Oral Communication - Process, Types, Phases, Elements

MBA Program - Managerial Communication Subject - Part of Communication

1. Managerial Communication

2. Oral Communication Oral communication is the ability to transmit ideas from your brain to either one person or a group of people. Good use of verbal skills means presenting an idea clearly while each thought is articulated in a consistent manner. It has everything to do with the language that we choose to use. It’s also important to know who your audience is and address them in a way that they comprehend and understand. Your tone is also important as a confident tone can go far when you are expressing an idea as it can help you sound more credible.

3. Good verbal communication often relies on non-verbal cues. These cues, like hand gestures or a raised brow, might put emphasis on a point, show how you feel about what you are saying, and provide insight about the seriousness of a situation. Another important aspect to think about is that good verbal skills go hand-in-hand with excellent listening skills. When used together it becomes much easier to navigate day-to-day encounters at work and in your personal life. Oral Communication

4. Elements of Oral Communication Sender: The sender is the person who initiates communication to the receiver. Medium: The medium is the format in which the message is being sent. For example, a voicemail, a face-to-face conversation or a PowerPoint presentation. Channel: The channel is the platform on which the message is delivered. For example, a podcast, a telephone or a meeting. Receiver: The receiver listens and decodes the message sent by the sender. The receiver then generates feedback for the sender in response to the message. Feedback: This final stage is the reaction of the receiver, such as oral or written communication. No response from the receiver is also a type of feedback. This completes the entire oral communication cycle.

5. Communication Process Message Encoding Medium Decoding Decoding Medium Encoding Message Receiver (now sender) Sender Transmission Phase Feedback Phase NOISE

6. Types of Oral Communication One-on-one conversations: Conversation between two friends, employees or with one’s manager. This could be personal, professional or just sharing motivational quotes between each other. Meetings: Decision-making meetings and information-sharing meetings, often applicable to business meetings. Group discussions: Book club gathering, small group project. Speeches: Political debate, motivational speech. Presentations: Teaching students in a classroom, instructional presentation or elevator pitch. Electronic: Talking over the phone, listening to a show on the radio.

7. Principle of Effective Oral Communication Well-Planned: Before presenting something, there should be proper planning regarding the audience, topics to be delivered, timing and other factors: So, a person must be well-prepared to deliver his speech. Clear pronunciation: To make oral messages meaningful to receivers, words should be clearly and correctly pronounced. There should not be any lack of clarity, otherwise, the communication would be a confusing one. Brevity: Effective oral communication desires that a message should be brief. If the sender took a long time for talking, his message may not get the attention of the receiver. Precision: Precision is needed to make oral communication effective. There should not be any confusing words rather message to be delivered should be specific so that there is no misunderstanding.

8. Natural voice: Any sort of unnatural voice may distort the message. Natural voice can do a lot to make oral communication effective. Logical sequence: Ideas should be organized in a sequential way to make the message communicative and attractive. Unorganized ideas do not provide clear sense while a logical sequence of ideas gives clear sense. Suitable words: Words have different meanings to different people in different situations in oral communication, a speaker should use the common, simple & familiar words so that receiver can react to the message without any problem. Courteous: Courtesy costs nothing but can earn many things. So, a speaker should be courteous while addressing listeners. It helps create a good impression in the mind of listeners regarding the speaker.

9. Attractive presentation: It is another principle to make oral communication effective. A speaker should deliver his speech in a very nice & sweet language so that receiver is attracted to take part in the communication. Avoiding Emotions: Speaker must control his emotions to make oral communication effective. Too much emotion will take the speaker away from the main subject. Emphasis: The speaker must be knowledgeable regarding the portion of the speech where he should give emphasis. Giving emphasis on respective points will help draw the attention of the audience. Controlling Gesticulation: Speaker at many occasions, consciously or unconsciously, gesticulates for expressing his ideas or thoughts. This is a habit & should be avoided. Otherwise, application of such habit may lead to disinterest of the audience.

10. Advantages of Oral Communication Less chance of any misunderstanding. Allows for easy, clear vernacular. Face to face communications promotes better understanding, patience and productivity. Promotes discussion and encourages streamlined banter.