Communication is a way of exchanging information, whether receiving or sending information through speaking, writing or any other platform of communication. There are a group of people that communicate with each other effectively. Through various different available channels of communication, face-to-face communication is my biggest strength in communicating with the others. Personally, I find that face-to-face communication establishes more trust than other modes of communication. It is more likely to be perceived as credible. Face-to-face communication is more productive and efficient as there is less likelihood of misunderstanding or misinterpreting. Through face-to-face communication, it allows for better rapport and trust-building than audio or written communications which possibly make the difference in reaching an agreement, ensuring that each party fully understands the other.
Challenges that I faced in communication are deep listening, translating criticisms and complaints into a request for action and having a little conversation that causes anxiety. One of the problems in communication is getting an attention from others and listen carefully to the message. Through experienced, I had difficulties communicating with my peers in pitching out of my idea to contribute to the team whilst asking for their feedback or comment. I was too afraid that my request would be taken into a wrong perception as a demand. I probably spend most of the time trying to arrange for an agreement and cooperative action, hence I need to be concerned about engaging the people. However, I noticed that the attention and energy from my peers will often go into a combination of defending oneself by trying to save face and counter-attacking. It is only when my peers feel safe, they are likely to listen and consider how they might meet our needs.
There are two objectives that I will set to achieve by the end of this course. Firstly, I will set or reset my expectations when communicating. Each individual has a natural communication style, but to work effectively within a team, I need to determine how much communication needs to happen to make everyone comfortable. Secondly, I will try a different method in communicating effectively. I communicate brilliantly over the phone but jumble everything up by e-mail. I do great with sketches but never understand my written descriptions. Hopefully, by the end of the course, I will try a different format by writing it out, talk through it, draw sketches, give examples, or do whatever I can to make the concepts in my head translate into something that the other person can understand.
Challenges that I faced in communication are deep listening, translating criticisms and complaints into a request for action and having a little conversation that causes anxiety. One of the problems in communication is getting an attention from others and listen carefully to the message. Through experienced, I had difficulties communicating with my peers in pitching out of my idea to contribute to the team whilst asking for their feedback or comment. I was too afraid that my request would be taken into a wrong perception as a demand. I probably spend most of the time trying to arrange for an agreement and cooperative action, hence I need to be concerned about engaging the people. However, I noticed that the attention and energy from my peers will often go into a combination of defending oneself by trying to save face and counter-attacking. It is only when my peers feel safe, they are likely to listen and consider how they might meet our needs.
There are two objectives that I will set to achieve by the end of this course. Firstly, I will set or reset my expectations when communicating. Each individual has a natural communication style, but to work effectively within a team, I need to determine how much communication needs to happen to make everyone comfortable. Secondly, I will try a different method in communicating effectively. I communicate brilliantly over the phone but jumble everything up by e-mail. I do great with sketches but never understand my written descriptions. Hopefully, by the end of the course, I will try a different format by writing it out, talk through it, draw sketches, give examples, or do whatever I can to make the concepts in my head translate into something that the other person can understand.
Face to face communication is really a good choice to express and get understood by other when talking. As they can see your expression and listen to your tone, but this may turn out the other way. Example, if you are meeting a girl who you like and she know you as a funny and nice person, but before meeting her you have a issue with someone else, when you meet her, you may want to make her feel special but with the issue in your mind and the feeling either is sad or angry, it will affect your tone while talking and the expression you give her may make her feel that she have disturb your time, which soon you need to do explanation or apologize when she text you back home.
ReplyDeleteThis will be your objective 2 which you are facing, you may jumble up the text/email. Words are complex but once you try to write out your feeling it can be complicated and making wrong information to the other party. It take lots of practice to overcome it which I also facing. But lucky for you, you are able to sketch out and take photo to the other party to understand you.
Yes Khairul, listening is one of the key to effective communication and also many of us face as a challenge. It is not easy listening especially when we are eager to speak up or voice out in that particular conversation or topic we are engaged in. We should practice allowing the person engaging with us to complete what they would like to say and not to cut them off and jump to conclusions. If it is really necessary to cut-off, we should let the speaker know politely that you have something to say. To be able to listen before speaking shows that we have great effective communication skills.
ReplyDeleteArt is another form form of communication which I am not really aware of like what you mentioned. It is pretty interesting how some people have their own unique ways in communicating with others. It is also important for us to familiarize with the people we are delivering our message to so that they get a clear message across to them and without assumptions of what they know. We must always get our facts right before delivering a message across someone. All the best in being an effective communicator!
-Faris
Hey khai, I agree that facing criticism and complaints can cause one to be more cautious the next time. But dont let that take your confidence away the next time you are communicating. Instead translate the it into a constructive comment. If someone says you are too loud in a conversation, you dont need to be a lot softer next time, it could probably mean that you are not letting others speak up. If you have a problem with the criticism dished out to you, simply ask the person if you can to be able to get a clear idea on what the problem is and tackle it.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of writing good email, well that requires alot of formal writing practice. The more you are used to using formal methods of writing, the easier it is for you to adapt to different styles of formality in different departments of school or even your future workplace.