The communication process consists of a sender who encodes a message and transmits it through a channel to a receiver who decodes it and may give feedback. Here is a brief explanation of each step in the communication process.

In step 1, the sender encodes the message and selects the transmission channel. The sender of the message is the person who initiates the communication. Encoding is the sender’s process of putting the message into a form that the receiver will understand. The message is the physical form of the encoded information.

The message is transmitted through a channel. The three primary communication channels you can use are oral, nonverbal, and written. In step 2, the sender transmits the message through a channel. As the sender, after you encode the message and select the channel, you transmit the message through the channel to one or more receivers.

In step 3, the receiver decodes the message and decides whether feedback is needed. The person receiving the message decodes it. Decoding is the receiver’s process of translating the message into a meaningful form. We all decode words so that the message makes sense to us. The receiver decides if feedback, a response, or a new message is needed.

Step 4 is feedback: a response or a new message may be transmitted. After decoding the message, the receiver may give feedback to the sender. Note that the roles of sender and receiver can change during a communication exchange.