Question

Name and discuss at least three principles of communication (as discussed in the textbook). Explain detailed elements of each of the principles you have chosen. Also, respond to the following question: Do you think communication is essential in business for people oriented and technical career success? 150 words

Communication Principles

A more sophisticated understanding of how communication operates begins with some fundamental principles.

Communication Is Unavoidable A fundamental axiom of communication is “One cannot not communicate.”¹⁷ As you will learn in Chapter 4, facial expression, posture, gesture, clothing, and a host of other behaviors offer cues about our attitudes. The notion that we are always communicating means we send messages even by our absence. Failing to show up at an event or leaving the room suggests meaning to others. Because communication is unavoidable, it is essential to consider the unintentional messages you send.

Communication Is Strategic Almost all communication is aimed at achieving goals. On the job, the most obvious type is instrumental communication, or messages aimed at accomplishing the task at hand. Your manager is communicating instrumentally when she says, “I need that report by noon,” and you are pursuing instrumental goals when you ask, “How long does the report need to be?” People are not always direct in their communication about instrumental goals. Saying, “Wow—look at the time!” could be an implicit message designed to accomplish the task of ending a conversation. Furthermore, in a negotiation, your “final offer” may actually be a bargaining ploy to get a better deal.

A second set of goals involves relational communication, or messages that shape and reflect the way people regard one another. Building positive relationships is not just about being sociable; a positive climate in the workplace also helps us accomplish instrumental goals. Conversely, a negative relationship can make it difficult, or even impossible, to accomplish the task at hand.

Virtually all messages contain both instrumental and relational dimensions. When a customer service representative asks, “How can I help you?” the instrumental nature of this question is obvious. But the way the question is asked shapes the tenor of the relationship between the rep and the customer—rushed or deliberate, sincere or phony, friendly or unfriendly.¹⁸

A third, less obvious reason we communicate involves identity management, which is the practice of presenting yourself in ways that produce a preferred image and distinctive sense of self. To understand this concept, list 10 words or phrases that describe the way you would like others to see you on the job. Your list probably includes terms such as competent, trustworthy, and efficient. (Be sure to complete your own list before reading on.) Taken together, the attributes on this list (and many others) make up the professional identity you want to create. Next, think about the ways you communicate, both verbally and nonverbally, to get others to accept your identity. If being calm under pressure is part 7of your preferred identity, what do you say or do to project that quality? If you want others to see you as knowledgeable, how do you communicate to create that impression?

As these examples show, communication is often strategic; in other words, we intentionally craft messages for the purpose of achieving instrumental, relational, and identity goals. However, we do not always realize that we are being strategic in our communication. Think about the last time you met a new person. You probably did not have the following thoughts running through your mind: “Must look confident and friendly! Firm handshake! Direct eye contact! Remember to smile!” While many of these behaviors are performed subconsciously, crafting a thoughtful strategy to achieve your goals can boost the odds you will succeed.

The authors of this book suggest a variety of communication strategies you can use to achieve your goals and the goals of the organizations with which you are involved. Many of these strategies focus on specific work-related contexts, such as interviews, meetings, and presentations. Others will be useful in almost every professional context where you want to enhance your professional identity, manage relationships, and get the job done most effectively.

At first, the notion of strategic communication might seem unethical. In reality, communicating purposefully is not necessarily dishonest. For example, organizational spokespersons must be strategic in how they phrase their messages when communicating with the public during a crisis event. If family members are grieving over the loss of a loved one due to a workplace accident, a spokesperson may strategically choose to acknowledge that they are hurting, rather than saying, “I know how you feel.” The guidelines on pp. 22–24 show that it is possible to be strategic while still respecting others’ rights and needs.

Communication Is Irreversible At one time or another, everyone has wished they could take back words they regretted uttering. Unfortunately, this is not possible. Our words and deeds are recorded in others’ memories, and we cannot erase them. As the old saying goes, people may forgive, but they do not forget. In fact, the more vigorously you try to erase an act, the more vividly it may stand out.

Communication Is a Process It is not accurate to talk about an “act” of communication, as if sending or receiving a message were an isolated event. Rather, every communication event needs to be examined as part of its communication context. As an example, suppose your boss responds to your request for a raise by saying, “I was going to ask you to take a cut in pay!” How would you react? The answer probably depends on several factors: Is your boss a joker or a serious person? How does the comment fit into the history of your relationship—have your boss’s remarks been critical or supportive in the past? How does the message fit with ones you have received from other people? What kind of mood are you in today? All these questions show that the meaning of a message depends in part on what has happened before the message. Each message is part of a process: It does not occur in isolation.

Communication Is Not a Panacea Panacea comes from the Greek word panakeia, meaning “all-healing.” Just as alchemists during the Renaissance believed there was an elixir that would give eternal life, some individuals today believe that communication is a cure-all for all problems. Although communication can certainly smooth out the bumps and straighten the road to success, misunderstandings and ill feelings may still occur.¹⁹ Even effective communication cannot solve all problems. In some situations, the parties may understand one another perfectly yet still disagree. These limitations are important to understand as you begin to study communication on the job. Boosting your communication skills may increase your effectiveness, but improvements in those skills will not be a remedy for every situation that you encounter.

Answer 1

Communication Principles

1. Communication Is inescapable or unavoidable -

A fundamental saying of communication is “One cannot not communicate.” Verbal & Non-verbal forms of communication make communication manifested in several ways. Non-verbal communication includes facial expression, posture, gesture, & other behaviors that indicate about our attitudes.

The thought is - we always communicate in one or the other way, either intentionally or unintentionally. Example – If you enter into a function/party the communication process begins the moment you enter & look at others. You communicate to known people even before you utter your first word & if you leave the function early that also communicates your attitude & intention.

Thus, if we willingly try not to speak even then our inner voice gets expressed through non-verbal or gestural expressions, highlighting our motives about the intention to speak up or not to speak.

2. Communication Is Not a Panacea –

Panacea means all-healing. The notion here about communication is believed by some as a cure for all existing problems.

On one side, it is appropriate to consider that the barriers & misunderstanding between two people or two groups could be resolved by effective communication but on the other side, it should not be neglected that there are differences in opinions & disagreements because of different perspectives of people to look at things.

The crux of the matter is that there are limitations in the process of communication that are brought by the people & the environment in which they operate.

Thus, no matter how communication resolves various difficult issues but it is not a cure for all universal problems. Example – At the workplace even though you have effective communication skill but you could not convince your client via your presentation because of the difference in perspectives & attitudes.

3. Communication Is irrevocable or irreversible – It is correctly said words are more powerful & they are sharper than the sword. Because once delivered they can’t be taken back. Communication begins & ends at the same time. Example – a non-verbal expression of anger on the face by parents to give a warning to their child to not to commit mischievous acts is done once its done, it can’t be reversed by soothing or any other action.

Communication makes an impact on others about the thought process of ours & gets imprint on the minds & memories of others.

A saying expresses the worth of communication & the vital aspect of it - people may forgive, but they do not forget. Here, it is a fact gets highlighted that the more we try to wipe our previously said words or our actions the more such actions come to the fore.

The essence of communication in business for people-oriented and technical career success:-

A principle of communication states that it is Strategic - The process is intended to achieve the desired goals. One’s thoughts are delivered to others via communication with the purpose of accomplishing the individual & organizational goals. Instrumental communications include the real & precise part in communication to give directions (like from boss to subordinate), here, the scope for interpretation is limited & the task accomplishment is the primary objective. It can be direct or indirect i.e. the meaning conveyed in the process could be implicit or explicit. Example – At the workplace, if your boss is asking you the time it could mean that you are late at work.

Relational or interpersonal communication at the workplace makes office operations & teamwork efficient & effective. It reflects the way colleagues regard & perceives each other. Example – At a hotel reception when a customer service representative asks - How can I help you? explains the instrumental nature but the manner it is asked shapes the tone of the relationship between the representative & the customer.

Thus, it is inferred that communication has a vital role to play in achieving the goals & success in business.

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