Communication is multifaceted and communication skills are the key to success in today’s world. Developing a greater understanding of interpersonal communication skills will provide me the opportunity to communicate more effectively with different types of people under various circumstances. Utilizing a combination of ethos, pathos, and logos to establish personal character and rapport with others, learning to share a compelling message that captures the attention of an audience, and presenting information in a clear, organized manner that others can easily follow are characteristics that describe an effective communicator. Although an effective communicator may not have to use all of these skills, a combination of them will likely capture the attention of any audience and establish instant credibility as well as an opportunity to persuade others, both professionally and personally.
My Personal Perspective
My theory on communication depends on the situation, but lies somewhere between the psychological perspective and the social constructionist perspective. For example, when talking with someone who I believe may have different values or beliefs than my own, I may change the type of communication in such a way that I believe they will be better able to understand me. It is extremely important to me that the person to whom I am speaking understands the point that I am trying to make. Only then do I feel the communication has been successful. On the other hand, there are many situations that require a different type of communication, described by Trenholm (2011) as the social constructionist perspective theory. In this perspective, our world is defined by our beliefs, values, language, culture and social experiences. This is an area where I feel I have the greatest opportunity for improvement. As we build our world through our own culture and social experiences, we may unfairly judge others who come from a different background. It is difficult to understand things that we have not experienced, but developing more effective communication skills can provide the ability to seek a better understanding of others by seeing things from their viewpoint.
Use of Language
Language provides the ability to persuade others by influencing their thoughts and behavior. I typically have a positive outlook and attempt to use positive words to influence the attitude and actions of others. I assess characteristics about people based on their interaction with others, and my assessments are honest, fair, and realistic. My personal constructs remain fair and stereotypes such as race, gender and social status are not included in my judgment of others. My assessment of respected characteristics of others includes work ethics, personality, determination of priorities, organizational and leadership skills, while my judgment is often based on their productivity and accomplishments. Although I try to remain objective and fair, I realize that my personal constructs will alter my communication with others, revealing those characteristics that are most important to me.
As I communicate with others, it is likely that I ask questions or lead the conversation in a way that helps me to discern the personal constructs that are most important to me, but I also try to remain objective and fair. Depending on the circumstances, personal constructs may vary, and may be positive or negative. This cognitive complexity is crucial in order to develop and master good communication skills.
Dyadic Communication
Trenholm (2011) refers to three different types of dyadic communication which is very direct, personal and provides immediate feedback, which is considered interpersonal communication. Baxter and Rawlins describe three sets of interpersonal tensions: expressive-protective dialectic, autonomy-togetherness dialectic, and novelty-predictability dialectic.
My quest to pursue a Bachelors degree in Communication Studies stems from a desire to align personal strengths with a career path that allows me to do what I do best, every day. My motivation has grown from providing leadership that serves the needs of others with an emphasis on creating beneficial results for everyone. I have a passion for people and a fundamental understanding of the importance of communication, both written and verbal. Used effectively, my personality traits, coupled with a higher mastery of communication skills, will provide me the ability to influence others and make a positive difference.
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