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Communication Skills
main skills needed to communicate effectively
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Attending | Without using words, you are communicating that you are listening to the person. Includes eye contact, posture, gestures, facial expressions and verbal cues. |
| Paraphrasing | Restating what was just said by the other person, using fewer words but without changing the meaning of what the other person said. |
| Reflection | The process of paraphrasing and restating both the feelings and the words of the speaker. |
| Open questions | Results in detailed answers and usually begins with what, why, how, describe, explain, where, which, when, etc. |
| Non-verbal communication | Gestures, facial expressions and other nonverbal aspects of speech itself (accent, tone of voice, speed of speaking, etc) |
| Minimal encouragers | Subtle, nonverbal, and short verbal actions which encourage the speaker to express him/herself more fully. |
| Summarizing | Is when you provide a concise overview of the most important points from a conversation. It helps verify that people understand each other and can ensure that the highlights of communications are captured and utilized |
| Feedback | The response or reaction of the receiver after perceiving or understanding a message. It enables the sender to evaluate the effectiveness of their message. |
| Active listening | Involves listening with all senses, as well as giving full attention to the speaker. |
| Closed questions | Results in very short answers like “yes” or “no” or answers with a word or two. |
| Mirroring | Imitating the other person's physical positions and mannerisms, and/or imitating the other person's verbal approach and style. |