little to no reason for improving the way we interact with others. however, investing the time and effort into improving our communication skills will make a marked difference in at least four areas;\r\n
    \r\n \t
  1. Reduce potential conflicts.<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Reduce misunderstandings.<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Improve engagement.<\/li>\r\n \t
  4. Improve productivity.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nFurther, the Industry Training Authority as well as the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum has identified communication skills as an essential skill for not only apprentices looking to pass their endorsement exams, it is also an essential skill for life.\r\n
    \u201cPlumbers require good oral communication skills to interact with colleagues, apprentices, supervisors, suppliers, inspectors, clients, and other tradespersons when co-ordinating work, resolving problems and ensuring safety.\u201d \u2013 Red Seal Essential Skills Outline, Plumber (2016).<\/em><\/blockquote>\r\n

    Types of Verbal Communication<\/h3>\r\nThere are essentially two types of categories of verbal skills. Interpersonal and Leadership types. These two main categories can be divided into four sub-categories;\r\n\r\nIntrapersonal<\/strong> \u2013 intrapersonal communication is a communicator's internal use of language or thought. It can be useful to envision intrapersonal communication occurring in the mind of the individual in a model which contains a sender, receiver, and feedback loop.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/youtu.be\/2aMISACsgXQ[\/embed]\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nInterpersonal<\/strong> \u2013 interpersonal communication is the process by which people exchange information, feelings, and meaning through verbal and non-verbal messages: it is face-to-face communication. It is here where we see the proper application of using questions to seek clarity as well as the acting of switching. Switching can be broken down into two components. The first is referred to as conversational switching, where a speaker\u2019s attitude toward the topic is conveyed to the recipient. The second is referred to as situational switching where the speaker\u2019s attitude towards the audience is communicated.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/youtu.be\/KvECDsChFrc[\/embed]\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nPublic<\/strong> \u2013 public communication happens when individuals and groups engage in dialogue in the public sphere in order to deliver a message to a specific audience. Public speaking events, newspaper editorials, and billboard advertisements are a few forms of public communication.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_58\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"276\"]\"\" public communication[\/caption]\r\n\r\nLeadership<\/strong> \u2013 is defined as inspiring and encouraging an individual or a group by systematic and meaningful sharing of information. It is here where we find elements of persuasion and negotiation being used by the speaker. Another form can be described as group talk. Group talk sees the speaker exchanging words like \u2018we\u2019 or \u2018us\u2019 for the singular forms \u2018I\u2019, \u2018you\u2019. Employing this kind of communication is designed to make the group effective by being more inclusive and focused on the group\u2019s actions rather than upon particular individuals.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/youtu.be\/USLy_jN5tuw[\/embed]\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThese four categories constitute the building blocks of effective verbal communication.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n\r\n \r\n

    Barriers to Understanding<\/h3>\r\nAs with all communication, there are obstacles to ensuring that what the speaker intends to communicate is actually understood and then enacted. The following is a list of some common barriers in verbal communication.\r\n

    Encoding - Decoding<\/strong>[1]<\/a><\/h4>\r\nIn basic terms, humans communicate through a process of encoding<\/strong> and decoding<\/strong>. The encoder is the person who develops and sends the message. As represented in Figure 1.1 below, the encoder must determine how the message will be received by the audience and make adjustments, so the message is received the way they want it to be received.\r\n\r\nEncoding<\/strong> is the process of turning thoughts into communication. The encoder uses a \u2018medium\u2019 to send the message \u2014 a phone call, email, text message, face-to-face meeting, or another communication tool. The level of conscious thought that goes into encoding messages may vary. The encoder should also take into account any \u2018noise\u2019 that might interfere with their messages, such as other messages, distractions, or influences.\r\n
    \r\n\r\nThe audience then \u2018decodes\u2019, or interprets, the message for themselves. Decoding<\/strong> is the process of turning communication into thoughts. For example, you may realize you\u2019re hungry and encode the following message to send to your apprentice: \u201cI\u2019m hungry. Do you want to go for lunch soon?\u201d As your apprentice receives the message, they decode your communication and turn it back into thoughts to make meaning.<\/span>\r\n

    Semantic Confusion, Jargon, and Slang<\/strong>[2]<\/a><\/h4>\r\nIn the past when you have used language to make sense of your experiences and to take part in dis\u00adcussions, you no doubt came to see that language and verbal communication could work for you and sometimes against you. Language allowed you to communicate, but it also allowed you to miscom\u00admunicate and misunderstand.\r\n\r\nIn an article titled \u201cThe Miscommunication Gap,\u201d Susan Washburn lists several undesirable results of poor communication in business:\r\n
    \r\n