Importance of Personal Principles - Essay Example

?Keslyn Nguyen Buon 481 2/5 Personal principles are important guideposts for surviving in society. The research focuses on the personal principles. The research centers on three personal principles. Personal principles must incorporate self respect and respect for others to be morally acceptable. My Personal Principle Personal principles are important moral guides for every day life. The personal principles incorporate self-respect as well as respect for others. The first principle is being on time. The second principle is effective communication. The third principle is being dressed appropriately for the occasion. Being on Time is Important. Showing respect for other persons includes being on time (Neave 169). It would be disrespectful to keep the other person waiting for some who is late for an appointment. Arriving late shows rudeness. However, there are valid reasons for arriving late. An unusual traffic jam is a good reason for arriving late. Arriving late for an appointment gives that impression that the waiting person is not important. Being late shows the late person has more important or interesting priorities in life. Being late is synonymous with not caring enough to exert the required effort to avoid sending the message “you are not important to me”. Tardiness indicates a person is deficiently organized. Consequently, lateness precipitates another disadvantageous reason. When scheduled for a job interview, the late applicant gives an impression of unprofessionalism. In this situation, the interviewer thinks that the applicant did not focus on researching the best way to arrive for the interview on or before the scheduled time. Consequently, the interviewer thinks the job applicant is not seriously interested in the job. The interviewer will get the impression that the applicant is sloppy about details, has faulty planning strategies, and irresponsible. In case of reasonable lateness, the late person should phone the waiting person to wait or reset the schedule to a more appropriate time. In ordinary daily itineraries timeliness is important. The trains and airplanes will not wait for one passenger to ride the plane. The bus will not wait for the late passenger to arrive. In addition, the child-care centers will close their doors to parents who arrive late. The grocery stores will close its doors on time, even if a late customer pleads the guards to open the store’s premises. Some shows, concerts, and stage shows will close their entrances to customers who arrive late. Fundamentally, not being punctuality gives an unfavorable impression. The impression is synonymous with self-centeredness. The late person offers a selfish statement “everyone will wait for me, an important person. Sad to say, the world will not wait for the late person. The world has more important priorities compared to waiting for the irresponsibly tardy person. The world must not waste its time waiting for the selfish person. Effective communication. Effective communication makes the world go round (Fielding 9). The development and implementation of an effective communication system is important. Effective communication increases the successful receipt and interpretation of the message sender’s message. Effective communication contributes to the incorporation of the message sender’s ideas on environmental change and other matters. Effective communication eliminates the message receivers’ guessing the message senders’ inputs. Such communication will eliminate the intended message receivers’ threshing out the message senders’ instructions. Without effective communication, the message senders’ changes will not be received by the message receiver in crystal-clear manner. The essay places importance on communication skills’ increasing the effectiveness of communication. The skills include eliminating the fear of communication. Each person should convince the message receiver to accept and implement the message’s instructions. Another important skill is expressing what one wants to say so the message will receive the same message. Lastly, the skill includes listening intently to the message sender. The first step in effective communication is eliminating the fear of speaking. When the appropriate time comes, one must let one’s voice be heard. Some individuals are afraid to let their voices be heard. The fear of speaking usually precipitates from avoiding saying the wrong words or sentences during a conversation or meeting. To resolve the issue, the message sender must voice one’s opinions, instructions, criticisms, or recommendations, without thinking of the consequences. However, freedom of expression does not mean one can say words that may hurt the message receiver’s feelings. When hurtful words have to said, they must be sent using both soft and gentle methods. The message sender must not utter unnecessary words that may trigger animosity or alienation from the message receiver. The message sender must use tact. Tact means one must be sure to use the right words at the right time to avoid regretting one’s actions in the future. Lastly, the message sender must think twice before sending the message, to avoid unnecessarily hurting the other person’s feelings. Next, one the message is received by the other person, effective communication entails backing up the message with facts or other evidences. Hesitation in the message sending process must be avoided at all times. A hesitant message sender gives an unfavorable picture of insecurity and weakness. The strength of the message significantly influences the message receiver’s interpretation of the message. The message of one’s workplace superior is a strong message. The message of a complete stranger may seem doubtful or unreliable. How one speaks and the contents of the message will create an impression of the speaker’s personality. Normal conversation is a venue for getting to know one another better. More importantly, the message recipient will only receive the message the message sender sends. To change the world, the message sender must have intelligence, strength, and security when sending information. The next aspect of effective communication is let the message receive the exact message intended by the message sender. The message sender should use the right word to express what is in the mind and heart of the message creator. One half of the words sent belong to the message sender. The other half of the words sent belongs to the message recipient. In layman’s terms, the message sender has one interpretation or understanding of the word sent. On the other hand, the message receiver has a different interpretation or understanding of the word received. Consequently, misunderstandings often arise between the message sender and the message receiver. Thus, the message sender must go that extra mile to ensure the message receiver gets the same picture or interpretation as the message sender’s picture or interpretation. Both parties must identify exactly the same situation, or idea. Words are very powerful tools that can be used for defense or offense. With the tactful use of words, each person will be able to do almost everything. Further, one main feature of effective communication is listening. The message receiver must listen to the message sender until he or she finishes talking or communicating. Listening is a good venue for learning new ideas or concepts. The person who speaks wants to be respectfully heard. Effective communication includes speaking and listening, sending and receiving. Communication that excludes listening is pure tyranny. Effective communication is fruitful venue for one to be heard and understood. By speaking, the person expresses oneself to be heard by other persons. Effective communication includes the message sender’s contribution to a change process or other activities. It would be impossible for the message sender to propose changes if there are no individuals listening, learning, accepting the incoming messages. Listening is a gift. There are few good listeners in society. Effective communication efficiently aids in self expression. Effective communication permits the message sender to better express oneself. Such communication allows others to be heard in a respectful manner. The same communication process enhances changes in the environment. Words are often absent of fear. One must speak to effectively communicate. One must listen attentively to effectively communication. Words can make a person strong. One must support the words that are sent and received. Words will indicate the message senders’ personality. Similarly, words will indicate the message receivers’ personality. Words will describe how one thinks in a given situation. To avoid misunderstanding, one must value words for what they are. Words have different meanings when used in different situations. To avoid receiving a different meaning, intent listening is a must. The way you dress does affect your life Fashion is a complex issue (Kawamura 2). Fashion is also classified as an art that incorporates lifelong gaining of useful knowledge. I may not be a fashion expert. However, I enjoy giving my own opinions on fashion. I love to compare the fashion designs of different fashion designers. I love to share my recommendations on how one must dress in each occasion. One must dress fittingly for the office meeting. One must dress in sportswear when playing baseball or basketball. The students must dress properly for school lessons. One must dress appropriately for a wedding reception. I love to share my two cents’ worth on fashion’s effect on the average person’s life. What one wears in the comfort of the home environment should be grounded on privacy. One must not mind the neighbors using jeans while mowing their lawn. One must not ridicule the neighbor for wearing slacks while playing chess. No one should criticize the neighbor for wearing a sweatshirt while jogging at home. However, what one wears in public places is a different ballgame. The office worker will be met with harsh words when one enters wearing a wedding gown. Wearing a baseball uniform while playing basketball would the wearer out of place. What one wears in the public arena of life creates either a favorable or unfavorable picture. What one wears in public may trigger either respect or disrespect from the onlookers. Respect is an abstract idea that needs to be explained (Atwell 105). In its broadest aspect, respect means a person has value. Such value significantly changes the people’s reactions to the person. Respect is the public’s positive reaction to the person. Proverbs 13:13 states “People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed”. On the other hand, disrespect is a negative reaction to another person. One’s dress can generate respect from most of the onlookers. However, some individuals will lose respect if their dress is inappropriate for the occasion. For example, wearing a tuxedo creates respect for the office worker. Wearing basketball shoes during a basketball game generates respect from one’s fellow basketball players and the sports audience. Person wearing a police uniform will generate respect. Dan Ariely, a respectable behaviour economist, theorizes individuals are characterized as having irrational behaviours. One such behaviour is expectation. When an individual perceives oneself as previously good, the same person will continue to characterized oneself as good. One vivid example is the beverage challenge. In the ‘Pepsi Challenge’ the taste test gave the survey respondents two soft drink cups. The respondents are made to choice which is the better soft drink. From the test, the average person chose Pepsi. However, when the soft drinks are sold as coke or Pepsi, many of the respondents would prefer Coke. This can be classified as irrational behaviour. However, this is how the human brain analyzes and how the average person generates its preferences. The irrational behaviour can be explained. The Coke preference is due to marketing efforts. The Coke Company’s advertisements have brainwashed the people to prefer Coke over other competitor brands, including Pepsi. The advertisements create an impression on the public that Coke is a better product compared to the Pepsi products. The advertisements persuade the human brain that Coke is a better product compared to Pepsi and other competitor brands. Coke’s awesome packaging entices the public to prefer the Coke products over the Pepsi products (Shimp 180). Similar to the successful Coke packaging, one must package oneself well by using the most appropriate dress. Different occasions call for different dress fashions. One’s dress gives a long-lasting impression of the person. A person who is wearing a cheap T-shirt will give a strong impression that the person is a beggar or poor. Consequently, the public will treat such person as second class citizens, persons who are financially distressed. To gain an advantage over the competitors, one must dress well for the appropriate occasion. By doing so, the person gains the required respect and great expectation from the onlookers, one’s peers, and other persons. Rev 2:19 states: “…And I can see your constant improvement in all these things”. Some individuals may debate that one has the freedom to wear anything. Some quarters insist that what one thinks is not important. Such individuals may insist that people should not be judged by how they dress. This is similar to the saying A book should not be judged by its cover. However, this is not what the practical world prefers. People often criticize the person by the dress or suit one wears. People must accept reality. Reality states that one must adhere to the dress code to be accepted by one’s peers, the community, and society. One must not avoid accepting reality in order to survive. People should not use political correctness to avoid the reality of being appropriately dressed. For vividness’ sake, assume you are the Human Resource Officer. The officer will show disdain on a job applicant wearing a T-shirt and Jeans. The Human Resource Officer will consider the inappropriate dress as a factor in not choosing the applicant for the vacant Chief Executive Officer position. The officer will think that the applicant is very disrespectful to the hiring company. To be successfully hired, the job applicant must dress appropriately for the position. A basketball player applicant must come in basketball uniform. The office applicant must wear office dress. Common sense dictates that donning the appropriate dress will generate respect. Aside from annoyance precipitated by badly dressed job applicant, such persons will bring disrespect during important events. For example, the people wear differently for the Grammy Awards. The award is sometimes not creditable. In addition, some of the guests were dresses characterized as without self respect. Many of the women were dresses like prostitutes in their slutty outfits. Consequently, many people consider the ‘Grammy Awards as very respectable. To be respectable, the guest must wear respectable dresses. A dress code must be enforced, without fear or favour. Dressing for the Grammy Awards or Oscars Awards in respectable manner makes the show both respectable and creditable. \ Based on the above discussion, personal principles are important benchmarks for surviving in society. The personal principles focus on time, effective communication and dress. The three personal principles are grounded on self respect and respect for others. Indeed, personal principles must include self respect and respect for others to be ethically acceptable. Summary. Personal principles are important moral guides for every day life. The personal principles include self-respect as well as respect for others. Being on Time is Important. Showing respect for other persons includes being on time. Tardiness indicates a person is deficiently organized. Effective communication makes the world go round. The development and implementation of an effective communication system is important. The first step in effective communication is eliminating the fear of speaking. Next, one the message is received by the other person, effective communication entails backing up the message with facts or other evidences. The next aspect of effective communication is let the message receive the exact message intended by the message sender. The way you dress does affect your life. Fashion is a complex issue. Respect is the public’s positive reaction to the person. One must dress appropriately for the occasion to gain respect. Works Cited Atwell, John. Ends and Principles in Kant's Moral Thought. New York: Springe Press, 1996. Print. Fielding, Michael. Effective Communication In Organisations. New York: Juta Press, 2005. Print. Kawamura, Yuniya. Doing Research in Fashion and Dress. New York: Berg Press, 2011. Print. Neave, Edwin. Strategies for Protecting National Critical Infrastructure Assets. New York: J Wiley & Sons Press, 2007. Print. Read More