The Importance of Communication

Communication is a very complex process and is a very important part of our everyday life. It is a never ending process and is constantly taking place. It is important for individuals to be able to communicate efficiently and effectively with one another. There are many ways to improve how we communicate with one another. Classes such as this one can help improve an individual’s way of communicating with others. Let’s discuss some reasons why I feel communication is important.

Communication is very important to everyone. One form of communication that occurs among individuals is known as interpersonal communication. Interpersonal communication is a term “reserved for two-person, face-to-face interaction and is often used interchangeably with the term dyadic communication” (Trenholm, 2011, p. 134). Being able to display good spoken language and listening skills is imperative when communicating with others.

The world is made up of many different individuals from many different countries and cultures. I believe it is important to learn about the correct ways to communicate with people from different backgrounds and how to avoid saying or doing something that might accidently offend them. Studying communication allows you to learn the skills to overcome barriers that prevent effective communication with others.

The way I communicate with others depends on how well I know them on a personal level. When I communicate with individuals I know really well I speak more freely and don’t worry about what I say. On the other hand, when I communicate with individuals I don’t really know I tend to avoid using language that may seem offensive or inappropriate to others. The social constructionist model “emphasizes that we should take responsibility for the things we talk about and the way we talk about them” (Trenholm, 2011, p. 30). It is important to use language that is clear and is easy for individuals to understand when you are communicating with them. This will help prevent any miscommunication that may occur and prevent any possible arguments from taking place.

Good listening skills are just as important to have as being able to display good language skills. Listening skills are very important when communicating with others. “Listening takes skill and mental effort” (Trenholm, 2011, p. 44). Many miscommunication problems that occur are the result from poor listening skills. Individuals who display good listening skills have better relationships with others.

 “Listening is more than just keeping quiet. Listening requires you to train your brain to focus on the speaker instead of on yourself or your surroundings” (Olsztynski, 2008). Whenever I am communicating with others I try to limit distractions and I give them my undivided attention. I make eye contact with them and I engage in conversation with them so they know I am listening. “According to the psychological  model, communication is unsuccessful whenever the meanings intended by the source differ from the meanings interpreted by the receiver” (Trenholm, 2011, p. 26). If I feel like I misunderstood something or didn’t hear them the first time I ask them to repeat themselves. By displaying good listening skills I am showing the person I am communicating with I value what they have to say.

Another important quality to have when communicating with others is the ability to display good relationship skills with others. According to Jan Maizler, relationship skills are the tools that build deep functional relationships (2011). In order to maintain good relationships with others it is important to be able to express how each other are feeling and to work out any conflicts that might occur. An important relationship skill to have is the tolerance for individual’s differences. “Any difference between two people is a potential for conflict. Conflict breaks out when needs negotiation fail and tolerance is absent” (Maizler, 2011). By displaying good spoken language skills and listening skills individuals can use these skills to help maintain good relationship skills.

Understanding communication can be very beneficial in one’s personal and professional life. Studying communication has given me the skills necessary to communicate better with others. When I communicate with others I try to avoid barriers that could prevent us from communicating effectively. I am more aware of others and how not everyone communicates in the same manner.

Communication can be defined in many different ways. According to our text book, communication is “the transmission of information, ideas, emotions, skills, etc., by the use of symbols—words, pictures, figures, graphs, etc” (Trenholm, 2011, p. 19). After reviewing the different definitions in our text I found this one to be the one I most agreed with. I believe communication can be found in many forms. When people communicate with each other it can be verbally, written, or even by the use of gestures. These different ways of communicating can help make communication more effective.

Each of us has our own traits and qualities that make us who we are. Some individuals share the same traits and qualities while others do not. The cognitive schemata model uses personal constructs which “are characteristics that we notice on a daily basis about others” (Trenholm, 2011, p. 49). When I judge others the personal constructs  I choose usually vary depending on the person. Stereotyping usually doesn’t play a role when I judge others. The constructs I choose are usually based on how I see that person and how they behave and interact with others.

Improving relationships require a lot of hard work and dedication. Relationships don’t happen as soon as you meet someone. When I first meet someone I am quiet and reserved. I choose what information I want that individual to know. Once I get to know that individual more I will open up and confide in them more. Once I have established a close relationship with that individual I am open to discuss anything and everything with them. I trust them and turn to them for advice and guidance.

Group communication can be very important. “Groups do not suddenly manifest themselves as well-integrated, fully-functioning and task-efficient teams” (Kernohan, 2011, p. 9). When you work in a group there are going to be individuals in it that have different qualities and work ethics. I believe I bring a lot of good qualities to the group that attribute to our success. I am dedicated and hard working. I am also punctual so the group can rely on me to be on time for meetings and accomplishing things before their deadlines. I am also smart and I have a lot of knowledge to bring to the group. I am friendly and I get along well with others and I think this is important and will help the morale in the group stay high and positive.

“The individuals take different roles within the group, that the individual chooses for himself or he is being chosen by the group” (Boteanu, 2010). I think I have certain roles I take while being part of a group. I usually don’t like to take charge and be the leader of the group. I rather help the group come up with ideas and research information. I also like to encourage everyone to participate and give their input about the information being presented.

Individuals can become very territorial when communicating with others. Everyone needs their own space and it is important to respect that. I am definitely a territorial person. I enjoy the company of others and socializing with them, but I also like the comfort of going home to where it is quiet and I can get away from everyone else. I don’t really like to be around large groups of people. I like my personal space and I much rather be around a smaller group made up of people I know. I think this has an effect on how I communicate with others and it is something I have had to learn to work on.

It is important to be able to communicate with your family. The pragmatic model of communication states “the best way to understand and improve communication is to describe the forms or patterns that the communication takes. If these patterns are destructive, then the players should be encouraged to find more productive ways of playing the communication game” (Trenholm, 2011, p. 34). My family and I communicate very well with one another. We listen to each other’s problems and help come up with ways to resolve the problem. We also communicate our wants and needs with each other. It is important for families to communicate with each other because it helps bring the members of the family closer together and limits the amount of arguments that could take place.

In order to be effective in an organization there are certain skills individuals must obtain and display. An individual would benefit most by having good work-content skills. Work-content skills are those “skills that are directly related to a particular job” (Trenholm, 2011, p. 213). It is important for individuals to have knowledge and some experience with the job they are doing or are trying to do. I have eight years of experience in my job and I know that I am very knowledgeable when it comes to my job. This makes me more qualified and marketable than someone who has just started working.

Our skills related to our personal attributes are also important to have. When working in an organization it is important to be able to communicate effectively with everyone. This helps prevent miscommunication and gets the job accomplished quicker. I also believe punctuality is important. I hate being late for anything and I always have to be early or on time for everything. When people see that I am a very punctual person it shows them that I am reliable and they can depend on me to be where I need to be and on time.

With our ever changing society technology continues to become more advanced and is seen more in the work place. I think it is important to have the basic skills to use some of today’s most common technology. I think it is definitely important to be familiar with the equipment you will be using and to know a little knowledge about how it works and why it is used. This will help get the job done more accurately and help prevent any mishaps from occurring. If I do not know how to use the equipment I work with in my job then I could cause damage to million dollar aircraft or worse someone could get hurt.

In conclusion, communication is a very complex process. It is never ending and is constantly taking place whether we realize it or not. There are several ways individuals can communicate with one another. It is important to study communication and to be able to understand how important effective communication is. The more knowledgeable you are about communication the better you will be at communicating with others effectively and efficiently.

References

Boteanu, M.. (2010). Communication and Social Environment. Revista de Asistenta Sociala,(1), 70-78. Retrieved August 5, 2011, from ProQuest Social Science Journals. (Document ID: 2027698121).

Kernohan, E. (2011). Group Communication- Working in teams. Retrieved August 4, 2011, from http://www.slideshare.net/hazelowendmc/group-communication-working-in-teams-by-elizabeth-kernohan.

Maizler, J. (2011). Relationship Skills. The Relationship Handbook. Retrieved July 23, 2011, from http://www.enotalone.com/article/2683.html.

        Olsztynski, J.. (2008, December). Master the Art of Listening. National Driller, 29(12), 16,18. Retrieved August 5, 2011, from ABI/INFORM Trade & Industry. (Document ID: 1602395761).

Trenholm, S. (2011). Thinking Through Communication: An Introduction to the Study of Human    Communication (6th Edition). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

The Effects of Using Humor and Persuasion

        
            Persuasion plays an important role when we communicate with others. Persuasion is an attempt to change someone’s view about something or someone. There are several tactics one can use to help them persuade someone into doing something they want that person to do. Humor is just one tool that can be used to persuade others. Using humor to persuade others can result in a positive or negative effect. Let’s take a closer look at the effectiveness of using humor in persuasion and the risks involved with using humor in persuasion.

Emotions play a critical role in persuasion. One emotion often used in persuasion is humor. Humor is a quality that causes amusement in individuals. People use humor to make others laugh. Laughing makes people happy and puts them in a good mood. This will cause people to see you as likeable person and they will be more comfortable in your presence. Humor can be used to help “gain you attention, rapidly create rapport and make you and your message more memorable” (eruptingmind, 2011). Humor can also help alleviate stress and tension among individuals. When individuals lower their guard around you they are more likely to be persuaded by you.

There are important factors to remember when using humor to persuade someone. Humor should be used to “ introduce, summarize or highlight certain key points to give them added impact in the listener’s mind” (eruptingmind, 2011). Use humor to state facts and try not to over use humor in your attempt to persuade them. If humor is overused people tend to resist it and find it irrelevant. People will also feel like you are trying to be funny on purpose and they will not take you seriously.

Humor can be just as dangerous as it can be good when it comes to persuasion. You must know when to use humor and you have to be careful what you say won’t offend anyone. You must also be aware of the fact that humor should not be used with certain topics of discussions. When trying to persuade someone while discussing controversial topics humor will definitely back fire on you. If you offend the person you are trying to persuade they could completely shut down and then you will not be able to get your point across to them. You will also be shining a negative light on yourself and any future attempts to persuade this person will be at risk for not being successful.

There are many theories associated with persuasion. One theory associated with persuasion is known as the Mere Exposure Theory. This theory works by individuals being exposed repeatedly to something. This repeated exposure increases their attraction and favorability towards that object (Seiter & Gass, p. 48). Humor can be very useful when an individual is using this type of persuasion theory. If the individual can successfully incorporate humor in their attempt to persuade someone then they will be able make the persuasion attempt memorable and that person they are trying to persuade will associate positive thoughts with that object. The next time they are exposed to that persuasion they will remember their last experience and will be more easily to persuade.

Another theory associated with persuasion is the Cognitive Dissonance Theory. This theory “postulates that holding dissonant cognitions (beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, etc.) is an aversive psychological state” (Seiter & Gass, p. 51). Humor can be used with this theory to help persuade an individual without offending them. The individual doing the persuading can create dissonance by using humor and increase the individual’s trust without unintentionally offending them.

The last theory we will discuss that is associated with persuasion is the Social Judgment Theory. The Social Judgment Theory “focuses on how people evaluate persuasive messages and how such evaluations affect whether or not persuasion occurs” (Seiter & Gass, p. 54). This theory requires a lot of work to persuade the individual to side with your argument. Using humor with this theory can have little or no influence on whether or not you will be able to persuade that person. When the person you are trying to persuade is adamant about their position you will have to work harder to persuade them. If you are able to use humor successfully with this theory you will be able to establish good rapport with that person and they will perceive you as a likeable person and would be more open to listening to what you have to say.

In conclusion, humor plays an important role when persuading someone to do something you want them to do. There is several persuasion theories used to persuade someone. Humor can be incorporated into these persuasion theories and may or may not help you persuade someone. Humor may help you persuade someone or back fire on you. The most important thing to remember when using humor is to know when to use it in your argument and when not to use it. If you are successful in using humor to persuade someone you will be able to establish good rapport with them and you will be liked and respected. People will want to hear more of what you have to say and will be more easily persuaded by you. If you use humor at an inappropriate time in your argument you could risk the possibility of offending the person you are trying to persuade. Knowing when and when not to use humor in persuasion will ensure you have greater success when it comes to persuading someone into doing something you want them to do.

References

Eruptingmind. (2011). How Mood Affects Persuasion. Retrieved January 7, 2011, from http://www.eruptingmind.com/how-mood-effects-persuasion/.

Seiter, J. S., & Gass, R. H. (2004). Perspectives on Persuasion, Social Influence, and  Compliance Gaining. Boston: Pearson Education.

Resolving Conflict Through Stages

A conflict occurs when two parties have differing views or opinions about an issue. Conflict will always be around and there is nothing anyone can do to put an end to it. However, there are certain strategies that can be used to help manage conflict. Let’s look at an example of how a conflicting issue goes through certain stages and how conflict can be viewed in a positive manner.

There are many ways to deal with conflict and choosing the best way to deal with it depends on the issue and the parties involved. The process view of conflict suggests that a successfully resolved conflict moves through a series of five stages and each stage has an effect on the next stage. The five stages in this process are the prelude to conflict, the triggering event, the initiation phase, the differentiation phase, and the resolution phase (Abigail & Cahn, p. 22). Let’s look at a conflict I experienced and discuss how my conflict moved through these stages.

The first stage in the process view is known as the prelude to conflict. This consists of variables making it possible for conflict to occur. In my situation, there were other people involved in my conflict. The main conflict was between me and my friend Rebecca. However, our friend Crystal played a key factor in our conflict. Crystal was always interested in knowing everything Rebecca and I were doing. She was the main cause of the triggering event. The triggering event occurs when one person identifies something they believe to be the start of the problem (Abigail & Cahn, p. 23). Crystal was the cause of the triggering event because she betrayed my friendship and trust. She was also going around telling Rebecca lies about me.

The third stage in the process view of conflict is known as the initiation phase. The initiation phase occurs when one person makes the other person aware a conflict exists between them. I wasn’t even aware there was a problem between me and Rebecca. I noticed something was wrong when she started to ignore me. I tried to confront her about it, but she would just say there wasn’t anything wrong and that things between us were alright even though I knew she wasn’t being honest.

 Rebecca was using the avoidance strategy to deal with our conflict. The avoidance strategy is used when “emotions are running high and time is needed to cool them down” (Miller & Stetson, 2011). As much as I wanted to discuss the conflict and figure out what was going on and how to resolve it, I found it best to wait for her to be at a point where she was ready to discuss it. One day she finally told me she was upset by something I had did and that she was going to need time to get over it. The strategy I was using was the accommodating strategy. By being accommodating I ignored my own goals and temporarily resolved the conflict by giving in to my friend (Johnson, 1990). Our friendship was more important to me than trying to resolve the conflict as quickly as possible. If time was what Rebecca needed then that was what I was going to give her.

This eventually brought us into the differentiation phase. The differentiation phase is when both parties involved in the conflict present both of their sides and go back and forth discussing the conflict at issue. For about a month and half, Rebecca and I talked almost daily about what was going on and how we were going to get passed this problem and move forward. At this point our husbands and friends could sense something was going on between the two of us. We tried to play it cool and act like nothing was wrong between us, but it was a lot harder than we thought it would be. We finally sat down and we both listened to each other tell their side of the story. When we discussed what was going on we found out that we had both been lied to and that neither one of us was actually responsible for anything. It turned out our “friend” Crystal had made up lies about me to Rebecca. Rebecca didn’t want to believe they were true, but was so upset by what she was told that she didn’t want to deal with it and figured if she ignored it the problem would eventually go away.

The final stage in the process is the resolution phase. This phase occurs when the individuals involved in the conflict agree to the outcome of the conflict resulting in a win-win situation for everyone (Abigail & Cahn, p. 24). After Rebecca and I had talked and found out we had been deceived we came to the agreement that we would never put our friendship in jeopardy like that again. If there was a problem we would bring it to the other one’s attention and we would resolve it right away.

Conflict will always be around and with the help of strategies we can learn to manage conflict more effectively. It is important to know the stages a conflicting issue goes through and how to resolve issues without making things worse. The type of strategy someone will use depends on the conflicting issue and the individuals involved. The key to resolving any conflict is to listen to each other’s side of the story and to not be disrespectful. It is important to remember conflict isn’t always bad. Rebecca and I have been talking and hanging out for two weeks now. I think our conflict has made our friendship stronger and we have learned a lot from this experience. We definitely have the tools to use to eliminate any future conflicts that might arise.

References

Abigail, R.A., & Cahn, D. D. (2011). Managing Conflict Through Communication. Boston: Pearson Education.

Johnson. (1990). Conflict Management Styles. Retrieved January 19, 2011, from http://webhome.idirect.com/~kehamilt/ipsyconf.html.

Miller, C., & Stetson, N. (2011). Managing conflict. Retrieved January 19, 2011, from http://www.slideshare.net/profjim/managing-conflict.