Different reasons people communicate Essay

In general, human beings like to live with other human beings. Most of us are sociable creatures who want to reach out to other people around us. Very few humans lead completely solitary lives. People also communicate for specific reasons; in order to express Emotions such as: †¢ Fear †¢ Anger †¢ Pain †¢ Joy †¢ Love. People want to get views, wishes and information across to others for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes this can be essential – even life saving in the case of a warning. It can be vital to make a person’s quality of life Better if they are communicating that they are in pain or it can be to make Emotional contact with others to express feelings. People live and communicate within a range of different groups and Communities, including: †¢ Families †¢ Neighborhoods †¢ Workplaces †¢ Schools and colleges. The nature of communication is very different dependent on the Circumstances. Some communications are personal and very intimate; these are usually with people to whom we are very close. Other communications are for a wider audience and are aimed at groups of people. Communication can be formal, such as in a courtroom setting, or informal, such as friends chatting. 2†¦ Explain how communication affects relationships in the work setting. Effective communication is a two-way process – sending the right message that is also being correctly received and understood by the other person/s. It is essential that there is good and effective communication taking place within the work setting. Daily tasks will only be successful with smooth transfers of information. In order for me to develop within my role, there must be effective communication between the children and myself. This will help keep positive morale and improve the quality of work. People that do not feel as if they have good communication with their carers may not be as efficient with their work. Effective communication skills are also needed to encourage staff and myself to talk about what we are feeling, to say what we think or to express our needs, concerns, wishes or preferences. Positive verbal and non-verbal communication skills, such as being friendly, smiling and shaking hands when greeting parents and staff, are required on a daily basis. Effective communication can help promote and create a positive working environment. Without communication the world would be a lonely place and communication is particularly important in the work setting as it can affect the relationships you build. Team communication is important as it is important to keep everyone in the group knowledgeable about what is going on within that group. As I would be communicating with parents, colleagues, children and other professionals (i.e. health visitors, speech and language therapists, social workers, other schools, Police and other governing bodies) it is important that everybody is provided the information they need. Communication is vital to establishing effective relationships in the work setting. It would allow you to expect support from your colleagues and to provide them with the necessary support in times of stress and difficulty.re and am there to support the children. 3†¦ describe the factors to consider when promoting effective communication. Verbal communication: Tone and pitch of your voice, does it suit the situation or topic? A louder more direct communication maybe required if trying to get the attention of a group of children to come back inside. However this would not be suitable in a situation whereby a child is upset say for example if they have wet themselves and are embarrassed, this would need a quieter and understanding tone to reassure them. Use of language is important, when talking to children you need to keep things simpler than if you were talking to an adult, however if you talking to an adult using very simple instructions this may be deemed as patronizing. So it is important to choose your language carefully. The speed in which you talk is also key. When talking to children I tend to get down to their level and talk to them at a relatively slow speed, this way they are more likely to understand me more than if I was walking round above them talking as though I would talk to adults. Non-verbal communication: Facial and hand gestures, again this needs to be tailored to the situation or topic. In the example above, a smile and perhaps a hand on their shoulder is sufficient to the situation. Whereby frowning and waving arms as if annoyed would be detrimental to the feelings of the child. Eye contact is an important factor as this engages the audience, keeping them focused on what you are discussing. By making eye contact you are directing your conversation at that specific person, demonstrating that you are devoting your time and are not able to be distracted as if you would by looking around. Body language plays an important part, for example folded arms can indicate you are being defensive or not open to suggestions, whereas slouching, hands on hips, rolling of eyes and huffing can seem rude and disrespectful. 4†¦ Be able to overcome barriers to communication. Identifying communication needs: use of personal histories; involvement of the individual; involvement of family, friends and carers Barriers to communication: environmental eg: seating, lighting, external noise, situation of the setting; emotional issues eg: shyness, low self-esteem; social; psychological eg: mental ill health, results of abuse, neglect; sensory, hearing and sight impairment; speech and language barriers following strokes; cerebral palsy; cultural eg: related to gender, inappropriate use of gestures; English as an additional language. Promotion of communication: use of preferred language including British Sign Language; use of human aids, interpreters, translators; use of technological aids, hearing aids, induction loops, Braille software; cultural awareness; active listening skills; the need to give individuals time to respond; speech and language therapy Language proficiency affects every aspect of a person’s life. Lack of fluency in English has a major impact on people’s ability to get information. A social hierarchy exists in most cultures, which can create issues in workplace communications. For instance, men from some cultural backgrounds may not adapt easily to working equally with women. Understanding the relationship between the sexes and the roles assigned in various cultures will give you an insight into how customers from particular cultural groups might respond in an Australian environment. Differences in non-verbal behavior Cultural differences in non-verbal behaviors are a common source of misunderstandings and conflict in the workplace. For instance, many westerners like to make eye contact, interpreting it as an indication of interest and honesty. They also show friendliness through relaxed body language. If these behaviors do not happen, it can be interpreted as shiftiness, coldness and disinterest. However, in some cultures, averted eyes and non-demonstrable behavior are. a sign of courtesy and respect. Being aware of these Nuances will help you to reduce negative impressions in inter-cultural communications among co-workers and customers. Personal space People from different cultural backgrounds may have different ‘comfort zones’ — some Like more distance between themselves and others, some like to be closer. Responses to authority Attitudes to authority vary markedly between cultures and exert a distinct effect on workplace behaviors. Religion In many cultures, religion dominates life in a way that for strongly secular workplaces may be difficult to understand. These differences need to be respected and the needs associated with religious commitments understood and sensitively negotiated within the workplace. Clear communication on both sides about these issues is to be encouraged. Personal appearance Grooming, dietary and eating habits and dress varies in different cultures. Some people within their community may choose to wear their national dress or religious garments. Keep in mind that attitudes and communicative behaviors are not neutral but strongly conditioned by cultural values. As a simple example, if you say to a customer, ‘Please sign here’, you expect them to know that you want them to pick up the pen and sign exactly where you have indicated. But, if you think about it, you are assuming that the person: _ can hear you _ speaks the English language _ knows how to use a pen _ knows where they need to sign _ knew what a signature was _ understands what they are signing for _ If the person didn’t hear you, didn’t speak English, did not have a signature, didn’t know how to use the pen, did not understand where they needed to sign, or did not know what they were signing for the communication will not be successful. 1. Explain how people from different backgrounds may use and/ or interpret communication methods in different ways Language proficiency affects every aspect of a person’s life. Lack of fluency in English has a major impact on people’s ability to get information. Therefore communication skills training is a critical career development to help the children/ young people understand. Roles and status A social hierarchy exists in most cultures, which can create issues in workplace communications. For instance, men from some cultural backgrounds may not adapt easily to working equally with women. Understanding the relationship between the sexes and the roles assigned in various cultures will give you an insight into how customers from particular cultural groups might respond in an Australian environment. Differences in non-verbal behavior Cultural differences in non-verbal behaviors are a common source of misunderstandings and conflict in the workplace. For instance, many westerners like to make eye contact, interpreting it as an indication of interest and honesty. They also show friendliness through relaxed body language. If these behaviors do not happen, it can be interpreted as shiftiness, coldness and disinterest. However, in some cultures, averted eyes and non-demonstrable behavior are a sign of courtesy and respect. Being aware of these Nuances will help you to reduce negative impressions in inter-cultural communications among co-workers and customers. Personal space People from different cultural backgrounds may have different ‘comfort zones’ — some Like more distance between themselves and others, some like to be closer. Responses to authority Attitudes to authority vary markedly between cultures and exert a distinct effect on workplace behaviors.Religion in many cultures, religion dominates life in a way that for strongly secular workplaces may be difficult to understand. These differences need to be respected and the needs associated with religious commitments understood and sensitively negotiated within the workplace. Clear communication on both sides about these issues is to be encouraged. Personal appearance Grooming, dietary and eating habits and dress varies in different cultures. Some people within the Australian community may choose to wear their national dress or religious garments. Keep in mind that attitudes and communicative behaviors are not neutral but strongly conditioned by cultural values. As a simple example, if you say to a customer, ‘Please sign here’, you expect them to know that you want them to pick up the pen and sign exactly where you have indicated. But, if you think about it, you are assuming that the person: can hear you, speaks the English language, knows how to use a pen, knows where they need to sign, knew what a signature was, understands what they are signing for If the person didn’t hear you, didn’t speak English, did not have a signature, didn’t know how to use the pen, did not understand where they needed to sign, or did not know what they were signing for the communication will not be successful. Use of Simple Language: Use of simple and clear words should be emphasized. Use of ambiguous words and jargons should be avoided. Reduction and elimination of noise levels: Noise is the main communication barrier which must be overcome on priority basis. It is essential to identify the source of noise and then eliminate that source. Active Listening: Listen attentively and carefully. There is a difference between â€Å"listening† and â€Å"hearing†. Active listening means hearing with proper understanding of the message that is heard. By asking questions the speaker can ensure whether his/her message is understood or not by the receiver in the same terms as intended by the speaker. Emotional State: During communication one should make effective use of body language. He/she should not show their emotions while communication as the receiver might misinterpret the message being delivered. For example, if the conveyer of the message is in a bad mood then the receiver might think that the information being delivered is not good.   Simple Organizational Structure: The organizational structure should not be complex. The number of hierarchical levels should be optimum. There should be a ideal span of control within the organization. Simpler the organizational structure, more effective will be the communication. ï‚ · Avoid Information Overload: The managers should know how to prioritize their work. They should not overload themselves with the work. They should spend quality time with their subordinates and should listen to their problems and feedbacks actively. A solution to the barriers is emotional intelligence which can be mastered and lead to better relationships. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand others and work with them. There are five characteristics of emotional intelligence. Being self-aware is the most important. It is the ability to distance oneself from their emotions so that they can look at the emotion without becoming overwhelmed or reacting to it too quickly. This piece of intelligence would help a person who is struggling with stereotyping. If the person knows that every time they see and African American person they become nervous because they believe they are all aggressive, they can take a step back and look at where that emotion came from. Once they have identified the source, they may be able to isolate the emotion and try to move past is by realizing that it is an irrational fear. There is an equal chance that a Caucasian or African American person is aggressive. The second characteristic is the ability to manage emotions which means expressing them in a way that is appropriate for the setting). Once a person has become aware of the emotion, they can come up with a way to handle the emotion. The person who gets nervous around African Americans may be able to look at where they are. If they are at a dinner party at a friend’s house and the African American friend of the friend shows up, there is a good chance they are not agg ressive. The person who is nervous may be able to walk away for a minute to collect themselves and then act as they should through a dinner party. In a setting where a young looking mother is out with her parents, the person might take the time to ask how old she was and what her situation was. The person may find that the young mother is responsible and owned up to her mistakes or that the mother is older than they thought and did not make a mistake. The third characteristic is the ability to motivate oneself which is setting a goal and reaching it. For the person who is nervous around African Americans, the goal may be to sit at the table and hold normal conversation with the dinner guests. They would then have to try to reach that goal by managing their emotions and following through with the dinner. For a person who looks down on teen mothers, the goal may be to accept all mothers as if they are the socially accepted age for parenting unless there is a clear reason why this mother is inad equate. The might reach that goal by always asking questions when they feel that a mother is inadequate because they are young. The fourth intelligence is recognizing emotions in others, which is called empathy. The best way to do this is to listen to what people are really saying and trying to understand it by observing their body language along with their actual language. In genders this can be difficult. Men tend to want to solve a problem where women want a sounding board, someone who understands them. If they can listen to each other and try to understand what the other wants and how they are feeling, the relationship will go better. For men, they often do not try to understand why a woman is upset when her friend says she should lose a pants size. He does not put himself in her shoes and does not easily relate to the problem. Instead, he might try to solve the problem by complimenting her or getting her a gym membership. This is not effective communication. The woman was not looking for a way to lose a pant size, but rather a person that would understand why she was the size she was and how bad it feels to be told she is too big. Body language plays a part in improving a person’s emotional intelligence. A person who is first starting out with improving their emotional intelligence, they may come across difficulties in the first four characteristics because what they are saying does not match up to their body language. A person might ask the teen mother her age, but still have a posture that shows they do not approve of this mother having a child. A person who fears African Americans may be able to sit through a dinner and talk nice, but might look as though they are ready to run out of the room if a butter knife is picked up the wrong way. The fifth characteristic is the ability to handle relationships. The person needs to recognize their own needs as well as the needs of the other person. They need to find a balance where both sets of needs, is met as fully as possible. If the person is always bending to meet all the needs of another person and neglecting their own needs, they are not going to be satisfied with the relationship for long. On the other hand, if the person ignores the other person’s needs and only fulfills their own needs, the other person is not going to be satisfied for long. With an understanding of how barriers, culture, gender, and emotional intelligence effect communication, a person is more able to communicate effectively and have fulfilling relationships. If these things are ignored, communication breaks down and a person can become isolated. 4†¦. Be able to apply principles and practices relating to confidentiality.