60% - 80%
OF REMOTE WORKERS USE THIS COMMUNICATION CHANNELS
MODULE 8
Digital communication
WE RECOMEND USING DESKTOP DEVICES WHILE TAKING OUR E-COURSE
WATCH THE SHORT INTRO VIDEO
YOU WILL LEARN:
- Do’s and Don’ts of digital communication
- Most used channels that people use in remote work
- verbal communication
1.
Do’s and Don’ts of digital communication
Digital miscommunication happens because when communicating the participants in the conversation are not able to see each other and see the non-verbal clues and tone of voice.
Do’s
- Use emojis in a normal way (do not use them if it is the first time that you are communicating with the individual)
- Proofread the message
- Use punctuation marks
- Answer in an empathetic way
- Communicate openly the good and bad news
- Treat everyone with respect
- Learn new things about digital communication
Don’ts
- Avoid typos
- Do not have excessive communication when it is not needed
- Digital communication can be shared with a lot of people and leaves a mark and that is why people need to think twice before writing something
- Do not send spam messages
- Do not use inappropriate language
- Do not avoid responding to messages
- Do not send messages during off hours
- Do not panic
2.
Types of communication channels
do’s and don’ts about communication channels
Do’s
- Build strong communication channels.
- State the problem in a clear way.
- Leave room for compromise.
- Give and get respect.
- Maintain equality in the relationship.
- The conversation should be brief and clear, and the language should be simple and polite.
Don’ts
- Do not let emotions interfere with the conversation.
- Do not accuse, criticize, and judge.
- Do not interrupt.
- Do not shout.
- Do not show negative body language.
- hings should not be taken literally.
Video conferencing can be conducted in various ways. People can use web cameras that are connected or built into computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. There are software-based platforms that are used to transmit communication over internet protocols. Some businesses use special video conferencing rooms and they use high-grade cameras and screens. With this kind of technology, the conversation is clear and has limited technical faults. Some third-party providers often install the necessary hardware for the video conference. The stability and quality of the video conference depend on the speed of the individual’s internet data connection. In the short terms, people need a computer connection, video, audio, internet connection, and a platform to have video conferencing.
3.
verbal communication and non-verbal communication
VERBAL COMMUNIATION
90% OF COMMUNICATION IS VERBAL
When communicating verbally people use the spoken word, voice, language, sentences, and symbols that can be understood by others. The spoken word from a written symbol is known as a language and that is why it is included in verbal communication. The symbols that are not in written form are non-verbal symbols used in non-verbal communication. That means that non-verbal communication involves the use of signs, movements, facial expressions, body language, etc., to communicate with others.
Verbal and non-verbal communication are both parts of human conversation however, it is important to mention that non-verbal communication is more prevalent than verbal communication. The first person who pointed out that non-verbal communication takes ¾ of conversation is Ray Birdwhistell. It is evident that non-verbal communication – eye contact, smiling, gestures and body movement heavily influence how people interpret and react to information. Body language can provide insight into how a person feels and it may be the opposite of what someone is conveying when verbally communicating as people do not always say what they mean. This proves that digital communication is difficult. Taking into consideration that when people communicate digitally, they are not able to see each other and it is difficult to interpret the non-verbal signals when the individuals do not see each other. The 21st century is the century of technology and digital communication confirming that there are many difficulties when people communicate online. This means that there are points of interruption during communication.
Interruptions occur when people speak out while someone else is talking. There are competitive interruptions, where a person thinks their remark is more important, and cooperative interruptions, where they support the main speaker. Competitive interruptions seek dominance, while cooperative interruptions show solidarity. Interruptions can cause negative feelings due to frequent silence and topic changes.
4.
Interpersonal communication
Interpersonal communication is when people share information through verbal and non-verbal communication. It can be said that interpersonal communication is a combination of both language and non-verbal symbols that include body movement, facial expressions, and so on.
Elements of interpersonal communication:
People involved
For a conversation to happen there must be at least two people involved in the process. In explanation, there must be a sender and a receiver. It is important to mention that communications are two-way processes where people send and receive messages. How people communicate with one another depends on the person’s knowledge regarding the other speaker.
The messages sent
The meaning of the conversation in interpersonal communication is derived from the messages that can be verbal and non-verbal. Both verbal and non-verbal symbols and elements shape the message and how the receiver of the message will understand the meaning of the message.
Channel
It refers to the physical means by which the message is transferred from one person to another. In the case of verbal communication, the channels considered are speech and vision. On the other hand, in non-verbal communication, the channels are all of the non-verbal symbols like gestures, body movements, facial expressions, sounds, etc. It is important to mention that there is digital communication that includes texting and instant messaging.
Context
Communication is influenced by the environmental, situational, or cultural context. The environmental context is the physical location where the communication is taking place. The situational or cultural context refers to the life and cultural background of the participants in the communication.
The amount of noises sent
Noise in communication refers to everything that can interfere with the ability to receive and send messages. Noises present a distraction for the speakers and an effective speaker must know how to send an accurate message regardless of the noise. There are internal and external noises. Internal noises are sight, sound, smell, and feel of the environment. External noises are the personal thoughts and feelings that the individual has.
The feedback sent as a response
Feedback is the response that people get when they send messages. The feedback can be verbal and non-verbal. Also, the feedback can be positive and negative. Positive feedback enables people to continue with the communication and negative feedback stops the communication. In this part, there is also internal feedback i.e., the feedback that an individual gives to him/herself regarding communication. On the other side, external feedback is the feedback that is received by the other person.
The act’s effect on the individuals involved
The effect(s) refers to how the individual is affected by the communication. The effect can be emotional, physical, cognitive, or a combination. How someone will be affected by the communication depends on the individual.
Barriers to Effective Interpersonal Communication
Sentiments
It is important to mention that the receiver can guess how the sender feels just from the message sent. Different people construct the same message in different ways. Emotions also play an important part when someone sends a message, which means that emotions heavily influence the meaning of the message and how someone will comprehend the message.
Filtering
How the receiver will understand the message depends on how the sender will shape the message. Sometimes the sender manipulates the message for the receiver to understand the message in the way the sender wants it.
Message Crammed with Information
A lot of information regarding the same topic can be overwhelming for the receiver and it can be difficult to understand what the speaker is trying to achieve by sharing the same message all the time
Defensiveness
Defensiveness plays an important role when trying to communicate with others. Mutual understanding can be declined if the speaker feels like he/she is put in a difficult position or is threatened by the other speaker. Defensiveness can be when the receiver questions the motives of the speaker, gives sarcastic answers, and is excessively judgmental of what has been said.
Cultural Difference
For people to understand each other it is important to understand the culture of the person that we are speaking with. When there are two speakers from two different cultures and they have a conversation it is important to know the culture and the background so there will not be a misunderstanding in what has been said.
Argot
 When people do not know each other and they engage in a conversation it is better to not use argot/jargon words since not everyone can understand them.
Overcoming the Barriers of EFFECTIVE Interpersonal Communication
Simplify Language
For people to understand each other and overcome the barriers of effective communication it is important to use clear language and simple sentences so the receiver can easily understand the speaker.
Control Emotions:
 Emotions play an important role in communication. Control of emotions is needed when communicating a sensitive issue. For the sender and receiver to communicate rationally both of them need to articulate neutrally.
Listen Ardently:
Sometimes it happens that when the sender and receiver communicate, the receiver may hear what the sender says however, it may not listen. For people to understand each other they must listen to what is being told so the communication can be effective. The understanding of the message that the speaker is trying to send is easier when the receiver is put in the sender’s point of view.
Use Feedback
Feedback is important for the speaker to confirm that what is being communicated is recognized. The feedback is a symbol of confirmation that includes close-ended questions i.e. when the speaker asks the receiver if he/she has understood what has been told. Also, feedback can be when using open-ended questions when the speaker wants the reader to recapitulate what he/she understood from the message.
Ways to Improve Written Communication
5.
When people are using writing communication mistakes must be avoided and that can be acquired through constant practice in writing in the language that the message is supposed to be sent. The message needs to have a clear purpose so that when the receiver gets the message, he/she can understand what is the main aim. The order of the information when constructing the message is also important since it may lead the receiver to not fully understand the message. This type of communication is important since people can plan what they want to write, then they can write it and, in the end, they can edit the message, which is not the case in verbal communication. Written communication allows people to reread the message and erase possible mistakes. For this type of communication, it is necessary to avoid mistakes like using confusing words, verbosity, poor sentence structure, and using too much information. The message should include familiar and simple words, the sentences need to be grammatically correct, and there should be included only information that is needed.
6.
take the module 8 quiz to self-reflect on what you learned
bravo! you concluded the eighth module of this e-course
take a break before the next module and let us know how you relate to the memes we created for you
