Communication Paper

Communication Paper

Jen Rezac

SOC/110

February 2, 2014

Robert Holland

Communication Paper

Communication may seem like it is pretty simple, but we constantly get misunderstood and this can cause frustration and conflict in both personal and professional relationships.  Effective communication gives us a better understanding of people and situations that helps us to resolve issues and builds trust and respect, helps with problem solving and we can increase affection and caring (Robinson, Segal,  & Segal, 2014).  

We communicate by using verbal and non-verbal communication styles.  On a daily basis, we use the phone, e-mails, texts, networking sites such as Facebook, and Twitter, meetings at work or elsewhere.  All of the above listed are forms of verbal communication.  Non-verbal is just that, no talking but more body language.  Examples of non-verbal communication would be arms uncrossed, standing in open stance or sitting on edge of your seat, and maintaining eye contact (Robinson, Segal,  & Segal, 2014).

The biggest way to improve our non-verbal skills is to practice observing people in different places, such as public places, work, and bus.  Really good way would be turn the television on mute and try figuring out what they are talking about and how each is feeling about the other person involved.  Another way to improve these skills is being aware of different cultures as many cultures have different gestures (Robinson, Segal,  & Segal, 2014).  Take for example, I believe it was George W. Bush, who gave the peace sign in a foreign country and to them it meant the “f” word.  If he had known that non-verbal gesture ahead of time, it wouldn’t have been as embarrassing.  

As for the listening inventory, I do a few things well.  I am a very comfortable asking question when I do not understand what is being said, I establish eye contact and stop doing other unrelated tasks when others are speaking to me, and when others are speaking, I look at the speaker, maintain eye contact and focus on what is being said.  The things I can really work on are jotting down words I do not know or understand and look them up later so I can fully understand what was being said, and when listening to others from a different culture, factor in what I know about that culture to help interpret the meaning being vocalized.