Communication Reflection
Lecture 1: Communication Perspectives
- The three primary aspects of communication are listening, non-verbal communication, as well as clarity and conciseness when conveying a message. Communication is a vital element of social interaction and the foundation for all the establishment and maintenance of relationships (Kelvin-Iloafu 93). Listening is essential in communication as it facilitates the reception of the message being conveyed. Non-verbal communication is the passing of information using non-verbal cues and crucial to the communication process because it supports the verbal message being passed. In some circumstances, the verbal message may be different from the non-verbal, which usually raises doubts to the receiver of the message. Finally, the clarity and conciseness in communication refer to the use of the right amount of words and the choice of the best words that will provide clarity. The formulation of a message requires the usage of the least amount of words to preserve meaning and use the shortest time to pass the message.
- Interpersonal communication is crucial to the relationships between people due to the need to understand each other. Listening is crucial in interpersonal communication because it forms a crucial component of the process. The lack of listening is noted to be among the leading causes of broken relationships. Non-verbal communication is also crucial to interpersonal communication because communication between interdependent people tends to factor in many non-verbal cues. In some cases, the ability of an individual to interpret nonverbal communication determines the existence of a relationship. Finally, conciseness and clarity help in ensuring that interpersonal communication is successful. They achieve this through the determination of the quality of the message.
- Each of the three aspects is crucial in the workplace environment. Listening is essential when receiving instructions from a supervisor or someone in a senior position. Also, when issuing instructions to my group, they must listen so that they may understand the relayed information. With good listening, the message is received, well understood and the execution is guaranteed to be appropriate and efficient. Nonverbal communication is also crucial because it helps in the interpretation of the message passed. More information may be relayed through nonverbal cues than verbal cues. In some cases, the team members may verbally agree to something but show disagreement through nonverbal cues. Their interpretation allows for the solution of any underlying issues before the team addresses other aspects of a task. The clarity and conciseness of a message in the workplace are also crucial because it allows for comprehension of the message and proper execution of requirements. Taking up too much time explaining a simple situation using a lot of words is not the best way to create the best working environment.
Lecture 2: Perception of Self and Others
The thoughts, perceptions, and evaluations of oneself contribute to the development of a self-concept. It entails self-awareness as well as the thoughts and beliefs that people have about an individual. Individual growth is dependent on the thoughts and perceptions of oneself and those of the people around an individual. The decisions that I make have an impact on my personal growth. However, my thoughts and those of others always affect every decision. My goal is to become a successful student and progress towards becoming a successful manager. My individual growth is centered on this goal and every decision that I make usually works towards the achievement of the aforementioned goal.
However, it means also taking into consideration other people in my environs, what they believe in, and how my decisions may affect them. There are also my beliefs that I have to consider in every decision that I make. For instance, my recent decision to join an online class in marketing was influenced by both my perceptions and those of others. I believed that the decision was significant in my personal development through the acquisition of skills. The thoughts of others also weighed in in the form of support and criticism. Both the positives and the negatives come under consideration before a critical decision is made.
The perceptions of others and my beliefs have an impact on my journey to become a successful student and manager. Every decision made has to consider the information around me. Some of the information includes when I decided to work on my degree. I believed that it was necessary to receive knowledge and learn new skills about management if I was to become a successful manager in the future. I also perceived myself as someone who loves to succeed, and part of success in society is in academia. Therefore, I believed that the decision to acquire a degree was necessary.
The thoughts and perceptions of those around me also mattered in the decision. Based on my parents, teachers, and most of the people around me, I was making the right decision. However, some of my friends indicated that some businesses are currently being run with lesser academic qualifications. Their thoughts were suggesting that the acquisition of real-life skills is more important than the acquisition of academic knowledge. It is a fact that some successful managers in the real world were actual school dropouts. However, my opinion is that one should be the best version of themselves in readiness for greater responsibility that comes with important positions. Therefore, self-concept is a factor that is influenced by one’s own beliefs as well as those of others.
Lecture 3: Communication across Cultures
- The comprehension of culture is significant in conflict resolution. Understanding the differing differences between individuals allows for the generalization of knowledge to other cultures that show the same orientations in value (Gomez & Taylor 34). The conflict resolution will have to be focused on consideration for the collectivist culture. Collectivist cultures value the needs of the group over those of an individual. The relationships between group members and their connection are essential in the identity of every person. Therefore, the solution to the issue will be to approach it with the needs of the workplace being emphasized. I would place the needs of the organization first when confronting the co-worker. First, I will inquire about the reasons why he is taking it easy on the task. I will explain to him that the reason for my focus on my duties is due to my go-getter motivation that is helpful to the rest of the team. I would also place the needs of the group in the center of the resolution process. For example, I will suggest the division of the roles for the task to facilitate the fast completion of the process.
- Approaching the conflict from an individualistic culture will imply that I consider my interests from the situation. Individualistic cultures tend to focus on the independence of the individual and distinction from the group. The consideration of my interests will determine the process of conflict resolution. The tabling of the issue will consider the inconveniences caused by the new worker’s withdrawal from the task. Finding solutions to the conflict will include the consideration of the individual needs of both of us. For instance, my goal is to achieve the completion of the task in a short period so that I can engage in other tasks. However, his limited contribution to the process is a hindrance to the process. On the other hand, the employee is young and new to the organization. Therefore, he needs to learn the way things are done in the company as well as gain experience from me. Getting a new friend is also an advantage for both of us. Therefore, I would suggest that we both engage in the task equally so that we can both achieve our tasks.
Lecture 4: Listening
- Listening is a crucial part of communication, and the application of different approaches in comprehension is essential in enhancing the process of listening. The perspective-taking method enhances listening through the reception of the message using the perspective of the person delivering the message. The technique is crucial in the workplace when a team member presents a solution to a challenge that others oppose without consideration of its merits. Making the other members listen based on that worker’s perspective helps to make them listen and understand the basis of the solution, hence make a better judgment about the issue.
- Questioning is also a crucial aspect of listening due to the emphasis that is given to detail. Questioning during listening entails ensuring that the delivery of the message does not leave any doubts about its meaning or intention. For example, when a manager delegates roles and responsibilities regarding a task, the workers should ask questions to ensure clarity and smooth performance of the task moving forward. Asking questions during delivery of messages ensures that there is complete comprehension of the message.
- Paraphrasing is also essential to the listening process. The use and comprehension of language and delivery processes differ among individuals. Through paraphrasing, individuals can understand the message based on their terms. The workplace has professionals from different departments. The IT guy may use technical computer terms when explaining the process of getting access to restricted files. However, paraphrasing of the message will make it easier for the departmental manager who has limited knowledge of computers.
Works Cited
Gomez, Carolina, and Kimberly A. Taylor. “Cultural Differences in Conflict Resolution Strategies: A US–Mexico Comparison.” International Journal of Cross Cultural Management. 18.1 (2018): 33-51. Print. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1470595817747638
Kelvin-Iloafu, Lovlyn Ekeowa. “The Role of Effective Communication in Strategic Management of Organizations.” International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. 6.12 (2016): 93-99. Print. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327212629_THE_ROLE_OF_EFFECTIVE_COMMUNICATION_IN_STRTEGIC_MANAGEMENT_OF_ORGANIZATIONS