Communication Skills
Effective Communication and Barriers to Communication
Effective Communication
General Communication
One example of general communication would be cultural differences. When talking about cultural differences, it is when you can perform gestures or say something which can be seen as being offensive or rude to a different culture. So when you are speaking with someone who may come from a different culture, remember that somethings seem appropriate to you, but could be seen as an insult. So if you were an ICT technician, just remember not to perform any actions which would be seen as being offensive.
Another example of general communication would be adaption. When talking about adaption, it means that you are able to change the way you act during a situation. So if you were an ICT technician, then you would be able to adapt to any situation. So for example, you would adapt yourself so that you can communicate with others and get them to understand you.
Interpersonal Communication
One example of interpersonal communication would be positive. Positive language is when you are speaking or performing an action which can be used to make someone else feel positive. When working, it’s better that you use positive language over negative language for any situation, even in negative situations. So for example, if you were an ICT technician it would be better to say “you can collect your laptop in a day”, than saying “the damage won’t be fixed for a day”.
Another example of general communication would be body language. When talking about body language, it is a type of non-verbal communication where people can communicate with each other through physical expressions and gestures. With the ICT technician role, it is important that you do not use any type of body language that would offend them. This would include any gestures that would be seen as being offensive or rude.
Written Communication
One example of written communication would be emails. Emails are an electronic messaging system that allows users to send multiple messages and documents to each other. Emails within a business is one of the main types of communication as it allows users to send messages to other users within the business and to other users outside the business. So as an ICT technician, you would be sending emails to colleagues regarding any technical issues they might have.
Another example of written communication would be “Smileys”. When talking about “Smileys” (also known as emoji), it is a form of communication where you are using facial expressions to represent how you are feeling. This type of communication is usually done through texting and it can be used to describe how the user is feeling about a situation. So if you were happy about a situation, then you could send a smiley face.
Barriers to Effective Communication
Barriers to General Communication
One of the barriers to general communication would be physical barriers. When talking about physical barriers, it refers to the physical issues that you may experience when you are providing general communication. An example of a physical barrier would be distractions, which can range from small distractions to large distractions. The problem with physical barriers is that it can stop you thought process, stop you from completing your work on time and can cause you to forget what you were originally thinking. So with the ICT technician, if you were faced with these physical barriers, then it would affect your work flow and make you seem as being unprofessional.
When talking about this, there are ways of overcoming or reducing that barrier. So one way of overcoming or reducing physical barriers would be to ensure that your surroundings are completely clear of any physical barriers or distractions. This means that when you are communicating with someone, nothing around you is going to stop your work flow. Another way you can reduce physical barriers is to have a calm mind set. If you get distracted by a small noise, remember to stay calm and focused on what you were originally thinking.
Barriers to Interpersonal Communication
One of the barriers to interpersonal communication would be language barriers. When talking about language barriers, it can range from a number of different language issues. Some examples of language barriers would range from speech impediments to a different language to a different accent. Having a speech impediment means that when you are talking, you perform actions which can affect your speech. So this would involve you stuttering or using phrases such as “ums” and “ers”. With having a different accent, you may find that your voice stands out more others and you may find that others may not understand you.
One of the ways that you can overcome or reduce language barriers is to memories you work or speak slowly and clearly. If you talk too fast when explaining a subject, you may find that you can get confused and start to stutter. So if you speak slowly and clearly, then there would be a less chance of you making any mistakes. And if you have a different accent, a way of reducing this barrier is to speak clearly when you are talking. This means that others who were unable to understand you, will be able to understand you.
Barriers to Written Communication
One of the barriers to written communication would be poor grammar and spelling. When talking about poor grammar and spelling, it is when you are unable to write documents or letters without making any mistakes or errors. Having poor grammar and spelling means that your work would look unprofessional by your employer and by your colleagues. Sometimes when you are writing a document, you may be working and not notice that you have made a spelling error or grammar mistake. So it would mean that you would be sending work to others, without the realisation that you have made some mistakes on the document.
One way of overcoming or reducing is too spell check and proofread your work as you are writing it. If you are writing a document on a computer, some programs (e.g. Word and Publisher) have an option for you to quickly search for any mistakes on your document. However, it is always important to proofread your work as well because sometimes the spell check option may miss a mistake that you have made. Also, you can get others around you too proofread you work as you may have also missed some mistakes that others can identify.