The Communication Cycle

Communication is more complex than people realize when engaging in daily interactions. There are so many components that go unrecognized that lead to communication breakdown. Two important components that are helpful to consider are "encoding" and "decoding". Encoding is the process of converting thoughts, ideas, and messages into a form that can be understood by the recipient. It involves selecting the right words, tone, and language to convey the intended meaning. Decoding is the process of interpreting and understanding the message that has been encoded by the sender. It involves recognizing the symbols, words, and language used by the sender and interpreting their intended meaning. Some things that impact encoding and decoding for each person individually are their culture, language(s) spoken and understood, attachment styles, relationship with the others in the interaction, past relationship experience, communication patterns experienced in childhood, current stressors, past trauma/stressors, automatic thoughts, emotional triggers, emotion regulation skills, active listening skills, etc. The list is exhaustive. Building awareness of the complex process that occurs for each person in an interaction can lead to increased compassion and empathy. When you really stop and think about it, no one else can possibly hear or interpret your messages exactly how you are thinking about them and experiencing the interaction. This is especially helpful to consider when receiving feedback from others. Do you ever ask yourself "Are they even listening to me?" or "Is that what they heard?" Next time those questions pop up in your mind, maybe the next thought can include considering each person's lens that they are encoding and decoding messages through.