The Process of Communication in Light of Interpersonal Communication - Coursework Example

Running Head: The process of communication in light of interpersonal communication The process of communication in light of interpersonal communication Name Institution Instructors Name Subject Introduction Communication is not an easy process. It involves verbal and non verbal attempts to assist the other person to understand what we are trying to communicate. Yet it often fails. The failure is due to the existence of communication barriers no matter how good the communication system is. The causes to this maybe a number of factors which more often than not are summarized as being system design faults, physical barriers, or additional barriers. The verbal and non verbal elements make up what is referred to as interpersonal communication. (Adler, 1978)The actual words we say are verbal communication while gestures, tones of voice, facial expressions, and actions make up nonverbal communication; they reveal more about what we feel than what we say. While Communication is the process through which the source rather a person transmits any form of message, information, or idea to a receiver through a medium; a barrier to communication is the difficulty or hindrance involved in the communication process distorting the intended message making it hard to understand for the person intended. The process of interpersonal communication is faced by many barriers. (Adler, 1978) Take for instance in an organization aspect such as a project team, just like other project protocols and processes, interpersonal communication is an important process too. This is because it makes people within an organization be able to understand each other regardless of their job functions, departmental difference, and their opinions or personal view. In instances when there is friction or conflict, the barriers to interpersonal communication can easily be identified mostly in the working environment. As a measure to curbing the conflict, it is important to train the members of a team to so that they can show improved interpersonal communication skills. (Extension Family Life Specialists, 2007)More often than not, the barriers to communication are as a result of personal habits or attitudes that can in most times be changed. In interpersonal communication, the technical problems referred to as barriers are of human origin and development. (Adler, 1978)Discussed below are some of the hindrances of clear and constructive communication with other people: Background and Experience Considering that each and every person is different and they have had different experiences, we therefore have a unique way of looking at things around us. We all learn, feel, understand, and speak in accordance to the background of experience that we are from. This brings about a barrier for people have difficulty communicating due to experience, age, and background differences. As a way of eliminating this barrier, it is important to learn that there is a valuable lesson from the people who posses different experience than that of our own. (Extension Family Life Specialists, 2007) Health and Physical conditions A person’s individual health stand to being a barrier since it may prevent them from thinking straight or clearly, speaking well, and also from listening carefully. This may be as a result of them being in pain, nervousness, fatigue, or even general body weakness which is one of the obvious barriers to the interpersonal communication. To be able to have a complete interpersonal communication process, there will be the need to give extra consideration to the person who is in a poor health and physical condition from others. (Extension Family Life Specialists, 2007) Feelings and Emotions The emotions we find ourselves in as well as the feelings are some powerful forces that can actually affect the way we express ourselves. Take for instance when we are feeling cool, affectionate, and calm, we act, think and even speak with a difference than when we are filled with anger, excitement or fear. It is therefore of importance to not let our emotions get in our way of effective communication. (Pearson, 1987)And as a way of avoiding this, one should wait until the strong emotions have gone down so as to speak or listen. This will be the best way of eliminating this barrier to an effective interpersonal communication. Word Choice Considering that words often have more than one meaning or say words are of multiple meaning, people have a tendency of choosing the wrong words in conveying a given message. By so doing, they end up not communicating at all or misleading the receiver. In an occasion where you find yourself speaking and the other person seem no to understand, it is always important that you clarify the words that you use. The only way to communicating in such a situation is asking the person to explain what they intend to mean in other words or in a different way. (Extension Family Life Specialists, 2007) Listening to words only The way of listening to many people sometimes results to a communication barrier. People sometimes tend to listen too much to the words therefore missing the feelings that are behind those words. For instance, when one says “I do not care” this may mean unhappiness, that they are bored, or that they have been hurt. If well listened to, people should be able to get the message from the way words are said but not just from the words. This means that we should be sensitive when it comes to nonverbal communication. (Extension Family Life Specialists, 2007) Indiscrimination This is a term that is used to refer to denial of a person’s uniqueness considering that every person is unique in his/her own way. This factor becomes a communication barrier when we tend to classify individuals according to the social status failing to see them as different and unique who need to be looked at in an individual perspective. On the other hand, this barrier brings with it another barrier in Allness. This is the apocryphal assumption to being a know it all. An established fact about this issue is that no one knows everything, but on the same note everyone has something that they know. This could prove to be destructive to anyone who thinks about it as well as others who they may interact with. This implies that we should be able to listen to every person even the people who are considered to know nothing because they too have something that they know. (Pearson, 1987) Factors that assist communication in different settings and communication styles With the above barriers, there is need to takes steps which should be followed in order to form them into habit for an effective communication. The steps should be able to assist communication in its different settings. It is to the sender and the receiver that the responsibility of strengthening as well as improving communication lies on. Senders of a given message should be able to define the purpose of their message, be able to construct the messages putting their receivers in mind since the message is solely meant for them. Moreover, they should be able to select the best medium and the time of transmission thoughtfully as well as seek for feedback. Receivers on the other hand should listen attentively to the sender and initiate feedback efforts as a way of clarifying on the message points. Discussed below are the factors that assist interpersonal communication. (Project Management Insights and Exchanges, 2009) Use of simple words When communicating, it is of importance that one uses simple words so as to convey a message. This by far brings about an effective interpersonal communication process since the language used is more simplified. This means that when you are communicating, you should use simple stricture sentences that will be easily understood by the target audience. We should be able to bear in mind that many people hate making out spoken words, this therefore means that we should reserve cracking of meanings to reading but when it gets to the spoken word keep it simple and easily understood. (Project Management Insights and Exchanges, 2009) In a work environment for instance, people working in the same department can use word jargons as well as acronyms simple words and be able to understand each other well. This is because they belong to the same level of knowledge and their use of specialized acronyms creates a special bond among the workmates since they understand the jargons. Learning the art of listening Interpersonal communication process requires one to learn the art of listening. Listening in this context is referred to as an “art” since not everybody can do it. Under normal circumstances or even taking for example either formal or informal communication settings, people happen to try getting their opinions across before they listen to the other person’s point of view. There are a few things one needs to do in order to master the art of listening these being: a. Listening attentively- it is important to bear in mind that listening to what the other person has to say does not mean hearing this is because listening is not the same as hearing. When we want to hear and understand then we have to listen, and by asking questions as a speaker you are able to know if the person you are speaking to is listening. The process of interpersonal communication is a success when the speaker learns that his audience has clearly understood the message conveyed. (Pearson, 1987) b. Listening proactively – listening is a two way communication and not a one way as it is often perceived. Interpersonal communication between two persons takes place when there is the use of question asking. This in most situations brings about a richer and interesting conversation. Research has shown that asking questions keeps a conversation in the right direction. (Pearson, 1987) Keeping composure while communicating While discussing the barriers of communication, there was the mention that emotions are better avoided in order to have an effective interpersonal communication process. Be it in negotiations or talking, one is better placed when they keep their composure irrespective of who they are talking or negotiating with. They will be able to keep themselves on track and be able to achieve their goal. However, there are times when showing emotions would be of help like in building rapport mostly in a casual conversation. When shown to the other person, emotions let the other person know that you have compassion and sympathy towards them and they end up showing genuine interests sign. (Project Management Insights and Exchanges, 2009) Constructive criticism This is perhaps an important feedback and the best sign that you are communicating and on a more personal level with other people. This feedback may be used by both the sender and the receiver of this communication for effective interpersonal communication. In the occasion where the sender uses the feedback, this will mostly be in the question form e.g. did you people understand me? While if used by the receiver it takes the form of a remark such us “that was a wonderful speech”. It is advisable that when you are making the constructive criticism, it should be to the earshot of your subject to avoid it being misconstrued as a feedback that is negative. (Project Management Insights and Exchanges, 2009) Conclusion The main goal of communication when it takes place is to convey a message or information and understanding from a person to the other. This is why the communication process is divided into three basic components, the sender, channel and the receiver. It is important to know that without communication life will appear to be at standstill but when communication is thorough, timely and accurate things with a given group look effective and vibrant. It is therefore paramount that we hone our skills in the way we provide constructive criticism to be able to excel in the interpersonal communication process. References Adler, R. a. (1978). Interpersonal Communication. In R. a. Holt, Looking Out, Looking In (2nd Edition ed., pp. 103-43). New York: New York. Extension Family Life Specialists. (2007). Barriers to interpersonal communication. Retrieved March 25, 2011, from Extension Family Life Specialists: http://repository.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/87448/pdf_239.pdf?sequence=1 Mehrabian, A. a. (1967). Decoding of inconsistent communications. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 6, 109-114. Pearson, J. C. (1987). Interpersonal Communication. Illinois: Scott, Foreman and Company. Project Management Insights and Exchanges. (2009). The Process of Interpersonal Communication: Ways of Overcoming Barriers of Interpersonal Communication. Retrieved March 20, 2011, from Project Management Insights and Exchanges: http://pmcrunch.com/soft_skills/the-process-of-interpersonal-communication-4-ways-to-overcome-interpersonal-communication-barriers/ Read More

In interpersonal communication, the technical problems referred to as barriers are of human origin and development. (Adler, 1978)Discussed below are some of the hindrances of clear and constructive communication with other people: Background and Experience Considering that each and every person is different and they have had different experiences, we therefore have a unique way of looking at things around us. We all learn, feel, understand, and speak in accordance to the background of experience that we are from.

This brings about a barrier for people have difficulty communicating due to experience, age, and background differences. As a way of eliminating this barrier, it is important to learn that there is a valuable lesson from the people who posses different experience than that of our own. (Extension Family Life Specialists, 2007) Health and Physical conditions A person’s individual health stand to being a barrier since it may prevent them from thinking straight or clearly, speaking well, and also from listening carefully.

This may be as a result of them being in pain, nervousness, fatigue, or even general body weakness which is one of the obvious barriers to the interpersonal communication. To be able to have a complete interpersonal communication process, there will be the need to give extra consideration to the person who is in a poor health and physical condition from others. (Extension Family Life Specialists, 2007) Feelings and Emotions The emotions we find ourselves in as well as the feelings are some powerful forces that can actually affect the way we express ourselves.

Take for instance when we are feeling cool, affectionate, and calm, we act, think and even speak with a difference than when we are filled with anger, excitement or fear. It is therefore of importance to not let our emotions get in our way of effective communication. (Pearson, 1987)And as a way of avoiding this, one should wait until the strong emotions have gone down so as to speak or listen. This will be the best way of eliminating this barrier to an effective interpersonal communication. Word Choice Considering that words often have more than one meaning or say words are of multiple meaning, people have a tendency of choosing the wrong words in conveying a given message.

By so doing, they end up not communicating at all or misleading the receiver. In an occasion where you find yourself speaking and the other person seem no to understand, it is always important that you clarify the words that you use. The only way to communicating in such a situation is asking the person to explain what they intend to mean in other words or in a different way. (Extension Family Life Specialists, 2007) Listening to words only The way of listening to many people sometimes results to a communication barrier.

People sometimes tend to listen too much to the words therefore missing the feelings that are behind those words. For instance, when one says “I do not care” this may mean unhappiness, that they are bored, or that they have been hurt. If well listened to, people should be able to get the message from the way words are said but not just from the words. This means that we should be sensitive when it comes to nonverbal communication. (Extension Family Life Specialists, 2007) Indiscrimination This is a term that is used to refer to denial of a person’s uniqueness considering that every person is unique in his/her own way.

This factor becomes a communication barrier when we tend to classify individuals according to the social status failing to see them as different and unique who need to be looked at in an individual perspective. On the other hand, this barrier brings with it another barrier in Allness. This is the apocryphal assumption to being a know it all. An established fact about this issue is that no one knows everything, but on the same note everyone has something that they know. This could prove to be destructive to anyone who thinks about it as well as others who they may interact with.

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