Introduction
Excellent communication is an essential skill needed to develop and support robust relationships in various milieus, such as family, workplace, and the circle of acquaintances. It allows individuals to convey clear messages to addressees, avoid and settle many conflicts and misunderstandings, make promising partnerships or friendships, and gain diverse bonuses at work. On the contrary, poor communication can create confusing and unexpected situations, fuel quarrels, and complicate a personal life. This paper aims at explaining the significance of communication in the workplace and personal relationships and specifying the main distinctions and similarities between communicative skills necessary in different environments.
Communication at Work
The workplace is an intensely social environment requiring managers and employees to possess a vast kit of communicative skills, especially in the digital age. Effective communication is critical while interacting with supervisors, colleagues, and clients both during face-to-face meetings and via phone, email, or social platforms. In particular, it aids executives and administrators in the planning process, organizing various tasks and events, performing responsibilities, and conveying vision and targets to workers. Ragan’s research findings indicate that leadership communication belongs to the primary three factors favorably influencing employee engagement.
Furthermore, Yue et al. (2019) emphasize the vital role of communication in transformational leadership, employees’ trust in their organizations, and welcoming attitudes towards assumed changes. Besides, transparent and understandable communication favors workers’ motivation in accomplishing the set tasks.
It is worth noting that communication is needed for internal and interdepartmental cooperation. Hee et al. (2019) reveal that proper communication can increase employee performance, highlighting the importance of training and interdepartmental meetings for quality bonds among superiors and subordinates. This also favorably reflects on employee turnover since continuous support and interest in workers leads to their higher commitment to companies.
In addition, effective communication between employees facilitates knowledge sharing and promotes creativity and job satisfaction. Finally, appropriate communication is necessary not only in the business realm but also in other spheres, primarily healthcare and education. Polite, patient, and attentive communication with patients is a determinant of their rapid and eventual recovery or enduring various illnesses. On the other hand, clear communication between teachers and students significantly contributes to comprehending the material and learning performance.
Communication in Personal Relationships
Communication plays a key role in both initiating and maintaining healthy and relations with family members, friends, and new people. Moreover, it acquires the primary significance for developing intimate relationships and making them fruitful, exciting, and captivating.
Proper communication helps resolve and prevent various conflicts in a calm manner, encourages interlocutors to specific actions, clarifies particular issues, and strengthens family ties. Nevertheless, to communicate effectively, persons should overcome various obstacles, including poor listening or emotional, environmental, and perceptual barriers (“Communication skills,” 2011). For instance, people with inadequate listening skills prefer speaking over listening, which thwarts establishing rapport with others. Emotional barriers are associated with conflicting and negative emotions, such as anger or contempt, which distort receivers’ understanding of the message.
To reduce or transcend communication barriers, companions should make determined and intentional efforts. For example, they should seek more opportunities for warm face-to-face intercourse, resolve tough concerns at the early stage, respect interlocutors, and be open and honest (“Communication skills,” 2011). Openness usually suggests sharing ideas, thoughts, and feelings with a fellow, second half, or familial member. It is also critical to listen to others carefully and express personal appreciation for them. Prolonged disregard of interlocutors’ worries, feelings, and problems can put an end to the friendship.
Communication in Different Environments
Environments stipulate the type of communication and a set of skills needed to be understandable. Business, healthcare, education, or other milieus require forming the message respectively and appropriately to achieve desired objectives. For example, the business environment demands more affirmative communication, especially from managers and executives. This implies demonstrating confidence, a firm, clear, and audible voice, developed verbal and nonverbal language, and even rich vocabulary. The healthcare medium requires much more patient and sensitive communication since the central targets are patients with different diseases and concerns. In education, competent teachers should have comprehensible and clear language, employ vast erudition, and show assurance in their subject.
However, it is worth admitting that respect, clarity of speech, and attentive listening are the shared foundation for successful communication, irrespective of occupation, activity, or relationship. These qualities are necessary while conversing with an intimate partner, child, or friend, consulting consumers, delegating tasks, or cooperating with colleagues. Furthermore, these skills are essential for speaking before an audience. Additionally, depending on situations and purposes, teachers, parents, or those responsible for a group of people also can apply affirmative communication to stimulate interlocutors to beneficial actions or prevent them from problems.
Conclusion
In summary, the paper has considered the role of communication at work and interpersonal relationships and determined the differences and similarities between communicative skills necessary in different environments. Proper communication within that workplace is vital for building and maintaining fruitful relationships among managers, employees, and customers. Regarding personal relationships, it is needed in developing ties with friends, relatives, intimates, and acquaintances. Overall, communication is a powerful tool that helps avert numerous undesirable situations and make personal life more prosperous.
References
Communication skills for healthy relationships. (2011). LifeCare. Web.
Hee, O. C., Qin, D. A. H., Kowang, T. O., Husin, M. M., & Ping, L. L. (2019). Exploring the impact of communication on employee performance. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering, 8(3), 654-658. Web.
Morgan, M. (2017). The top 3 factors that influence employee engagement. Lawrence Ragan Communications. Web.
Yue, C. A., Men, L. R., & Ferguson, M. A. (2019). Bridging transformational leadership, transparent communication, and employee openness to change: The mediating role of trust. Public Relations Review, 45(3), 101779. Web.