Introduction
The communication process contains six elements, the message, sender or originator of the message, recipient, channel, noise, and feedback. The six persons’ communication model describes how perception, as a form of noise, distorts the message, as it passes from one person to another. This essay provides an in-depth and insightful perspective of communication based on the six persons’ communication model.
The six persons’ communication model
To explain distortion in messages passed from one person to another at the work place, the six persons’ communication model uses six people in a communication chain without a feedback loop. In the communication chain, when the originator sends a message to first person, the message passes on through the communication chain to the last person in the chain without feedback loop. The message received by the last person usually differs from the initial message communicated by person one.
The receiver and sender of a message have to formulate the message in their minds before sending and on receiving the message respectively. Before deciding how to formulate, the sender must consider factors such as level of education of recipient of the message. According to Taylor (2007), noise profoundly affects the process of encoding and decoding a message (p.23). Noise is any factor that interferes with the communication process. A wrong perception about the receiver profoundly affects the formulation of the message during the communication process. As the message passes on from the source, through the chain, members of the chain use different body language other than that used by the initial sender because they perceive the message differently. The use of different body language further distorts the message.
Assumptions when communicating in a professional relationship
In an organization, individuals are required to maintain professional relationships when interacting. The relationship between a subordinate and a supervisor involves communication to get the job done effectively. The supervisor communicates instructions and the subordinate give progress and results from a given task.
The subordinate may regard him/herself as ineffective and always requiring guidance from the supervisor; for example, when the subordinate never completes a task without assistance from the supervisor. The subordinate may see the supervisor as intelligent but also domineering, for example, when the supervisor has all the answers to challenges facing the subordinate, but he is always checking progress of the job even when the job is progressing well.
The subordinate may assume that the supervisor views him or her as average with no future prospects on the job, for example, when the supervisor emphasizes on any minute errors by the subordinate but does not comment on a job well done. The supervisor may regard himself or herself as irreplaceable, for example, when the supervisor does not consider the subordinate as a threat to their job. The supervisor may consider the subordinate as someone with no potential to improve, for example, when the subordinate does not take heed to improve on errors. The supervisor may assume the subordinate perceives him or her as harsh, for example, when the subordinate’s body language towards the supervisor is not friendly.
Conclusion
The six persons’ communication model explains how distortion of message happens in the communication process. Misconception formulated in the senders mind before communicating a message, may distort a message. People in professional relationships in an organization perceive each other differently. Different perceptions affect communication process within the professional relationship.
Reference
Taylor, J. (2006). A survival guide for project managers.USA: AMACOM Publishers.