Explicit versus Implicit Rules of

Communication

This activity is important because most people communicate with little thought about the underlying rules that govern communication. As you consciously develop awareness of the explicit and implicit rules of communication, you're able to communicate more effectively and avoid miscommunication.

The goal of this activity is to demonstrate your understanding of explicit versus implicit rules of communication.

Select the most appropriate type of rule$-$either explicit or implicit$-$that governs the actions listed below.

Your supervisor tells each member of the team not to share financial information with people outside the team.

Your team members show one another they respect one another by maintaining eye contact when others are speaking to them.

Your team develops a document with expectations of one another. The document includes rules to follow in meetings.

A person introduces a speaker and reminds the audience to avoid any use of mobile phones during the speech.

A team leader tells her team that instead of using email to give feedback about a project, they should all give feedback in a single Google Doc.