| A | B |
| decoding | Translating the message from its symbol form into meaning. |
| director | Type of communication style that enjoys challenges and likes to be in control and on-task. |
| probing | Type of feedback that seeks to find additional information by asking questions. |
| inference | Correct or incorrect conclusion based on facts. |
| feedback | Steps 5 & 6 of the communication process. |
| understanding | Type of feedback that asks questions to show you are listening and understand the other person. |
| frame of reference | Formed by experience, education, culture and personality. |
| promoter | Type of communication style that is outgoing, enjoys surprises, and may have a tendency to take on too many projects. |
| supportive | Type of feedback that seeks to support the other person in some way. |
| evaluative | Type of feedback that makes a judgment about the other person. |
| connotative meaning | Meanings people add to words. |
| strategist | Type of communication style that is detail oriented, likes data and facts when making a decision, and is usually slow to make a decision. |
| information overload | Barrier to communication that results from technology overload, demands of business. |
| listening | Habits like looking out the window while someone is talking or appearing rushed or distracted create this barrier to communication. |
| internal noise | "Noise" that results from factors that include dislike of the sender of the message, prejudice, and closed-mindedness. |
| mediator | Type of communication style that is people-oriented, likes making a decision after evaluating both sides. |
| interpretive | Type of feedback that tests your understanding of what has been said by paraphrasing the original statement. |
| Evaluative (feedback) | Makes a judgment about the other person, evaluating worth or goodness. There is a big difference between judging a person and their actions. |
| Interpretive (feedback) | You seek to test your understanding of what has been said by interpreting and paraphrasing back to the other person what you think has been said. |
| Supportive (feedback) | You seek to support the other person in some way. |
| Probing (feedback) | Seeks to find more information by asking deeper questions that seek specific information. See probing questions for more details. |
| Understanding (feedback) | You are seeking to understand not just what was said, but the whole person underneath. |