The communication process consists of a series of steps that determine the transfer and understanding of meaning between a sender and a receiver. There are different models of the communication process, but most of them include five core steps:

1. Idea Formation: The sender develops an idea to be sent.
2. Encoding: The sender encodes the message into words, symbols, and gestures that can convey meaning.
3. Message Transmission: The sender selects the channel of communication that will be used to transmit the message.
4. Decoding: The receiver interprets the message sent by the sender.
5. Feedback: The receiver sends a response back to the sender to ensure that the message was properly understood.

Feedback is a crucial part of the communication process because it helps ensure that the message was properly understood. Feedback can be verbal or non-verbal, and it is a shared responsibility between the sender and the receiver.

Breaking down the communication cycle into its parts is helpful to understand the responsibilities of both the sender and receiver of communication, as well as to identify communication barriers.