Communication_in_the_Work_Place

Communication Jason M Crochunis What is Communication' Communication is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. Communication is the exchange of information between a group or individuals. Public speaking is another verbal communication in which you have to address a group of people. Preparing for an effective speech before you start is important. In public speaking, the speech must be prepared according to the type of audience you are going to face. The content of your your speech should be authentic and you must have enough information on the topic you have chosen for public speaking. All the main points in your speech must be highlighted and these points should be delivered in the correct order. There are many public speaking techniques and these techniques must be practiced for an effective speech. Non-Verbal Communication Non-verbal communication involves physical ways of communication, like, tone of the voice, touch, smell and body motion. Symbols and sign language are also included in non-verbal communication. Body language is a non-verbal way of communication. Body posture and physical contact convey a lot of information. Body posture matters a lot when you are communicating verbally to someone. Folded arms and crossed legs are some of the signals conveyed by a body posture. Physical contact, like, shaking hands, pushing, patting and touching expresses the feeling of intimacy. Facial expressions, gestures and eye contact are all different ways of communication. Reading facial expressions can help you know a person better. Written Communication Written communication is writing the words which you want to communicate. Good written communication is essential for business purposes. E-mails, reports, articles and memos are some of the ways of using written communication in business. It is important that an individual puts thought into written communication because the reader may misunderstand what you mean and take what you said in the written communication in the wrong manner. Because there are no emotions in written communication the reader has no idea how to take what is written. The written communication can be edited and amended many times before it is communicated to the second party to whom the communication is intended. This is one of the main advantages of using writing as the major means of communication in business activity. Written communication is used not only in business but also for informal communication purposes Visual communication The last type of communication out of the four types of communication, is the visual communication. Visual communication is visual display of information, like, topography, photography, signs, symbols and designs. Television and video clips are the electronic form of visual communication. Individuals that are more open in their communication like to share their feelings. If discussing something, they want their opinions and feeling heard as well as hearing everyone else’s thoughts. They want to focus on more than just the facts. The other element that determines an individual’s preferred way to communicate is if that person prefers direct or non direct in their communications. Individuals who are direct want to get to the point. They will most likely do more talking and tell other what to do. When faced with conflict, they are more likely to confront someone directly to clear things up immediately.While most individuals adapt their commincation somewhat depending on who they are speaking with, Most indidual have a preference for one of the following communication styles. Director Directors are firm and forceful, they are confident and competitive. Directors are decisive and determined. An individual can improve their working relationship with a Director by getting to the point in their communication and telling them the bottom line. Socializer Socializers are outgoing and optimistic individuals who like to be at the center of things. Socializers prefer to work in jobs that maximize their influence with people and where they can socialize and gain positive feedback. If an individual is dealing with a Socializer, they may find them more willing to help you achieve the results that you want if you provide them the opportunity to talk about themselves and their ideas. Thinkers (Closed and Indirect) Thinkers are described as analytical people who thrive on details and discipline. Thinkers tend to succeed in careers in which they can achieve perfection, creativity, and completeness. Some good careers for Thinkers could be engineering, accounting, and computer programming. Relater Relaters are open and indirect individuals. Relaters are team players. They care greatly about relationships with others. Relaters prefer careers that offer them job security. They want to have the opportunity to be a part of a team. If an individual wants a Relater to go that extra mile for them, they would need to take the time to develop a friendship with them first. This will be more effective than throwing an order out to them when you need something done quickly. A “Thank You” goes a long way for Relaters. In conclusion, it is very important to realize how to communicate with the individuals around you. How you may communicate with one individual may not be the best way to communicate with another individual. By knowing and understanding the individuals around you, you can then make the right choice in how to communicate with certain individuals. In the work place this is no exception, It is extremely important to get to know the individuals that you work closely to so that communication will not be an issue. By know ing how to communicate with the individuals that you work with will reduce, if not eliminate conflict within your team and that in turn will increase morale and positive attitudes. Good communication skills require a high level of self-awareness. Understanding your personal style of communicating will go a long way toward helping you to create good and lasting impressions on others. By becoming more aware of how others perceive you, you can adapt more readily to their styles of communicating. This does not mean you have to be a chameleon, changing with every personality you meet. Instead, you can make another person more comfortable with you by selecting and emphasizing certain behaviors that fit within your personality and resonate with another. Goulet, Catherine. (March, 2008) “Communication Styles at Work” Retrieved February 12th, 2009 from http://career.jobboom.com/workplace/challenges/2008/03/14/5002741-fab.html.