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.