# Introduction

All through your life you continually change how you speak and what you speak about. Each situation you find yourself in demands a slightly different method of communication from you. You can probably think of situations when your communication has faltered and scenarios which result in misunderstanding. You either adapt by seeking expert help – for instance, special training is sometimes available to prepare you for public speaking or similar tasks – or, more likely, you reflect and learn from experience. Over time you develop differing degrees of awareness of how to respond appropriately in different situations. The opening two sessions of this course will accelerate your learning from experience.

Figure 1 Communication is key.

In this first session of the course, you will be introduced to the purpose of small talk and non-verbal communication. However, you’ll begin to develop your understanding of the purpose of communication exchanges by going in at the deep end. First, you will watch an example of communication under intense pressure in motor racing.

By the end of this session, you should be able to:

- explain the different purposes of communication, whether that be small talk or the main part of any dialogue
- identify how communication goes beyond words and consists of how you say them with non-verbal elements such as gestures, facial expressions and eye contact
- appreciate that we can’t always hide our innermost feelings.

The Open University would really appreciate you taking a few minutes of your time to tell us about yourself and your expectations of the course. Your input will help to improve the online learning experience. If you would like to help, and if you haven’t already done so, please fill in this optional survey.

This course is supported and strongly recommended by UK Coaching. Whether you’re just starting out or have been coaching for years you will learn new skills and demonstrate that you have been proactive in your professoinal development.

OpenLearn - Session 1: What are the purposes of communication?
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