COMMUNICATION COMPETENCE
A Critical Dimension of Good Communication
• Good Communication is Competent Communication
Communication competence is essential to satisfy fundamental human needs:
oSafety – the need to feel protected from dangers, difficulties, and privations that
threaten our physical well-being
oSecurity – the need to feel relationally accepted, cherished, and unconditionally
loved by others
oSelf-efficacy – the need to feel that we’ve impacted our world in a way that
makes a difference through our own unique capabilities
oSignificance – the need to feel appreciated, respected, and esteemed by others for
our worthwhile contributions
Only cooperation accomplished through communication can satisfy our fundamental
needs
oIf we don't communicate, then we will die – physically or psychologically
• Core Components of Competent Communication (Spitzberg & Cupach)
Knowledge
Skill
Passion
Compassion
Competent
Communicator
Appropriate for
Relationships
Effective
Content
Four prerequisite factors or ingredients for competent communication
oInterconnected capabilities:
Knowledge – know what to say
Skill – know how to say it
oInterconnected motivations:
Passion – care about what to say
Compassion – care about who it’s said to
Two characteristic outcomes or results of competent communication
oRelational appropriateness – satisfies our expectations
Social expectations – common to cultural context
Interpersonal expectations – unique to relationship
Conflict management expectations – rules of engagement
oContent effectiveness – accomplishes my goals
Instrumental goals – winning your cooperation to achieve what I
desire
Self-presentation goals – getting you to see me the way I want to be
seen
Relational goals – developing the kind of relationship with you I
hope for
• Dual Dimensions of Competently Communicated Messages
Two dimensions of every message: relationship and content
A communicator can focus on either, neither, or both of these dimensions when
communicating
Relationship
Content
high
high
low
low
frank
fearful friendly
competent
Practical application – competent communicators think before they speak:
oFrank – think about how our relationship should govern and guide what is said
oFriendly – think about how my goals can be clearly and convincingly articulated
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