Successful Human Relations Practice - Essay Example

Human Relations Human relations can be as complex as the human condition. Successful human relations practice is difficult to achieve and is often the result of a combination of different skill sets and organizational behaviors which coalesce in an office setting. Thus, the human relations movement is a result of research into organizational development, the behavior of people in a workplace setting and the intricate factors which ensure the successful development of an organization. Imbued with sociology, psychology and business, human relations is an interdisciplinary field which is growing tremendously as an important realm for scholarly analysis and development. From the human relations perspective, organizations are not void mechanical wholes but are rather cooperative systems made up of constituent parts. Seeking to understand complex nature of human relations and apply a personal perspective to a growing movement, the following will present my perspective of human relations and discuses the need for an interdisciplinary studies approach in human relations. Utilizing a first-person perspective I will discuss the usefulness of human relations studies to my profession as well as to important situations in my life. I now turn my introduction to human relations and the reasons for an interdisciplinary perspective within this field (Seta et al., 1999). Interdisciplinary Analysis Successful human relations is a complex phenomenon which is inherently interdisciplinary and which requires insight from a variety of different spheres. In order to interact successfully in a workplace environment an individual will need the requisite skills in order to be a successful employee and/or manager. In order to balance the demands of an intensive working environment, employees and managers alike must understand how an office operates as well as the specific dynamics of working in an office setting. Human relations is a field which is primarily interdisciplinary because a successful worker understands that the skills need to operate successfully in an office setting come from a wide realm of fields. Thus, effective communication skills, interpersonal skills, time management abilities as well as effective supervisory skills are disparate in the sense that they belong to different skill sets but at the same time are inherent attributes of success within the human relations realm. Borrowing from the sociological perspective of functionalism, organizational behavior is the result of symbiotic different parts working together towards a common goal. Functionalism, one of oldest theoretical perspectives within sociology, focuses on the individual within society and seeks to apply scientific method to the social world. Emile Durkheim was one of the earliest and most prominent functionalists and he advocated the application of scientific method to social processes. Furthermore, functionalists argue that society is in fact an organ and espouse what is described as the organic unity of society. Thus, social systems exist for Functionalists because institutions themselves serve a variety of purposes (re: functions). Social systems are homeostatic and work to maintain equilibrium. Equilibrium is achieved, according to this theory, through socialization, where members of society are taught basic values and norms of society. Social control mechanisms – also known as sanctions – help maintain social equilibrium and keep individuals within the social unit in check. Functionalism emphasizes institutions and organizations, an organic view of society and the belief that socialization serves a variety of important social functions. Thus, effective human relations management ensures that the organizations “functions” as an organic whole. Borrowing from the psychological theory of behaviorism, human relations analysis seeks to understand the factors which influence human behavior. Thus behaviorism is a fundamental psychological theory which rests on the basic premise that learning is achieved through observable behavioral changes. A theory of physiology which dates back to the ancient Greeks, behaviorism focuses on overt behavior which is observed and can be measured. Pavlov’s famous experiment using food, a dog and a bell demonstrated that an animal can respond and learn based on previous behaviors. Thus, Pavlov conditioned his dog to associate the ringing of a bell (a behavior) with food. Accordingly, every time he rang the bell, his dog would salivate. American physiologist Skinner applied Pavlov’s method of conditioning a stimulus through an emphasis on reinforcements and rewards. From a behaviorialist then children learn not to put their hand on a hot stove after being burnt or feeling pain and adversely a child learns good behavior through positive reinforcement such as treats and special rewards. The same underlying characteristics of Behaviorism in children apply to a human relations perspective. As we can see, the nature of human relations analysis is inherent interdisciplinary, borrowing from a wide range of social fields (Erasmus, 1967; Watson, 1997). Personal Analysis Now that we have established the inherent interdisciplinary nature of human relations, how useful is this field in my profession and personal life? I have always been driven by the desire to help people and have had a personal passion for my profession of INSERT NAME OF PROFESSION HERE. Since I was a young child, I have been fascinated by the study of the human condition and a keen desire to help people has drawn me to the study of INSERT NAME OF PROFESSION HERE. A combination of volunteer work and a strong desire to make a difference have adequately prepared me for my chose path and I have been fortunate to learn a lot about successful human relations as a student here in school as well as an avid observer of the human condition. As a young adolescent with a strong sense of purpose, I volunteered at multiple homeless shelters in my community and have devoted numerous hours to helping others. The homeless shelters in which I volunteered in taught me empathy, effective human communications and patience. My first job in high school - INSERT NAME OF PROFESSION HERE - gave me the requisite time management skills needed to succeed and taught me a lot about effective interpersonal skills. Working with the general public on a daily basis, I learnt how to relate to other, problem solve and work well under pressure. The interdisciplinary nature of human relations was taught to me at an early age and I have acquired a strong understanding of the complex interdisciplinary nature of this field since I my early entry into the labour force. As a student today the skills that I have learnt have adequately prepared me for an excellent career as a human relations professional and have given me a wide breadth of knowledge and information to help me along in my career. Concluding Remarks Human relations is a very complex phenomenon and successful human relations practice is a combination of different skill sets and organizational behaviors which coalesce in an office setting. As we have shown, human relations as a field of inquiry borrows from a wide variety of social fields including sociology, psychology and business and is inherently interdisciplinary Utilizing a first-person perspective I have demonstrated how human relations has helped me as a person, as well as a worker and how it will help me in the future. References Erasmus, C.J. (1967). Obviating the Functions of Functionalism. Social Forces, 45: 3, 319-328. Seta, C.E., Paulus, P.B. & Baron, R.A. (1999). Effective human relations: A guide to people at work. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Watson, J.B. (1997). Behaviorism. London: Transaction Publishers. Read More