Communication Cycle

Communication is an art, to some extent, but I think when we take special efforts and study how to communicate effectively, it becomes more of a science with some rules and methods. Whatever it is, knowing how to communicate well and knowing the process works, is always an asset. Sometimes the meaning and interpretation of the original message can land the person generating the original message in trouble.

What is Communication Cycle

This is the entire process of communication, entailing the origin and conceptualizing the desired message to it being communicated to the right person, to that person interpreting it and responding to it. This concept has been developed for the sender and originator of the message to work on communication, by way of feedback. Primarily, it a structure which was conceived regarding the way we communicate. At a very rudimentary level, the cycle involves we 'aiming' at what we want to say, how to say it and what is our intention and expected interpretation and response of the message. So, you can see how important it is to communicate properly and mean what you mean!

Stages of Communication Cycle

The process of communication is not a lengthy one and is fairly simple to understand. At the onset, a cycle includes cause, distance, effect, with intention, attention, duplication and understanding. Let us look at it in bit more detail.

Stage #1
The first step of this cycle is aiming. Here the individual primarily encodes the message to be communicated and makes it clear with himself too, as to what is it that needs to be communicated. Here, questions like why do I need or wish to communicate, whom am I communicating with, what is the best possible method in which the message can be communicated, and so on, have to be tackled.

Stage #2
The next stage is encoding, where we need to select the medium for communication - photographs, charts, words and so on. Our mentality, age, sex, education and the baggage of assumptions greatly influence our selection of medium. Whatever medium we choose to communicate with, it should ensure we are able to follow the message clearly.

Stage #3
Transmitting the desired message clearly and at the right time comes next. So, if you have written down something to speak, see if what you are saying is consistent with what you had thought of saying. Also check for any distractions and barriers.

Stage #4
This is the stage where the intended receiver is receiving the message. It is interesting to know for the sender or receiver that we think at least 3 times faster, as compared to speaking. So receiving will mean taking in the message thoroughly. If it is verbal communication, it will involve listening.

Stage #5
The interpretation or decoding comes after the receiving stage. This should not be a major concern and there should be no problem for the receiver to interpret the message. Of course, provided that the sender has formulated the message and has put it across clearly. Hence it is eventually the sender who is responsible for the interpretation of the message.

Stage #6
After the decoding and interpretation of the message, typically, it is expected that the receiver responds and reacts to it. Or let's say gives a feedback.

This is how a communication cycle progresses. There are a number of theories about the overall process. However, these stages aptly explain the entire mechanism. In the end it is a continuous process and never stops, the only difference being that, in some situations, the sender becomes the receiver and vice versa!