Becoming an Effective Communicator and Conflict Management Skills - Essay Example

University name Student name Student id Course Date Table of Contents Executive summary 3 Introduction 3 Discussion 4 Conflict management skills 4 Communications skills 6 Barriers to conflict management 7 Barriers to effective communications 8 Practical solutions 9 Conclusion 10 References 11 Executive summary The two topics I have chosen are becoming an effective communicator and conflict management skills. The report is comprised of describing the problem relating to conflict management and effective communication. I have explored my theoretical interpersonal issues that demonstrate my interpersonal issues related to the ways of my communications and conflict management skills. The areas that I need to improve on my conflict skills have been explored and the best ways of enhancing my conflict management skills well explained. Also, my weak areas in communicating are well articulated to identify the best ways that I can improve my communications skills. The report entails evaluating the problem where my current communications skills and the way my communications skills are affecting my personalities. Besides, personalities that are affecting my communications skills are properly analyzed. My conflict management skills are also explored, and their effects on my decision skills are evaluated. The factors that do hinder the improvement of my communication skills and conflict management skills. I have explored the best ways of enhancing my conflict management skills and the steps I will need to take to improve my skills in managing conflict. Besides, the ways that I can employ to become an effective communicator are well explained in the report. Introduction Conflict skills are considered crucial in managing the human resources in organizations. Having sound conflict management skills is critical in ensuring that healthy relationships can be developed among the employees (Shannon & Weaver, 1999). Conflict management assists in looking for a solution among employees with differences hence assisting in ensuring that there is am work in the organization. Proper management of conflict helps in creating a healthy working environment that can guarantee enhanced the productivity of the employees. Communication skills are vital in the administration of employees, as proper communication is considered crucial in coordinating employees in organizations. The management entails coming up with the best ways of doing things in organizations making communications essential. For instance, during formulation strategy communications is critical to ensure effective sharing of ideas and opinions. Therefore, I need to make sure that I develop my communication skills to make sure that I am an effective communicator (Witzany, 2012). Besides, will need to develop my conflict management skills to make sure that I can guarantee a healthy working environment. Discussion Conflict management skills My experience as a student leader in the College made realize the benefits of developing my conflict management skills. As a student leader, I faced many situations that needed serious conflict management skills. There were many differences among the students making me look for the best ways that can assure that the relationship among the students was good. Besides, I was involved in various conflicting issues with the management due to the differences in our interests. The different situations that I encountered in my leadership exposed me to different conflict management situations (Baluska, et al. 2006). The various experiences I had exposed me to the various case that shaped my conflict management skills. Conflict management skills are essential in the process of ensuring effective resolution of disputes in organizations. The understanding the settlement of disputes can assist in controlling decisions made concerning the conflict. I have been facing some challenges in my decision conflict management hence creating the necessity for developing my conflict management skills. My experience as a student leader made me realize the areas that I need to improve my conflict management skills. Besides, I realized the primary cause of conflict and the best ways of avoiding conflict. For instance, I found myself in conflict with the management due to the differences in interests concerning the welfare of the students. I could get involved in various conflict resolution with the management hence assisting in shaping my conflict resolutions skills. The process of resolving conflict need to ensure proper communication to ensure that the different parties to the conflict can be in a position to understand each other. Negotiation skills are very crucial in the process of resolving a conflict. Misunderstanding and lack of communications can be the primary cause of conflicts among people. I need to take actions that can assist me in developing my conflict management skills (Arthur, 2013). Failing to have proper conflict management skills can result in increased stress hence leading to decreased production. Conflict can be very destructive is not properly handled by the parties in the conflict can develop an attitude that is very negative. Failing to have the needed skills for conflict resolution can result in escalating the conflict. Negotiations can be very crucial in handling conflicts among the participants in the conflict (Barnlund, 2008). Through negotiations, the parties involved in the conflict can be in a position to make a decision that can ensure that the conflict is resolved. Some skills are necessary for the management of conflict. These traits can include active listening, emotional controls, and understanding the other people. I have not been able to control my emotions in various situations that have been involved in conflict resolution. I then need to improve my emotional controls to ensure that I can be in a position to ensure successful negotiations with the parties involved in a conflict. Communications skills My position as a student leader in the College played a big role in shaping my communications skills. I was involved in various communications with the students and the management making my skills in communication good. Communicating effectively is an important way of ensuring that the necessary information can be conveyed from one party to the other. I could guarantee that I communicate with the students concerning various issues in the process of addressing their interests. Besides, I could allow the students to communicate their concerns that they need to be addressed by the management. In the process, I found myself developing myself to become an effective communicator. In the various decision-making processes involving the student body and the management, I needed to have effective communication skills that could ensure that I communicate the grievances of the students. Also, I could be in a better position to negotiate for the changes needed to be implemented through effective communications. Communication skills proved to be essential in various occasions of management of people where the failure to have proper communications can result in conflicts. Communication skills assist in making decisions that can be in a position to achieve the intended objectives. The parties in the decision-making process can be in a position to give their opinions if only they are in a position to communicate effectively. An effective communicator can be in a better position to participate in debates defending his points of view. Through the effective communications, one can then be in a position to convince the other parties (Turner & West, 2013). In communication, ensuring that the other party is given the opportunity to give opinions is very crucial in ensuring that there are effective communications. There is the need for empathy during communications to make sure that there is a proper understanding of the other party involved in the communication. Effective communications entail understanding emotions, managing stress, engaged listening, and recognizing non-verbal communications. Effective communications are essential in enhancing the connections, decision-making, teamwork and solving problems. Practice is considered very crucial in developing effectiveness in communications where improving the necessary skills that are needed in the process of becoming an effective communicator is very important. Emotions have been affecting my communications skills; thus, I need to work on controlling my emotions to ensure that I am an effective communicator. Barriers to conflict management The barriers that hinder my conflict management skills can include poor negotiation skills. Having poor negotiation skills can result in an obstacle to the administration of conflicts. This is because negotiation skills are critical in ensuring that I can be in a position to better management the conflicts that I face in the process of discharging my duties. Lack of proper control of emotions and also hinders my conflict management skills. Emotion does affect the way the emotions are managed hence determining my conflict management skills. With emotions during the management of conflict can result in making conflict resolutions that do not consider the necessary aspects involved in the conflict. Poor decision-making skills can hinder my conflict management capabilities due to the failure to ensure that the right decision is made during the administration of conflicts. Decision-making is crucial in ensuring that the parties in the conflicts are all considered where the decision arrived can be in a position to make sure that the interests of the various parties are considered. Barriers to effective communications Several barriers can be associated with providing effective communications where these factors can hinder me from becoming an effective communicator. First, controlling emotions can hinder me from becoming an effective communicator hence is crucial to ensure that in developing proper controls of my emotions. Emotions hinder effective communication by making wrong judgments based on emotions hence making one respond in a wrong way during communications. Practice is crucial in making one an effective communicator as one can better learn how to control emotions through practices (Randall, 2014). Taking time during communications before responding can be important in developing effectiveness in communications. The lack of focus can easily hinder the effectiveness of communication. The lack of focus can be associated with multitasking making me lack the focus to concentrate on the task. Failing to have the necessary focus can result in making me fail to realize the non-verbal communications are crucial in conveying messages in communications. Thinking about some other things during the process of communication can easily affect my concentration hence making me lack the necessary focus needed to guarantee effective communication. Inconsistency in using body languages can hinder effective communications due to the lack of the necessary nonverbal communications necessary to enhance communications. This can be affected by the failure to match what is being spoken with the body language expressed. Body language that is negative can easily affect the effectiveness of communications. The negative body language does influence the other party in communication hence disrupting the exchange of information. This can result in sending negative signals to the other persons involved in the communication (Mehrabian, 1992). Therefore, ensuring that the communication does not make the other parties in the communication offensive can be crucial in ensuring that the communication is effective. Practical solutions I need to make sure that I manage my emotions to be in a position to ensure proper management of conflicts. Besides, I will need to improve my negotiation skills that can be essential in developing my conflict management skills. Controlling my emotions and developing my negotiation skills will assist in improving my conflict management skills hence making me able to manage different situations involving conflict better. Developing a positive attitude can be crucial in ensuring that there is effectiveness in communications. The positive attitude can assist in making the communications free from biases and prejudgment hence assisting in ensuring that there are effective communications. The prejudgments in communications affect the way the response is given and the interpretation of the message conveyed (Schramm, 1994). Also, creating focus can play a significant role in making the communications effective as I can be in a position to concentrate during the communications. As a result, I can better understand the message communicated hence responding in the right way. Conclusion I will ensure that I implement the needed strategies that can assist me in becoming an effective communicator. This will involve doing practice to make sure that I can improve my communication skills hence able to make sure that I effectively communicate my message to the intended recipients in a more efficient and secure way. I will also develop my conflict management skills by doing enough practice that will ensure that I am in a position to manage conflicts better (Robbins, et al. 2011). This will involve making assure that I avoid the barriers that do hinder my conflict management skill. The solution implemented can be in a position to solve the problem where improving in the areas that have been facing challenges can easily ensure that my communication and conflict resolutions skills are enhanced. The alternative solution would have worked better as it is specific to the problem I am facing in the process of solving the problems. Besides, the alternative is primarily targeting in improving the areas that have been hindering my communication and conflict management. The assessment has taught me on using my interpersonal strengths to improve my areas of weakness. This is because majoring in my areas of strength can assist in improving my personal shortcomings. 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