Communication is the only way humans interact with each other. By communicating, people are able to exchange their thoughts and achieve an understanding. However, there may be times when the thoughts are not being conveyed or received completely, leading to misunderstandings which can impede work progress and ruin relationships. It is thus crucial that we communicate in an effective manner so that all messages can be fully comprehended.
A key aspect of effective communication is the choice of channel used to transmit the message. I recall many occasions when ideas were misinterpreted when I communicate over MSN. Although it is fast and convenient, it limits the ability to express ourselves by the lack of emotions in the messages. Words of benign nature could be seen as offensive to the other party and create displeasure. I once suffered badly when misunderstandings and unhappiness arose between my project mates and it was difficult to get things done in this situation.
Although I would most probably become a researcher in the future and the job does not require me to be proficient in communicating, it is still important that I receive the correct orders from supervisors and get along well with colleagues in order to complete tasks efficiently – all through effective communication. Since I am in Year Four and will be embarking on my career soon, there is an urgent need for me to brush up on my effective communication skills so that I can achieve a better performance at work.
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Hi Chai Yee,
ReplyDeleteI share your sentiments that the choice of communication tool has a part to play in effective communication. It is important for us to use the appropriate communication tools based on the urgency and nature of discussion. I would perceive face to face communication as the most appropriate form of communication that would minimise unnecessary misunderstandings. However, it is often hard to have face to face communication as people today lead a hectic lifestyle.
Hi Chai Yee,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the points you've mentioned in the first two paragraphs. Technology is advancing at such a tremendous speed, effective communication is being compromised and taken for granted. A single typograhical error is all it takes to change the meaning of conveyed message and this could lead to unpleasant consequences.
Personally, i still believe that effective communication plays a very important role regardless of what lies ahead for us in the future.
What if, you've made a new discovey in your field and you're invited to give a public seminar on it. Effective communication still plays a part in ensuring that you're able to get the message across to the audience. I'm sure you wouldn't want to be discussing complex chemical sttructures to the general public who has little knowledge of your field you're working in. :)
Cheers,
Ariff
Hi Chai Yee,
ReplyDeletei enjoyed reading your post and i agree with your points about how the medium plays an important role in effective communication.
sometimes in misunderstandings and conflicts we forget to see the fact that the dispute or misconception has arrived because of our failure to use the right medium and not because the other party has failed to understand or accept your reasons(which we normally think to be)
personally, myself too ,i agree with ariff that effective communication is essential nomatter what our pursuit is in life. To me, effective communication is a life-skill and it is essential in every aspect of our lifes. we sometime oversee this and take it for granted, which results in confusion and complications.
Alagu
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Chai Yee,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it is very easy for misunderstandings to arise when conversing over MSN. I myself have fallen victim to this problem on several occassions. I feel that although emoticons may be used to aid in tonal expression, it pales in comparison to face to face conversations where non-verbal cues are easier to pick up.
As we learn that in class that when communicating, the words used only comprise of 7% words, therefore I prefer to have a face to face conversation when dealing with sensitive issues. This will more likely help to get the right message across.
Just my two cents worth,
Zhengyang.
Hi Chai Yee,
ReplyDeleteI agree that communications is a major player in the way we interact with one another. However, I do feel that such a classification is very vague because the term "communication" encompasses a myriad of acticities. Let's not forget things like physical contact and unspoken love. I remember a time when I was younger, my father and I would watch TV together. He would fiddle with my earlobes without saying a word. Yet I felt very warm at that time. Would that be communication?
I agree with you on the pitfalls of MSN. Several misunderstandings occurred for me over MSN. As Zheng Yang mentioned, face to face conversations yield a much better understanding of issues and higher chance of getting the right message across.
Lastly, I beg to differ that a researcher does not need good communication skills. I feel that a researcher needs better communication skills than most. Simply because you may be required to solicit donations or grants by showcasing your research results and showing the potential benefits of your successful research. In such cases, your communication skills as well as presentation skills would be crucial in your ability to secure the grant.
I realise my comments are a little different from your views, I do hope that you would not take offense to it. These are just my views. Hopefully, you could see them as an alternative point of view.
Wang Ting
Hi Xin Wei, Ariff, Alagu, Zhengyang and Wang Ting,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments and for sharing the same opinion with me regarding the issue on communication medium. I also agree with all of you that communication is the most effective when we do it face-to-face. Only through face-to-face communication can you interpret each others' words more accurately by observing the non-verbal cues.
However, people are now relying more and more on telecommunication devices such as handphones (SMS) and Internet (MSN) for communication such that they have lose the ability to communicate face-to-face. It is a pity because these means of communication not only lacks human touch, but also creates misunderstandings easily.
And Wang Ting, thanks for reminding me that a researcher DOES need to have good communication skills! It slipped my mind that writing research papers and stuff all require such skills to convince people of my study and help me gain recognition. I can apply the communication skills to the FYP thesis I have to work on later too!
Cheers,
Chai Yee