What Makes for Effective Communication

What makes for effective communication

Effective communication, especially in a business setting, is much more than just exchanging information. I think communication is effective when it helps people achieve their overarching goals.

For example, when you first arrive at a new job, the goal behind your communications with new colleagues is likely to be the establishment of trustful and harmonious relationships. Your communications are likely to reflect your modesty and friendliness. Whereas when the president of the United States delivers his inauguration speech, he is more likely to express assertiveness, confidence and leadership between his words, because his goal is to induce public trust into his capabilities as the new president and to have people follow his ideas.

There are many factors that influence the effectiveness of communication.  Awareness and understanding of the audience makes a huge difference. Also, non-verbal components of communication such as speaking tone, financial expressions, body gestures are things that people often fail to pay attention to. In addition, understanding of the local cultural norms play an significant role in cross-cultural settings. The list goes on and on.

My personal communication style and key barriers

Having lived in the U.S. in the past 10 years, I would say that my personal communication style is relatively more direct than the local Chinese and it’s typically very goal-oriented. I am direct at expressing my opinions and expect the same treatment from others.

For example, in group discussions, if I disagree with someone else’s opinion, I would point out my different point of view. After an interview, I would rather receive an email directly stating the unfavorable result than wait in long silence. At work, I welcome suggestions from other people such as the ways I could improve my work. I dislike playing the guessing game where nobody says anything but people somehow are expected to know what’s really going on.

I am aware of the barriers my communication style has created. For example, some people might consider me disrespectful when I speak with them in a strict business manner to only focus on the business at hand. Perhaps they somehow expect a little more relationship building or payment of patronage. It can be difficult for other people to consider me an approachable person. Or some people do not like me because I did not acknowledge their merits before stating my disagreements. These are some of the issues I would love to learn more about in class.