The Basic Process of Effective Communication - Term Paper Example

The individuals must learn and apply certain principles in order to become a more effective communicator:

1. Become an active listener- The majority of individuals think they are great listeners when in fact the majority of individuals tend to think about what they are going to say next, instead of actually spending time to listen and understand what the other person is trying to say. Nods and verbal acknowledgments let the other individual know that you are actually listening. Do not interrupt and after the speaker is done speaking. Repeating back in your own words will let the listener know that you understood their message (Scott, 2011).
   1. Body language learning to interpret other people’s body language helps the individual learn what the other person’s true feelings are. By learning to control your own body language you can be sure that your facial expressions and body positions match the intended message. Things like maintaining eye contact show the other person that you are actively engaged.
   2. Stay objective and learn to control emotions-the fastest way for a conversation to turn negative is to let emotions dictate what is said, and the voice tone that is used to convey the message. Learning to stay focused and learn to become objective become essential skills in order to attain the necessary level of objectivity to efficiently deal with any task (Methodsofhealing, 2011). Stay focused and try to see the other individual’s point of view in conflict management.

      The importance of becoming an effective communicator is even more evident in a customer service environment. Utilizing effective listening skills and providing the customer with the reassurance that their needs and demands will be heard is paramount to the success of any customer service department. Customer service is all about the perception of the customer that the server is skilled at their job and is actually listening to the customer's concerns. Having the right positive attitude and maintaining objectivity is paramount since a lot of customers can become emotional and demanding. It is the responsibility of the employee to maintain objectivity and not let emotions become a factor in the interaction (Customerserviceskillsguide, 2007).

      Communicating effectively is a necessity in a medical environment. The stressful nature of a medical setting coupled with the fact that patients’ lives depend on the ability of the staff to stay organized and focused in stressful situations. The staff must be able to perform complex medical procedures and deliver life-saving drugs.  Employees are dependent to be able to communicate efficiently and effectively without any errors or procedure mistakes, literally patient lives depend on it.