The Importance Of Workplace Communication: A Reflective Analysis

Communication Models for Effective Workplace Communication

Question:

Write an essay on The idea of communication.

The idea of communication can be described, as the exchange of thoughts, beliefs and information via written or verbal words, signs or actions. Communication is a exchange of ideas. It cannot be a monologue. In the practice, it is more concerned with a twofold listening process. For communication to be effectual, the message must carry and provide the same meaning, idea and information to both the sender and the receiver. Workplace communication is crucially important to the organization because it permits companies to be prolific and operate successfully. Workers can experience a boost in their morale, efficiency and loyalty if they are able to interact upwards and downwards in the communication chain within an organization.

With the help of this reflective discussion, I will make a dedicated effort to express my understanding of the provided training modules and the chapters of the pursued study has helped me to understand the communication issues. This reflective discussion has provided special attention to the modules titled Communication: Understanding the Process module, Unit 9 Group Communication module, Organizational Communication  module and the Cross-Cultural Communication: Overcoming Barriers to Understanding module. The all other chapters has also helped me develop my knowledge base over the communication issues and the successful completion of this reflective essay. 

We cannot ignore that the trivial communication and interactive situations in the workplace possesses a great impact on an employee’s career advancement. I have worked in a number of companies in my professional career until now. This range of experience has provided me a golden chance of being familiar to number different kinds of communication patterns in the workplace. However, the two different kinds of communication situations i.e. the good and poor communication circumstances have provided me the knowledge about the ideal pattern of communication for the further progress in my professional life. With the help of my training and the above discussed training modules have

From Communication: Understanding the Process module of the course of my study, I got a clear and precise idea about the effective communication pattern. Previously, I had no idea about my own communication pattern and thus did not have any initiative to improve myself. It made me understand that by using the linear communication model; I can only deliver the directions and will fail to manage a better communication with my co-workers.  Communication include all unites or the participants. I failed to recognize it in my previous workplaces. The next experience of this training has helped me to understand the communication is not only about spreading a massage but to receive a response. As discussed in the chapter of Communication: Understanding the Process module, in my recent workplace I am focusing on indulging a cyclical approach of communication. It has helped me to understand the views and perspectives of my team. As discussed by Blumler, 2015, the liner theory of communication states that the communication is a one-way process. However, in my professional field, this liner theory will be effective only when disseminating the hierarchical decisions.

The Impact of Upward and Downward Communication Channels

On the other hand, as I experienced in the training sessions, if we follow both a spreading and receiving communication channels within our workplaces, I better harmony and increased quality of leadership within ourselves can be obtained.

In my previous experiences, we rarely got a chance to talk and air our concerns and objections to the higher and decision-making authority in a face-to-face meeting. As opined by Kincaid, 2013, it is important to uphold a clear downward communication channel to eradicate the confusion among the employees. In the course of this study, I have realized that a feeble downward communication can create a number of miscommunication and role conflict. In addition to this, the lack of face-to-face meetings, and verbal communication can make me less popular among my subordinates I faced issues like confrontation and hostility in my previous workplaces due to this reason.

With the help of the Unit 9 Group Communication module, by focusing on the Decision-Emergence Theory, I can go through the stages of act, interact and double interact.  Groups are being more and more important in today’s society. Therefore, it will be instrumental in coming to a consensus in my group work efforts and gaining confidence. With the help of my training modules, I came to realize the intra-cultural communication Enculturation, Acculturation, Ethnocentrism, Cultural relativism for developing a better communication channel within a group. As discussed by McCroskey, 2015, it is important for a company to promote the circle network of communication within the employees from the same stage of the hierarchical ladder. With the help of my course, I came to realize the importance of circle network communication within the internal organizational communication.

I often experienced issues like obtaining too much or too little information. Rarely the workers were informed about the market performance of the company and the internal operation of the same. It created an uncertainty within me about my career. As discussed by Keyton et al., 2013, if I follow an autocratic communication pattern in my workplace  it will result in demoralization and decreased work efficiency among my co workers. As opined by Ford, 2013, the rhetorical theory of communication says that communication is a circular pattern of interaction. As defined in that theory, it is not enough to communicate in a linear pattern. In the course of my study, I have realized that I have to develop an democratic communication environment in my workplace for obtaining a better professional result.

As discussed in Organizational Communication module a company needs to follow an informal communication frequently. With the help of my training schedules, I have realized that, a formal communication style is needed to follow for a company for the reason of power control, but an informal communication environment works as a stress buster and helps the employees to be more involved. A perfect balance is mandatory for the appropriate performance of an organization. Information should be communicated informally rather than arranging unnecessary meetings frequently.  However, in the training schedules, I came to know the importance Grapevine. It could be effective in reducing my anxiety and fill the gaps with my co-workers.

Balancing Formal and Informal Communication Styles

In the Cross-Cultural Communication: Overcoming Barriers to Understanding module, I have got the opportunity of understanding the Face negotiation theory. As suggested by the Face negotiation theory, I have threatened my own face when I communicated in a poor manner in my previous company. It threatened my self-image before my co-workers. Therefore, I have to maintain the culturally supported set of communicative behaviors, which will help me to gain the trust of my colleagues and subordinates. In my previous workplaces, I have made some communication mistakes. During this course of this study I have became able to understand those mistakes. As discussed in the Face negotiation theory I must behave in the ideal manner to be treated ideally. It has made my communication pattern and me more acceptable in the workplace.

With the help of this course, I have realized the importance of the employee tailored training for disseminating certain information to my team members. The theory of reasoned action maintains the reaction of the people is the based on the pre-existing attitudes and behavioral intentions of them. This theory helped me to understand the causes of the particular behavior pattern of some of my co-workers towards me in my previous workplaces. It is hard to change the personal beliefs of the people, but by providing training and strategic education regarding the organizational values, their perception and concerned reactions can be altered. Now if I provide the necessary employee tailored training to my co-workers, it may help me to change their pre conceived notions and upgrade the communication pattern within my future workplace.

This course has made me realize the importance of displaying confidence and seriousness to my team members. Previously, I failed to encourage them and thus created a poor communication channel within the organization. It made me fail to achieve the trust and confidence of my co-workers. In addition to that, I also followed the mistake of my leaders by not providing the subordinates the chance of airing their views and feedbacks. Thus, this communication mistakes affected my career adversely. It influenced my leadership skills as well as made me demoralized to work in a team as an equal team member. Now with the help of this course I have realized the importance of a better communication environment. As discussed by Danielewicz-Betz & Kawaguchi, 2014, it is important for us to indulge in maintaining a strong manifold communication channels.

As opined by Shrivastava, 2013 the type of business communication can be differentiated as the internal and external communications. In the internal communication, a company communicates internally. On the other hand in the external communication the company communicates with the consumers and the stakeholders. As discussed by McCroskey, 2015, all the communication channels like upward, downward, horizontal or literal communication channels should be clear and strong. Now I tend to follow a two-way communication. My experience of open meetings helped me to communicate efficiently with the team. This, one-on-one basis communication helped to understand the views of my co-workers.

As discussed by Blumler, 2015, in the postpositive theory it is important to follow and understand that order is natural in accompany. It is needed to keep an order and mitigate the conflicts within the company. It helped me to understand the importance of messages intended to keep workers obeying the regulations and functioning together efficiently. However, my experience of the negative communication environment provided me the knowledge that I should implement this strategy with some restriction as over implementation may cause the employees’ dissatisfaction and decreased morale. However, with the help of this course, I understand that to maintain order I need to follow the strategy of open communication. In addition to this, I need to provide the trainings time-to-time feedback about the ethical responsibilities and the related legal issues of it to the employees. Thus, it will help me to obtain dedication, honesty, loyalty and involvement in the operation of the company.

Overcoming Cultural Barriers to Ensure Effective Communication

In this course of this training, I came to realize that the leader must need to set an example by his behavior. It is an important pattern and channel of communication with the employees. As opined by McNaughton & Chapple, 2013, it is important for the leaders of a to act out their letters to gain trust and a confidence of his team members. It is an effective way of communication with the team. Thus this training experience has helped me to grow my leadership skills and thus enriched my professional faculty.

As discussed by McNaughton & Chapple, 2013, the “one-size-fits-all” approach of communication, may overlook the individuality of the diverse personalities, requirements and potentials. Now I know the importance of addressing those differences. Everyone has their own reason and altitude as logic for their behavior. With the help of the Theory of planned action, I will also be able to predict purposeful and planned behavior of my team members. By altering their attitude, I will be able to manipulate them. This course has learned me that to avoid a tense atmosphere, it s important to maintain a receptive atmosphere. For ensuring an effective communication with the team, I must uphold a receptive atmosphere. As opined by Danielewicz-Betz & Kawaguchi, 2014, this system of communication has been confirmed to be a greatly effective way of cutting down the tension among the employees. Working in such an environment motivated me to perform better. However, to be able to establish such an atmosphere, I need to provide my co-workers some positive reinforcements to be able to reap the profit of the guidelines of the Theory of planned action.

Thus, this knowledge of the communication theories have assisted me to identify the limitations of the communication patterns in an organizational setup and develop the needed communicational skills for my professional growth. 

Conclusion:

In conclusion, it can be said that scrutinizing and assessing both the positive and negative circumstances in the workplace regarding the communication has provided me some important and worthy information for my upcoming adjustments in the workplace. Regarding the experiences gathered in those circumstances and during the course of my study, I got a chance of improving my interactive skills and awareness of communication theories and the appropriate approaches. Every communication in the workplace has its concerned impact on the professional progress of the employees. Therefore, developing a better skill of workplace communication and utilizing the appropriate communication approaches are the key points of professional success.

With the help of the study, if I will be able to establish a better communication skill, it will help me to grow professionally.Thus, by improving the communication clear and open with my team members, the progression of carrying out the jobs and projects started to go smoothly. In addition to this, it made me surprised that meeting the projected targets became a whole lot easier than before. It is widely accepted that, the way of communication is the key point what separates a bad leader from a good one. Having constructive communication skills is the only way of good leadership. This course of study helped me to understand what to avoid and what to accept in the workplace communication. Thus, it has helped me to develop my leadership skills and grow in my career. 

References:

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