Effective Communication

Danielle Lant 28th October, 2007

Describe The Stages Of The Communication Cycle And Reflect On Your Own Experiences To Explain How The Cycle May Be Used To Communicate Difficult, Complex And Sensitive Issues (P2, M1)

There are many ways of communicating with people such as speaking, and using sign language but to do so effectively requires a cycle. It s called the communication cycle for obvious reasons and like the ability to communicate it is innately built, individuals do it automatically. To carry out the cycle successfully two or more parties must be present. Communicating involves expression of thought and interpretation of the other parties understanding.

There are six phases of the communication cycle, the first is expressing your own thoughts, the second is watching the other person non verbal response and body language. Thirdly is interpreting the other person’s body language and trying to work out what he or she is thinking, next is listening to his or her response to what we have said, following this is trying to make sense of his or her response. Finally the original speaker expresses new ideas to try and clarify our ideas. For a simplified version see the diagram below

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