Page 8 - Mini-Module 4

A Model of Communication

Communication should be easy, after all, it is a simple process of:
sender > transmission > receiver
sender < transmission < receiver

You have a message, you exchange ideas and you reach an understanding.

These models assume that communication moves directly from sender to
receiver without interference or modification. Thus we think, “If you are not
getting my message, it must be because I am not sending it right”.
This simple model of communication is too simple. Because between sender
and receiver is a lot of interpretation of data. In other words, messages are
altered by our senses as well as our previous experience, our values and be-
liefs, and sometimes even our physical state (tired, hormonal balance, etc).

In send mode, we don't just transmit the text of our speech e.g. "Haven’t I
met you before?", but also ‘unintended’ messages. The receiver might
‘interpret’ the text by applying a range of filters to come up with something
like “I fancy you” (some men often interpret all communication at this way).
Thus, the data is conceived by the sender, but before transmission it passes
through mental filters and gets merged in with everything else that is going
on in our heads. This information passes to the
receiver, who then also mentally filters and merges it before chooses a
response. See Illustration 1.
It is therefore quite surprising that we can communicate at all.

Illustration 1. Model of Communication
Sender > Filter > Transmits > Senses > Filter > Receiver
Sender < Filter < Senses < Transmits < Filter < Receiver

Effective Communications
1. The first step in effective communication is understanding what it is that you
wish to communicate and with whom?
2. The second step is to have a clear, consistent message.
3. The third is to use a variety of channels and venues to make your points and to

reach out and involve the community.

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