Business Communication Skills For Integrated Business Skills

Communication Skills

Disucss about the Business Communication Skills for Integrated Business Skills.

Counseling is defined as a process that aims at aiding individuals to make healthier choices. Thus, it enlightens people in making beneficial decisions in their lives. Counseling as an essential aspect of man’s life especially in promoting better choices demand excellent communication skills. Effective counseling is carried out as a communication process, and counselors who are proficient in communication skills are probable to make a lasting impact (Nelson-Jones, 2015). Communication as a process of receiving and sending messages either verbally or non-verbally affects the entire counseling process. Therefore, for a counselor to develop effective communication skills is a necessity. It entails adequate training as well as experience that offer an opportunity to practice and receive feedback from colleagues. A counselor should integrate communication skills in every step of the counseling process with the aim of achieving a positive outcome (Freshwater, 2003). The research objective entails illustrating how communication skills are integrated at each stage of the counseling process. Moreover, the study will identify and discuss the communication barriers that may hinder effective counseling process as well as the appropriate strategies to address them.

Integration of Communication Skills with Each Stage of the Counseling Process

Counseling is a process which employs distinct stages to attain its objective. Though these steps don’t match each session, they apply to the whole counseling plan. Every counselor is encouraged to integrate communication skills within these six stages which take place consequently (Duys & Hedstrom, 2000). The six steps include;

 This is the first stage of the counseling process where the counselor and the client make the first contact. It is the responsibility of the counselor to establish trust and confidentiality with the client at this stage. If the counselor fails to win client’s trust, he/she will not participate in the counseling process in an effective way. Hence, to ensure a solid rapport is built a counselor must apply the necessary communication skills effectively. The use of active listening skills is vital in this stage to comprehend the client and their narrative. Prior to suggesting any intervention, the counselor must illustrate to the client that he/she understand their situation. Moreover, a counselor must be keen on his or her speed of building the rapport. Considering the client’s personality, culture, and background it is likely to take longer to build trust with some clients. However, to evaluate client’s trust level, the counselor must pay attention to the client’s body language and what the client is sharing. It is important for a counselor to be aware that counseling relationship is essential than interventions to be used (Hargie, 2007).

Integration of Communication Skills with Each Stage of the Counseling Process

Reassurance Stage

This is the second stage of counseling of the counseling process in which the counselor is obliged to provide accurate information to the client with the aim of minimizing the feeling of insecurity. Burnard (2005) explains that at this stage a counselor should explain to the client that he/she is bound by the code ethics and practice and that he/she will never force own beliefs or values to the client. Additionally, the counselor assures the client that counseling process is a confidential and non-judgmental process. The success of this stage depends on the counselor’s tone of voice and the greetings they exchange with the client. Allowing client sufficient time to relax, respond, and talk freely aids the client in reducing anxiety and insecurity.

Stabilizing a client constitute the third stage of the counseling process. At this stage, the counselor aids the client to understand his/her reaction to the crisis. Furthermore, the counselor should identify any sign of severe distress and refer the client to a specialist if needed. A client at this stage is equipped with the necessary emotional and cognitive skills to face his/her crisis.

The effectiveness of this stage depends on with how the counselor attends to the client. Attending in this sense refers to the ability of the counselor to connect with both physical and psychological aspects of the client. Hence, to ensure this connection counselor should squarely face his or her client. That is, the counselor should adopt a body posture that demonstrates involvement with the client. Sometimes to illustrate involvement and interest with the client it is advisable to lean toward the client (Gallois & Callan, 2007).

This is the fourth stage of the counseling process and involves collecting accurate information from the client. The counselor also seeks to clarify the client’s concerns and worries. To encourage the client to give more information, the counselor should ask open-ended questions. To seek clarity, the counselor is encouraged to paraphrase the client’s statement. After gathering sufficient and accurate information as well as clarifying client’s concerns both the counselor and the client should devise a possible remedy to the problems. In addition, the counselor should offer practical assistance to meet the client’s needs.

The communication skills needed in this stage include keeping eye contact. Moderate eye contact communicates to the client that the counselor is interested in what he/she is saying. However, the counselor must be cognizant that eye contact is not acceptable in all cultures. In addition, the counselor must remain natural or unperturbed with the client. Any indication of being nervous or of distracted facial expression will make client wonder. A counselor, therefore, should use his/her body expressions to make the client feel at ease. Listening is another critical skill at this stage. A counselor should have the ability to understand client’s message communicated either verbally or non-verbally. Therefore, a counselor must learn how to listen and interpret non-vocal messages such as gestures and body postures. Active listening facilitates in offering practical, sincere, and appropriate remedy (Derlaga & Berg, 2013).  

Relationship/Rapport Building Stage

Providing Support to the Client

This is the fifth stage of the counseling process and engages valuable skills such as; helping the client to re-establish social networks and encouraging the client to search for external support when in crisis. To make this stage beneficial in the counseling process, a counselor must probe the client. The probe in counseling context is sensitive and therefore involves paraphrases, requests, and non-vocal prompts. It is important that a counselor doesn’t ask too many questions.

This is the final stage of the counseling process and involves making sure a client is aware of the positive coping process. Also, the counselor must ensure the client can identify negative coping skills. Moreover, at this stage client is equipped with the expertise to manage the future crisis to live a healthier life with better choices. Since different clients have varying levels of understanding and education background patience and respect are vital virtues to uphold as a counselor (Brown & Bylund, 2008).

Identification of the Communication Barriers That Hinders Effective Counseling Process and the Appropriate Strategies to Address Them

 There are a variety of reasons why communication may fail in the counseling process. Therefore, a counselor must be aware of the possible barriers to communication in the helping process and implement strategies to overcome them. Primarily effective communication is the ability to overcome these obstacles and drive a clear and concise communication (Sue, 2007). The main communication barriers that hinder effective counseling process include;

Criticizing entails forcing beliefs and values to the other person and offering remedies to their crisis. Judging, therefore, hinders active listening because a counselor becomes preoccupied with evaluating client’s narration, and words used as well as the tone of the voice, and appearance. To overcome this barrier, a counselor must treat each client with due respect, whatever their marital status, sex orientation, age, gender or cultural background. In addition, a counselor must be aware of his/her role in the counseling process. A counselor aids a client to realize his/her potentials in dealing with the present crisis (McLeod, 2011).

Sending Solutions

Readiness to offer a solution to the client contributes to interrupting client when he/she is narrating his/her story. Thus, contribute to a poor understanding of client’s emotions. Further, it contributes to client becoming dependent on the counselor to solve their crisis hence deny them a chance to apply decision-making skills. This form of communication also sends a message that client’s values, emotions, and tribulations are not worthy. To address this problem, a counselor must practice active listening and always remember he/she has two ears but only one mouth. Therefore, should listen twice as much as he/ she speak. A counselor must be aware that he/she is not a custodian of solutions, but a midwife to aid clients to get solutions to their problems (Mearns, Thorne & McLeod, 2013).

It happens when the counselor fails to deal with the client problem. The sentiments and worries of the client are not considered. In this case, the counselor fails to address the concerns and fears of the client and instead offer a logical argument to the crisis. To address this problem, a counselor must learn to emphasize with a client. That is, entering into the client’s shoes and deliberately deciding to view things from the client’s point of view (Dickson, 2009). 

In conclusion, communication skills are essential in effective counseling. Therefore, more effort should be engaged to integrate in a spontaneously manner the communication skills in the helping process. Effective counselors and simultaneously actively listen, attend, probe, and aids the client to address their crisis. As a counselor, it is worth noting that the choice of the communication skills to be applied depends on the client, his/her needs, and the situation. After all, the success of the counseling process is dependent on the communication skills and techniques of the counselor.

References

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