An Example of a News Release (English)

Contact:
Olga Nellis, Pink Rose Co., Inc
2001 Dream Road, Suite 221
Dreamville, TX 10001

Tel: (999)999-9999
Fax: (888)888-8888
E-mail: pinkrose@skincarebiz.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PINK ROSE INTRODUCES NEW FACE CREAM PROVEN TO KEEP FACE SKIN FROM AGING

Dreamville, TX: August 1, 2012 -For many years women have desired to keep the appearance of their skin young and healthy looking without buying expensive and often ineffective face care products. Now, Pink Rose skincare created a cream that not only provides daily essential nutrients and moisture, but also prevents facial skin from early aging, and is affordable.

The cream was developed based on a 100-year old Siberian skin care traditional recipe. The vegetable proteins, that are included in the cream, are collected from 15 different plants found only in Siberia have been used for over a century in various skin care potions that were proven to be effective in providing protection against signs of aging and in relaxing facial muscles  (which prevents early wrinkles), in enhancing cell metabolism, strengthening the collagen fibers, and increasing skin elasticity.

Pink Rose face care cream created with high quality ingredients gives skin a youthful and healthy appearance, fights the signs of aging, and improves the color and texture of skin while also protecting it from the sun’s harmful UVB rays that are considered the primary reason for skin aging. “The secret to a younger looking skin lies in the high quality skin care,” says Lynette Todd, the marketing director for Pink Rose Co., Inc.

This skin care product was especially formulated for women ages between 29-35 who have begun to spot the first signs of facial skin aging. The face cream is effective not only in reversing the signs of aging and smoothing the first wrinkles, but also in creating and maintaining the healthy look of the skin. The study results have shown that 98% of 30 women who tried this product experienced a decrease in the signs of aging, a more even skin tone and an improved skin texture after using this product for two weeks.

Pink Rose face cream is packaged in a 50 ml. plastic container. Suggested retail price is $8.99 per container. The product is going to be sold at the national pharmacy stores and at mass retailers throughout the country.

Pink Rose Co., Inc. is based in Dreamville Texas and specialized in production and distribution of skin care products that are sold in the United States, South America, and Europe. Pink Rose Co., Inc. is the only skin care product company that uses only natural ingredients grown both domestically and abroad, in combination with modern technologies to provide affordable quality skin care products to its customers. Pink Rose Co., Inc. is a multinational company with subsidiaries in Mexico, Germany and Russia.

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-Pink Rose Skin Care Co., Inc.  –Dream Rd, ste 221, Dreamville TX 10001-

Example of a News Release/ Пример Пресс-Релиза (Russian/Русский)

Контактное лицо:
Ольга Неллис, Пинк Роуз Co., Inc
2001 Dream Road, Suite 221
Dreamville, TX 10001

Тел: (999)999-9999
Факс: (888)888-8888
Эл. Почта: pinkrose@skincarebiz.com



ДЛЯ НЕМЕДЛЕННОГО ВЫПУСКА

ПИНК РОУЗ  ПРЕДСТАВЛЯЕТ НОВЫЙ КРЕМ ПО УХОДУ ЗА КОЖЕЙ ЛИЦА, ПРЕДОТВРАЩАЮЩИЙ СТАРЕНИЕ КОЖИ

Дреамвиль, Техас: 1го Августа, 2012

На протяжении многих лет женщины желали выглядеть молодыми и здоровыми, не тратя при этом деньги на дорогие и часто неэффективные средства по уходу за кожей. Теперь компания Пинк Роуз разработала крем для лица, который не только дает коже необходимые элементы питания и увлажнения, но и предотвращает преждевременное старение кожи лица. Цена этого продукта приемлима.

Крем был разработан на основе столетнего Сибирского традиционного рецепта по уходу за кожей лица. Растительные белки, входящие в состав крема, экстрагируют из 15ти разных растений, которые растут в Сибири. Эти белки, которые более века использовались в разных лекарственных составах по уходу за кожей, подтвердили свою эффективность в защите кожи против признаков старения, расслаблении мышц кожи (действие, которое предотвращает появление морщин), улучшении метаболизма клеток, укреплении коллагеновых волокон и в увеличении упругости кожи.

Собраный с самыми высококачественными компонентами, крем для лица компании Пинк Роуз придаёт коже лица молодость и здоровье. Крем борется с признаками старения кожи, улучшает её цвет и структуру, а также защищает кожу от вредного воздействия ультрофиолетовых лучей, которые являются первопричиной старения кожи. «Секрет молодости заключается в высококачественном уходе за кожей,» говорит Линетт Тодд, директор по маркетингу компании Пинк Роуз.

Крем был специально разработан для женщин от 29 до 35 лет, которые начали замечать первые признаки старения кожи. Крем не только эффективно устраняет признаки старения и разглаживает первые морщинки, но также придаёт и сохраняет здоровый цвет лица. Результаты исследования показали, что после двух недель применения продукта, 98% из 30 женщин наблюдали исчезновение признаков старения, появление равномерного тона и улучшение фактуры кожи лица.

Пинк Роуз крем выпускается в пластмассовой упаковке в объёме 50 мл.  Предложенная розничная цена продукта - $8.99 за упаковку. Крем будет продаваться в аптеках и магазинах по всей стране.

Компания Пинк Роуз основана в городе Дреамвиль, штате Техас, и специализируется в производстве и распродаже средств по ухода за кожей. Продуты компании можно купить в Соединённых Штатах Америки, в странах Южной Америки и в Европе. Пинк Роуз – единственная копмания, которая использует ислючительно натуральные растения, которые произрастают в США и за пределами страны, и использует современные технологии в производстве своей продукции, чтобы доставлять своим потребителям высококачественные продукты по приемлимым ценам. Пинк Роуз Co., Inc. является мультинациональной компанией, филиалы которой находятся в Мексике, Германии и России.

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-Pink Rose Skin Care Co., Inc.  –Dream Rd, ste 221, Dreamville TX 10001-

Humor in Persuasion

(Source:business.time.com)

Advertisers, politicians, religious leaders, and public speakers use humor as an effective persuasion tool. Humor successfully works in advertisements because funny and entertaining advertisements are more memorable than the humorless ones. People are more likely to remember hilarious television commercials and share them with their friends and relatives.

Humor produces a positive affect on the viewer’s mood by influencing the individual’s pathos, or emotions. Laughter, for example, reduces stress while uplifting the viewer’s mood. Good mood, in its turn, can have a positive effect on persuasion. According to a study (cited in Lyttle, 2001), “people who are in a good mood are less likely to disagree with a persuasive message” (para. 6). This might happen because the receiver can relate to the comical situation or because he or she appreciates the type of humor that the persuader is using. Relating to the situation and/or liking the type of humor may also increase the feeling of liking and connection with the source of humor in the viewer.

Appreciation of the type of humor the persuader is using can lead to developing a personal liking and connection in the viewer. According to Meyer (cited in Lyttle, 2001), “the choice of humor [the persuader employs] might illustrate a shared sense of humor that hints at a similar set of values” (para. 7). The closer the values depicted in the humorous situation resemble the viewer’s values, the closer the connection the viewer feels toward the persuader, and the more “likable” the persuader becomes to the viewer. Thus, persuasion can occur because the viewer is inclined to trust the person whose certain values resemble his or her own.

Humor and Persuasion Theories: Elaboration Likelihood Model and Heuristic Systematic Model

Persuasion theories, such as the Elaboration Likelihood Model and the Heuristic Systematic Model explain the effects of humor on persuasion. Both the Elaboration Likelihood Model and the Heuristic Systematic model, according to Siter and Gass (2004), maintain that depending on the individual’s motivation and ability to process information, the individual may employ either central (systematic) route, or peripheral (heuristic) route to process information (p. 57). When the viewer is motivated to process the message, he or she will be using the central, or systematic information processing route. When, on the other hand, the viewer’s motivation to process information is low he or she is more likely to rely on the peripheral or heuristic route, which provides shortcuts to the processing to information. In this case, the viewer may rely more on the source credibility and/or likability of the source, rather than on the quality of information. Humor, according to a study (cited in Lyttle, 2001), is effective in persuasion because the persuader may use it to “block systematic/central processing by distracting receivers from constructing counterarguments” (para. 8). When the systematic processing route becomes disengaged, the viewer is more likely to resort to using the peripheral processing route, which might facilitate successful persuasion.

Effects of the Types of Humor Used in Persuasion

The type of humor that advertisers use affect persuasion in the way that some types of humor may be more persuasive than others. For example, the results of one study conducted by Lyttle (2001) have shown that “ironic humor may be more effective than cartoon drawings and that self-effacing humor may be the most effective of all” (Discussion, para. 10). The reason why irony can be more effective in persuasion than a drawing is because it takes the viewer more time to process ironic humor than a drawing. Therefore, irony may have a longer impact on the viewer. The reason why self-effacing humor may be the most persuasive is that when the speaker points out his or her weaknesses or previous mistakes, the audience can relate to the speaker, which may increase the speakers likability and credibility.

Risks of Using Humor in Persuasion

The use of humor, in some instances, may involve risks. The potential drawbacks of using humor in persuasion include a) creating a distraction inhibiting the processing of information, and b) inducing insensitivity to the audience. One study (cited in Cline and Kellaris, 1999) suggests that a “humorous ad may increase attention while at the same time disrupt [information] processing” (Background and Hypotheses, para. 4). For example, when the persuader interrupts the message with an unrelated joke, the receiver pays more attention to the joke itself than to the contents of the message. Thus, the persuasiveness of the message’s arguments may be lost.

The advertisers have to be sensitive to their audience when advertising their product or service. For example, advertisers of life insurance companies and funeral home services should employ humor with care and sensitivity. When humor is used insensibly, chances are that the audience will not be persuaded, but rather offended. In such instances, strong arguments without humor might be a better option for advertisers. Cline and Kellaris (1999) write that, “strong, persuasive ad claims may not need humor to help sell a product” (Discussion, para. 4). The use of humor, thus, should depend on the specific product or service being advertised.



References:
Cline , T.W., & Kellaris, J.J. (1999). The joint impact of humor and argument strength in a print advertising context: A case for weaker arguments. Psychology and Marketing, 16(1), 69. Retrieved December 11, 2011, from ProQuest student database. (Document ID: 37875581).
Lyttle, J. (2001, April). The effectiveness of humor in persuasion: The case of business ethics training. The Journal of General Psychology, 128(2), p. 206. Retrieved December 11, 2011, from ProQuest student database. (Document ID: 77223102).
Seiter, J.E., & Gass, R.H. (2004). Perspectives on persuasion, social influence, and compliance gaining. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Persuasion, Manipulation and Seduction

(Source: Google Images)

Communication is an essential aspect of the modern society. People use verbal communication for a number of purposes, for example, to inform, to entertain, and to persuade others. In fact, our attitudes and behaviors are shaped by communication. It is important, however, to discern between the communication purposes. While some persuasive communication might be used ethically, other types of persuasive communicating are designed to either  manipulate or to deceive a somewhat naive person. Although persuasion, manipulation, and seduction might seem like synonyms, these terms are different in their strategies and techniques, as well as in their purposes for influencing people. 

Persuasion

Persuasion is a form of communication that is purposefully aimed to cause mind changes and behaviors in people who are being persuaded. Aurel Codoban, PhD, defines persuasion as “the modification of convictions and attitudes through communication, with the purpose of influencing decisions, actions and behaviors corresponding to the intentions or interest of the persuading speaker – but only with the participation of consciousness, that is by assuming freely and consciously the responsibility” (2006, p. 152). When persuasion occurs, the person who is being persuaded has to be aware of the persuasion in order to be able to process the information and to make the right decision. When the person is being aware of persuasion, he or she can ask questions and receive all the necessary information to make a well-informed and responsible decision.

Persuasion, unlike other persuasive communication, requires presenting substantive arguments and evidence to support a certain position. Aristotle (cited in Rorty, 2011) once said that “The skilled Persuader must . . . be able to construct both the valid and the contextually effective arguments for his case, that is, both the argument that constitutes its logically sound proof and the argument that – considering the beliefs of his audience – successfully persuades them” (para. 8). For example, if a person goes to a car dealership to buy a car, he or she wants to know the reasons why a certain car is worth consideration. The potential reasons may be that the car gets a good mileage, has a newly engineered engine, and no down payment is required. A sales person, as the persuader, has a goal to successfully persuade the customer to buy a car.

Persuasion affects audiences of all demographics and cultures. Television advertising, the largest source of persuasion, targets both children and adults both here in the United States and abroad. For example, just like many people in the United States, people in Japan and Russia make their purchasing decisions based on the televised commercials. With the target audience being so large both domestically and internationally, it is hard to tell which population demographic is more affected by persuasive advertisement. Probably, all audiences are equally affected, because the advertisers target all the demographics in order to sell the product. A commercial with a specific product, thus, targets a specific audience. For example, a commercial with a new video game would probably appeal to teenagers, while an advertisement featuring a wheel chair would most likely appeal to seniors, yet a construction play set commercial would target both toddlers and their parents. Persuasion, thus, affects all generations, people from different cultures and ethnic groups.

Manipulation

(Source: Google Images)

Manipulation is a form of communication that differs from persuasion in the way that the person who is being manipulated is unaware that manipulation occurs. According to Robert B. Cialdini (cited in Codoban, 2006), manipulation is “the ability to produce a distinct kind of automatic, mindless compliance from people, that is, a willingness to say yes without thinking” (p. 154). Manipulators, thus, unlike persuaders, employ communication tactics in order to gain something from the receiver of manipulation. Codoban (2006) in his article describes the tactics or strategies that manipulators might use to influence their potential “victims”. These strategies include “the free sample” strategy, “the door-in-the face” strategy, “foot-in-the-door” strategy, and “the principle of social proof” strategy (p. 153-154). All these strategies are used to manipulate people in order for the manipulator to get what he or she desires.

The “free sample” strategy, as Codoban (2006) pointed out, is widely used in the supermarkets to influence the buyer to purchase the product based on receiving a small free sample of the product (p. 153). People are more likely to buy the product after trying a free sample to reciprocate the sales person for his or her kindness of offering the free sample. 

The “door-in-the-face” strategy, according to Codoban (2006) provides the manipulator with the opportunity to get what he or she desires by asking for something of significant value first. For example, if my neighbor asks me to loan her a $1,000, I might politely decline. Next, when she asks me to loan her $250 I might comply. Thus, I would be left without the money. 

The “foot-in-the-door” is another manipulative technique that is used to influence the target person to give something to the manipulator. One day, I have almost become a victim of this strategy. A young woman approached me in the gym parking lot where she asked me for directions how to get to the library. After having explained the directions to her, she asked me for money she claimed she needed to get there. I understood that I was being manipulated and told her I did not have cash, which was true. This strategy suggests that after asking for one request, the manipulator will ask for another, yet a more significant request.

The strategy of the “principle of social proof” is another subtle manipulative technique a person might use for his or her own gain. This technique is more likely to be employed in a social setting, where everyone is expected to follow certain social norms. For example, before going to a wedding, the guests usually discuss what gifts they will give to the bride and groom. They do this to compare the price-range of the gifts that other people are going to buy. Codoban (2006) in his article suggests that the “principle of social proof” works because “one important means people use for deciding what to believe or how to act is to look at what the others believe or do” (p. 154). To avoid being manipulated by others, a person should make her or his own decision, and disregard other people’s comments. In the above -mentioned example, thus, it would be a wise decision for a wedding guest not to discuss the wedding gift with others. 

The more people know about different manipulation strategies, the less likely they will become a victim of manipulation. The people who are the most likely to become manipulated, thus, are the people who are unaware of different manipulative techniques. The teenagers are more likely to be manipulated, because they are less familiar with the manipulation techniques.

The most important thing about manipulation is that people manipulate others for selfish reasons. In fact, as Codoban (2006), pointed out, one difference between manipulation and other persuasive communication, is that during manipulation, “the relationship between two subjects [turns into] a subject-object relationship” (p. 154). In order to reach his or her goal, the manipulator is willing to treat the receiver of the manipulation as an object. Because the manipulator treats the receiver as an object and the manipulation itself occurs on the subconscious level, manipulation is considered immoral. Sarah Buss (2005) writes: “it is morally wrong for us to . . . manipulate a competent adult human being because it is morally wrong for someone to “try to determine which levers to pull to get the desired results” from someone else” (The Effects of Manipulated and Deceived upon the Autonomy of the Manipulated and Deceived, para. 3). Since the manipulator intentionally desires to influence another person without the person’s knowledge, it is both unethical and immoral. 

Another important difference between manipulation and other persuasive communication, as Codoban (2006) points out, is that manipulation cannot be admitted to the receiver (p. 154). Should such a disclosure occur, according to Codoban (2006), the unconscious processing of manipulative information would turn into conscious awareness of manipulation (p. 154). The receiver, thus, becomes aware that he or she is being manipulated.

Seduction

(Source: Google Images)

Seduction is another persuasive communication that we encounter on a daily basis. Seduction differs from persuasion in the way that seduction happens without the person’s awareness. Paul Hamilton (2011), in his article Beyond the Traditional – Persuasion vs. Seduction, writes the following: “if you are conscious that someone is asking you for something, or trying to influence you to do something, you are being persuaded. If you do not know what is going on until later, then you are being seduced” (para. 7). Thus, in this regard seduction is similar to manipulation. Seduction resembles persuasion in the way that it, according to Codoban (2006), “focuses on the subject even if seducer becomes an object” (p. 155). For example, just like the persuader focuses to persuade a person by mentioning all the benefits the person will get if he or she buys a certain product, seducers also focus on the customer’s benefits by promising them the wonders a certain product will bring them.

Seduction has a widespread use in the advertisement industry. Television commercials use seduction to influence the potential customers to buy their products. Why people are so susceptible to seductive advertising? Because people are inclined to believe in any advertised product, that claims to make them look younger, healthier and more beautiful, or bring them more happiness. According to Codoban (2006), “Seduction is based on the promise of happiness or pleasure” (p. 155). Seduction works because everyone wants to be happier, healthier, or more loved. In my opinion, women are more susceptible to seduction than men are. The reason women are more likely to be seduced by advertising is because women care more about their appearance than men do. For example, women are more likely to buy weight loss products, or wrinkle treatments that promise almost instant results. However, after using these products that often do not work, consumers realize that they have been seduced. Such customers are more likely to learn from the seductive advertisements and will watch advertisements with more criticism in the future.

Persuasion, manipulation, and seduction although seem to be semantically close, are different. These three communication strategies employ different techniques in order to influence the receiver of the message. While persuasion can be considered the most ethical of the three strategies, manipulation and seduction use somewhat inappropriate, or even deceitful methods to influence others. The best way to avoid being manipulated or seduced is to be educated about the methods used to manipulate or seduce people. The more knowledge a person has about manipulation and seduction, the less likely he or she will become a victim of one of their strategies.

 References:

Buss, S. (2005, January). Valuing autonomy and respecting persons: Manipulation,

     seduction, and the basis of moral constraints. Ethics, vol. 115(2), pp. 195-235. Retrieved

     November 29, 2011, from JStor student database. (Document ID: 10.1086/426304).

Codoban, A. (2006). From persuasion to manipulation and seduction. (A very short history of

     global communication). SCIRI Conference. JSRI No.14, pp. 151-157. Retrieved

     November 23, 2011, from http://vizedhomlcontent.next.ecollege.com/pub/content/7303136c-1384-

     4799-959b55428afb6176/Aurel_Codoban_Article_Week_2.pdf?

     eclg_res=1356403&eclg_resver=2640695

Hamilton, P. (2011). Beyond the traditional – persuasion vs. seduction. Haystackonline.com.

     Retrieved November 28, 2011, from    
     http://www.haystackonline.com/page/49900/agencies/addicion-london/beyond-the-traditional-

     persuasion-vs-seduction

 Rorty, A. (2011). Aristotle on the virtues of rhetoric. The Review of Metaphysics, 64(4), 715-   

     733. Retrieved November 29, 2011, from ProQuest student database. (Document ID:

     2397691351).

Ethics and Persuasion

(Source: Google Images)

People find themselves in persuasive situations almost every day. Watching television commercials, reading through a newspaper, or listening to somebody speak about a public issue are just a few examples of persuasion. Some public speakers, advertisers, and journalists sometimes avoid presenting the whole truth to the audience if they have a certain bias, or in order to protect the company’s reputation, or if they have something to gain by presenting only partial truth. Distorting the facts on purpose, or concealing important information is considered unethical because such actions are designed to misinform, or deceive the public. Additionally, distorting or misrepresenting information would be considered unethical both by Kant’s theory of ethics and by the rule utilitarian ethical theory.

Unethical Persuasion and Propaganda

Purposefully distorting the facts is considered unethical because falsifying or exaggerating information misrepresents the truth. Misrepresentation of true facts is usually used in propaganda. Messina (2006) defines propaganda as “control, deception and disregard for truth which is deployed (or not) only as a means to achieve ends. And the ends serve the propagandist’s interests” (Defining Propaganda, para. 2). When the speaker is only concerned about his or her interest in the matter, he or she will distort the information to reflect those interests.
     

Propaganda is often used in election campaigns in order to influence the voters to vote for a particular candidate. The propagandists not only use television commercials to inaccurately portray the opponent’s position, but also push polls. A push poll is a disguised propaganda. Propagandists who use push polls as their tool, refer to this tactic as a “political survey” conducted over the phone that is specifically designed, according to Lorentzen (2006) “to attack another candidate, often with information containing little or no factual base” (para. 5). These so-called “surveys” are designed to slander the opponent and to influence voters not to vote for him or her. This tactic is unethical because the opponent is not present to correct the distorted information and to defend his or her position. Another reason why this tactic is unethical is because the voters often do not realize that they are being manipulated.

Kant's Ethics and Persuasion

(Immanuel Kant. Source: Google Images)

The eighteenth century German philosopher, Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), would also condemn the practice of push polling as unethical. According to Kant’s theory of “categorical imperative,” (cited in Messina, 2007), people should “act so that [they] treat humanity . . . always as an end and never as a means only” (Defining Ethical Persuasion, para. 5). According to this theory, then, it would be morally wrong for an individual to use another person or people to reach his or her own goals. Moreover, Kant maintained, that as reasonable beings, people deserve to be correctly and adequately informed about an issue (Messina, 2007, Defining Ethical Persuasion, para.5). 

The drawback in Kant’s theory is that the moral principles, which people have to adhere to, such as “do not lie” and “do not steal,” must be absolute. For example, it would always be wrong to lie and to steal in all of the circumstances. This would not work in the real world, as people encounter situations, where telling only the truth would cost somebody’s life as in the example involving German soldiers and Jewish families during the World War II (Messina, 2007). Realizing that adhering to absolute norms is impossible, other ethical standards have to be employed to govern moral principles of what conducts can be considered either ethical or unethical in persuasive situations. Rule utilitarianism, as another theory of ethics, provides ethical standards that can be used in modern persuasion.

Rule Utilitarianism and Persuasion

     
Unlike Kant’s theory of absolute moral principles, rule utilitarianism provides practical ethical principles that can be applied to any persuasion situation. According to Messina (2007), rule utilitarianism “allows ascertainably justifiable exceptions at extremes where harm overrides strict application of the rule” (A Utilitarian Approach, para. 15). These exceptions do not mean that lying should be permitted. The exceptions refer only to those situations when lying can save somebody’s life, or produce more good than harm. According to this theory, as Messina (2007) writes, people should “Act so that [they] treat humanity always as an end and never as a means, unless justifiably outweighed by ascertainable good that would accrue or harm averted” (Respect, para. 5). According to this principle, breaking an established universal rule like lying or stealing is permitted only in extreme circumstances. For example, stealing a weapon from a person who is planning a murder would be justified, since it would save human lives.

Rule utilitarianism, although providing exceptions to absolute norms, would also agree with Kant’s theory that misrepresenting information, and treating a person as a means to reach one’s own goals is unethical. For example, people who conduct push poll propaganda tell voters what to think and what to do, without letting the voters think and make their own reasonable and autonomous judgments. Using voters as a means to win votes for their candidate, propagandists undermine certain ethical standards, such as “truthfulness,” “veracity,” “honesty,” “fairness,” and “respect” (Messina, 2007). According to Palmer (1999), rule utilitarianism “is concerned” about what makes one’s action morally “right or wrong” (p. 33). Persuaders, who purposefully misinform people and use them for their own goals, demonstrate their unethical behavior by distorting facts or by not presenting complete information. Such persuasion practice can be referred to as purposeful deception and manipulation, and is considered morally wrong. Ethical persuasion, on the other hand, is considered morally right, because persuaders use verifiable information, and take the audience’s ability to make decisions into consideration.

The Importance of Ethical Persuasion

Ethical persuasion practices increase the speaker’s credibility and respect, while demonstrating his or her high ethical standards. Cameron, Wilcox, Reber, and Shin (2008) write that, “A person’s conduct is measured not only against his or her conscience but also against some norm of acceptability that has been determined by society, professional groups, or even a person’s employer” (p. 203). Thus, the overall concept of ethics can refer to personal, social, and professional ethical standards.

If a person is willing to be ethical in his or her private life, then he or she will also adhere to ethical standards both in social and professional environments. Messina (2007) defined ethical persuasion as “An attempt through communication to influence knowledge, attitude or behavior of an audience through presentation of a view that addresses and allows the audience to make voluntary, informed, rational and reflective judgments (Defining Ethical Persuasion, para. 2). Providing adequate information and supporting evidence increases the speaker’s credibility. Thus, informing the audience, and providing people with an opportunity to make their own judgments constitutes ethical practice of persuasion.

Ethical persuasion is based on trust, adequate information, and the ability of the persuaded people to make their own autonomous judgments. Propaganda, on the other hand, is designed to misinform and manipulate others. Both Kant’s ethical theory and the rule utilitarian theory would regard the practice of propaganda as unethical, because propagandists treat the persuaded audience as tools to reach their own goals, and manipulate them to make a choices and judgments in favor of the propaganda. The theory of rule utilitarian ethics provides reasonable ethical standards for persuaders to use when making good moral and ethical decisions and judgments.
     
           

       References:

Cameron, G.T., Wilcox, D.L., Reber, B.H., & Shin, J.H. (2008). Public relations today:
     Managing competition and conflict. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Publishing.
Lorentzen, L.E. (2006, October 16). Disguised as a poll, it pushed poison; Compass: Points
     of view from the community. Anchorage Daily News, p. B4. Retrieved December 4,
     2011, from ProQuest student database. (Document ID: 1146212561).
Messina, A. (2007). Public Relations, the public interest and persuasion: An ethical
     approach. Journal of Communication Management, 11(1), 29. Retrieved December 3,
     2011, from ProQuest student database. (Document ID: 1210421519).
Palmer, D. E. (1999). On the viability of a rule utilitarianism. Journal of Value Inquiry,
     33(1), p. 31. Retrieved December 5, 2011, from ProQuest student database. (Document
     ID: 395722051).

A Proposal for a New Communication Structure

The purpose of the proposal is to enhance organizational communication by implementing an innovative communication structure that would improve organizational communication.

The Executive Summary

Due to the inefficiency of the current organizational communication structure, there is a need to extensively improve the communication structure. The main areas of improvement include interpersonal organization communication, active listening, conflict solving. Also, the project will focus on effective organizational leadership and the importance of strong organizational culture. The proposal also outlines the benefits, costs, and timeline of the project.

The Background Information

Organizational communication plays an important role in our organization. Because the organizational participants in our company come from various cultural, ethnic, religious, and educational backgrounds, communication among the organizational participants can become extremely complicated and unproductive, which usually leads to a decline in productivity, organizational conflicts, and employee dissatisfaction. Therefore, the time has come to improve organizational communication by implementing a new communication structure. Trenholm (2011) writes that, “When communication succeeds, the organization is likely to be effective and efficient and workers satisfied and committed. When it fails, both the organization and its individual members suffer” (p. 202). Although most of the employees exhibit adequate communication skills while communicating with one other and with the organization’s leaders, all organizational participants will benefit from an improved communication structure outlined in this proposal.

 The Statement of Need

The quality of organizational communication is very important in our organization. It is mainly through communication that the organizational participants accomplish organizational tasks to meet the organization’s goals. The quality of our current communication system is inadequate due to the organizational members frequent abuse of informal communication, unwillingness to provide feedback to management, and inability to manage and resolve organizational conflicts.

The organizational participants often abuse informal organizational communication by spreading rumors and gossiping about other organizational participants. Such communication is inappropriate in the workplace and is considered to be unethical. According to Kreps (2011) “unethical communication behaviors will undermine interpersonal relationships, destroy trust between relational partners, and decrease cooperation and coordination” (p. 4.4). In order for organizational participants to collaborate with one another, informal communication has to be limited only to appropriate topics and exclude spreading gossip about other members.

The organization’s performance also suffers as result of the lack of effective leadership skills among the management team members. As I have noticed in our organization, managers often compete for power, which results in giving mixed messages to the employees. This, in turn, leads to poor work performance and inability to accomplish important organizational tasks. That is why training in leadership skills will be essential to improve organizational performance and increase employee satisfaction.

After a thorough examination of the current structure of the organizational communication, I have identified the following areas of communication that will benefit from an improved communication structure:

• Organizational leaders need to encourage feedback from other employees
• Organizational participants need to focus on the active listening skills
• The leaders have to enhance their leadership skills.
• The company employees need to learn how to manage an interpersonal conflict.
• The organization’s leaders have to enhance the understanding of the organizational culture.

The Project Description

In order to enhance basic interpersonal organizational communication skills, first we need to focus on improving the formal and informal lines of communication among the members of the organization. Formal organizational communication is important because it is the main channel for the organizational members to share work-related information. The main reason to improve formal communication is to encourage employees to provide feedback to the organization’s leaders. Feedback is essential in organizational communication, because, according to Spaho (2010), it is the “lifeline of effective communication. Without [feedback], senders and receivers are far less likely to achieve mutual understanding about the message” (p. 1374). Because of the frequent misunderstandings occurring within the organization, it is essential to encourage feedback.

In order to implement feedback in organizational communication structure, the organization’s leaders have to reward the employees for providing honest and timely feedback. One way to implement this strategy is through a reward program. Employees who provide the most relevant feedback can be rewarded with a monetary bonus of $5.00.
  
Another way to promote feedback is though establishing an open communication between the leaders and the employees. For example, the leaders have to make themselves available to listen and respond to the messages of other organizational members. In order to establish an open communication, leaders need to exhibit active listening skills to fully understand the information that other members are trying to communicate to them.

In order to improve informal communication, organizational leaders will have to inform the organizational participants that unethical communication will not be tolerated in the organization. Organizational participants will have an opportunity to report any instances of unethical communication anonymously to a manager. The manager, then, will have to take a disciplinary action against the employee distributing rumors. A disciplinary action may include watching a video about the company’s ethics. Although it can be hard to control informal communication, the organizational leaders have to insure the quality of information flowing through the organizational grapevine.

Organizational members have to possess excellent active listening skills in order to professionally communicate with one another. Active listening, according to Kreps (2011), “involves paying close attention to your partner’s verbal and nonverbal behaviors, taking into consideration the full extent of what they are trying to communicate to you as well as what they may be communicating to you inadvertently” (p. 4.3). Active listening skills enable an organizational participant to hear another person out and to ask relevant questions to make sure that he or she has understood the information in its entirety.

One way to improve the organizational participants’ active listening skills is to conduct an interpersonal training sessions involving all the members of the organization. For example, all the employees can be divided into several small groups. Then, in a small group session, the selected speaker should tell a somewhat “complicated” story with many twists and turns. Once the story is told, the employees can ask the speaker questions to make sure they have understood the narrative correctly. Then, ask someone in the group to summarize or paraphrase the story.
 
Another way to improve active listening skills is to develop and conduct an interactive computer training for all of the organizational participants. This method, however, may be more time consuming and more costly for the organization than the previously suggested approach.

Active listening skills are not only helpful in organizational communication, but also in conflict management. It is through active listening that the conflicting parties are able to listen to each other’s side of the story without interrupting each other. Although organizational interpersonal conflicts are inevitable, there are communication strategies for managing interpersonal organizational conflicts. Abigail and Cahn (2011) write that, “whether the presence of conflict in organizations becomes productive or destructive, improves functioning or derails the organization from its task depends upon team members response to it” (p. 255). Because organizational conflict can either have productive or destructive results, it is important for all of the organizational participants to learn effective conflict management strategies.

In order to implement conflict management strategies into the organizational life, first the organization has to conduct three 30-minute conflict management sessions with the employees. During each session, the participants will discuss and practice effective group conflict management strategies. Such strategies, according to Kreps (2011) include “maintaining open minds toward other points of view,” focusing on the “ideational conflict” in stead of personal issues, and “encourag[ing] group members to look for productive areas of compromise between their own positions and the positions expressed by others” (p. 5.8). At the end of the third session, each participant will be required to write a two-page paper describing what he or she has learned during the sessions, and how the employee is planning to use this knowledge at work.

In order to improve their leadership skills, the organizational managers will have to take an hour-long leadership training class, where they will learn how to develop and maintain credibility, which, according to Kresp (2011) can be established and maintained through such qualities as “expertise, trustworthiness, and charisma” (p. 7.4). Establishing credibility will enable the organization’s leaders to improve interpersonal organizational relationships with the organizational participants and to advance their overall interpersonal communication skills. Also, the leaders will learn how to use both formal and informal channels of communication to distribute important information to the organizational participants. The goal of this training program is to enable the organizational leaders to become better communicators within the interorganizational field.
 
Organizational culture plays an important role in organization. It is through the organizational culture that the organizational employees learn about the norms, values, and traditions of the organization and are able to share this information with the external organizational members. Organizational participants who believe in their organization’s values and mission are more likely to put more effort into their job, because they are proud and committed to the organization they work for.

Organizational culture training will provide necessary information about the history and the development of the organization, as well as the goals and mission of the organization. Employees, who are aware about their company’s culture, are not only able to share this culture among each other, but also with the external organizational members, such as customers and investors. According to a study cited in Rogers and Meehan (2007), “nearly 70% of business leaders agree: culture provides the greatest source of competitive advantage. In fact, more than 80% believe an organization lacking a high-performance culture is doomed to mediocrity” (p. 254). Organizations who have strong cultures are often more successful and prosperous than the organizations with weak cultures.

In order to learn about the company’s culture, all of the organizational members will be required to watch and discuss an educational one-hour video called “Company history: From start to present.” This video provides the information about the company’s history, traditions, values, mission, and vision.

The Timeline of the Project

The implementation of this project is expected to take maximum three months, during which the training and workplace adjustment will take place. During the project implementation, the company has to keep records regarding the progress of the project. The project’s progress might take less or more than three months depending on the volume of the participants involved in the project, constraints imposed by the organizational operations, and the issues that may arise during the implementation of the project.

The Budget Information

Although a new communication structure will be beneficial for the organization, the cost of the project might be the primary concern that may hinder its implementation. In order to provide the organizational participants with the best training in communication, I have developed a cost-efficient budget plan:

1. The interpersonal training sessions to improve active listening will cost the company around $100.00, because the training is going to take place on the company’s premises without involving a third-party speaker. The second option of the training video, however, would cost the company $200.00. It will also take longer time to implement this training, because we will have to order the video from the corporate headquarters.

2. The conflict-management sessions will cost the company $300.00 to cover the cost of the training materials and shipping.

3. The leadership training will cost $300.00 and cover the cost of a textbook, a video, and other educational materials.

4. Organizational culture training will cost the company $200.00, which will cover the cost of video and video equipment.

5. The cost of the implementation of the “Reward for feedback” program is estimated to be $500.00 to cover the cost of small monetary rewards ($5.00 each) to the employees providing a feedback.

The total estimated cost for the project is between $1400.00 and $1500.00, which is significantly lower than the cost of similar programs provided by the third-party companies. This low cost is due to providing an in-house training without involving any third-party speakers or lecturers. Although some individuals may regard this cost as high, the benefits of this program (described below) outweigh its costs.

The Benefits

The benefits of the innovative communication structure will include improvement in the organization’s productivity, ability to resolve interpersonal conflicts, and improvement in communication among the employees and the organization’s leaders. Implementation of such communication strategies as formal and informal communication, active listening, effective leadership, successful conflict management and resolution, as well as focusing on the organizational culture will enhance organizational communication while improving the interpersonal communication skills of the organizational participants.

Conclusion

 The goal of this proposal is to offer a feasible and cost-efficient plan to implement a new organizational communication structure. The given communication structure is expected to meet the organization’s communication needs in the areas of formal and informal communication, active listening, conflict management, organizational leadership, and organizational culture.
     
Because the timing is important, I would encourage the organization’s management team to carefully review this proposal and decide to take an action to improve the organizational communication. The estimated cost of the program is worth the company’s investment into its leaders and employees. The improved organizational structure will enable the organization to become more effective in accomplishing its tasks and goals, and to effectively share its culture and mission with the external organization’s environment.

References:

Abigail, R.A., & Cahn, D.D. (2011). Managing conflict through communication. (4th ed.).
     Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Kreps, G.L. (2011). Communication in organizations. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint
       Education, Inc.lik
Rogers, P., & Meehan, P. (2007). Building a winning culture. Business Strategy Series, 8(4),
       p. 254-261. Retrieved April 16, 2012, from ProQuest student database. (Document ID:
       1374488681).
Spaho, K. (2010, May 26). Organizational communication as key factor of company success.
       An Enterprise Odyssey. International Conference Proceedings, pp. 1372-1382, 18.
       Retrieved April 16, 2012, from ProQuest student database. (Document ID: 2098096501).
Trenholm, S. (2011). Thinking through communication. (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn &
       Bacon.

Business Communication

(Source: Google Images)

Communication plays a vital role in business. It is through communication that successful job applicants get the desired jobs, create and maintain productive relationships with their new managers and co-workers, solve interpersonal conflicts that may arise, participate in teamwork, and collaborate with others on how to accomplish organizational goals. The ability to communicate well is an essential trait of a competent member of an organization. Strong communication skills are necessary in any organization.

Strong communication skills are necessary in every type of organization. Strategic communicators use communication skills to promote the organization’s goals and mission. In order to accomplish organizational goals, the organization’s management relies on the members’ collaboration and teamwork. That is why organizations tend to hire people who are able to communicate well in writing and in speech, to participate in teamwork, and to build productive relationships with others. According to McCulloch (cited in Motluk, 2011), “Those who are not able to engage with others and market themselves will not be successful in the commercial world.” Hiring process often involves meeting the job applicant face-to-face to determine whether he or she can demonstrate strong communication skills. Job applicants who demonstrate effective communication skills during the job interview are more likely to get hired than the applicants who lack these important skills.

Communication skills are essential in any profession. The ability to communicate well in any organizational setting will demonstrate one’s competency in human interaction process. Kreps (2011) writes that, “To be successful in our interaction with others, we must provide clear and compelling information about what we want from them and why it is in their best interest to cooperate with us” (Chapter 1, para. 1). Competent organizational communicators build strong relationships with the members of their organization, customers, investors, and other interested publics. They also use their communication skills to elicit teamwork in order to accomplish organizational goals or to solve interpersonal conflicts. Because organizations cannot exist without effective communication, competent strategic communicators are always going to be in high demand.

References:
Kreps, G.L. (2011). Communication in organizations. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Motluk, A. (2011). A tool kit for the real world. New Scientist, 209, 5. Retrieved April 2, 2012, from
     http://.newscientist.com/article/dn19969-a-tool-kit-for-the-real-world.html?full=true

Delivering Bad News Tactfully and Effectively

(Source: Google Images)

As a department supervisor working in a technical support office, I would enjoy dealing with hard-working and good-natured employees that enjoy their work, provide an excellent customer service and encourage one another with a positive attitude. Such a working environment, however, is not always what happens… Sometimes, there could be one bad employee that undermines not only his or her own job, but also customer service and work ethics.

Approaching the Difficult Employee

Once a destructive and unproductive behavior of an employee is brought to my attention, I would act immediately. According to Master Class Management.com (2011), “ . . . when you have an employee who is disruptive, has a bad attitude, or is quite frankly a “bad apple,” you need to deal with [the situation] as soon as possible”  (para. 5). For example, if I received concerns from employees and customers regarding a particular employee whose work performance was substandard and whose aggressive behavior created a hostile environment for other employees, I would put this problem my first priority.
Approaching a difficult employee may not be easy. However, this has to be done in order to address the employee’s poor work performance and aggressive behavior. Abigail and Cahn (2011) recommend to simply tell the “bad” employee, “We need to talk” (p. 36). After this statement, I would invite the worker to meet me at my office after lunch. If the employee asks me why I need to see him or her, I would briefly explain the issue, so that he or she can be prepared to have a conversation.

Anticipate the Response

(Source: Google Images)

Before making an official confrontation   regarding the conflict issue, I would try to anticipate a response that the employee might provide regarding the issue. Given the prior history of exhibiting confrontational behavior at work, one would not be able to predict how this employee might behave during the confrontation and what kind of response he or she may give. Will the employee be aggressive, or will he or she recognize that this confrontation is the call for a behavioral change? After having been with the company for two years, is he or she going to take this conversation seriously? I would expect either a positive or a negative response. To eliminate any risk of abusive behavior that the employee might exhibit, I would ask the human resources manager to accompany me during the confrontation.

In order to eliminate any fear of confronting this employee, I would use a technique that Abigail and Cahn (2011) refer to as “imagined interaction” (p. 35) to predict the employee’s response. “Imagined interaction,” according to Abigail and Cahn (2011), “is a form of intrapersonal communication in which you think about what you might say and another might say in response to you in a particular conversation” (p. 35). I will use my one-hour lunch to reflect on the upcoming conflict. This technique might provide me not only with the mental strength to confront the difficult employee, but also with an idea of what I should say and how I should say it.

The Resolution Strategies

(Source: Google Images)

To resolve the conflict involving a difficult employee, I would use six steps to successful interpersonal conflict resolution, that, according to Abigail and Cahn (2011) include “Preparation,” “Tell the person “We need to talk,”” “Interpersonal confrontation,” “Consider your partner’s point of view,” “Resolve the problem,” and “Follow up on the solution” (p. 35) As the reader can notice, I have already described the first two steps of the conflict resolution process.

During the next two stages, I would describe the problem to the employee and let him or her to tell me his or her side of the story. During the conversation I would use the following strategies:
• Active Listening. I would let the employee speak without interrupting him or her. Then, I will paraphrase what he or she has said to make sure I had understood the message correctly.
• I-Statements. For example, “I am concerned with your current job performance. Is there anything I can do to help you improve?”
• Focus on the Issue. I would discuss how a destructive behavior affects the department team and the company.

To resolve the problem, I would give the employee an ultimatum: To improve his or her work habits and attitude, or to face the possible dismissal. Finally, I would advise the employee that I would be monitoring his or her job performance closely for the next three weeks. In three weeks, I will summon the employee for a follow-up meeting to discuss his or her progress.

References:

Abigail, R.A, & Cahn, D.D. (2011). Managing conflict through communication. (4th
     ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Master Class Management.com. (2011). Dealing with difficult employees. Retrieved
     September 24, 2012, from http://www.masterclassmanagement.com/ManagementCourse-  
     DealingWithDifficultEmployees.html

Media Technologies

(Source: Google Images)

Media technologies play an important role in our daily lives. They not only provide a way for us to connect with the outside World, but also a way to stay connected with other people. While television and radio provide connection with the World, cell-phone and Skype provide a way to stay in touch with people.

Television is the most favorite communication medium of all the audiences, ranging from small children to seniors. Trenholm (2011) writes that, “Despite earlier predictions that the Internet would rapidly surpass television in popularity, television is still the medium of choice for most Americans” (p. 299). People use this medium for receiving information about local, national and global news, as well as for educational and entertainment purposes.
   
Television serves as a transmitter of cultural values. Through the television medium, not only do we learn cultural aspects of our own culture, but we can also experience other cultures. Today, a person does not have to travel far to experience another culture or to hear a different language. All one has to do is to turn on the television to a channel that comes from another country. With over a hundred television channels available, a viewer can learn not only specifics of another culture, but also a foreign language.
 
Invented in 1925, television today is a versatile channel of media communication that includes audio, visual, and print media. This rich combination of multimedia allows film-makers, news producers, entertainers, and advertisers to enhance their audiences’ viewing experience by broadcasting messages that involve two of the human senses at the same time: sight and hearing. Trenholm (2011) writes that, “Because television is both auditory and visual, it is the most perceptually compelling of all the media” (p. 300). Offering the viewers fast moving pictures with sound helps program or movie producers to capture and maintain the viewers’ attention. Because most television programs are made to inform and entertain their audiences, people view this medium as a form of relaxation. In fact, who does not want to spend an evening in front of the television after a long day at work?

(Source: Google Images)

Radio is another traditional communication medium that broadcasts its programs to broad audiences around the country, and even around the globe. According to the statistics cited on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (2012), “Radio reaches over 95% of virtually every segment of the population” (para. 1). This high statistics may be due to the fact that radio is a relatively inexpensive and a highly mobile device.

As a predecessor of television, radio has evolved to transmit voice signals digitally through the air. Today, radio is a popular mass media communication device that can be found in every home almost in every country of the planet. Radio signals can reach even the most remote areas of population. In some developing countries, radio may be the only means of communication to receive information, such as news and weather alerts.

Just like television, radio has a broad audience. According to Trenholm (2011), “Radio stations work hard to create a personal identity that audience members will accept and find attractive” (p. 298). Radio stations, such as K-Love (Christian radio station), Super Estrella (Latin American music station broadcast in Spanish), Country Music, and others are constantly adapting to the needs of their audiences. For example, stations are regularly upgrading their equipment to provide the best sound. Also, the station workers constantly update the content of their programs to better suit the image their audience has of them. When next time you listen to your favorite radio station, consider how much work was involved to bring you the best listening experience possible.

(Source: Google Images)

Cell-Phone is a multifunctional communication tool. According to Rauch (2005), “Less a telephone today than a multi-purpose computer, cell phones are game consoles, still cameras, email systems, text messengers, carriers of entertainment and business data, nodes of commerce” (“Abstract”). It is amazing how such a small device can perform so many different functions! Because cell-phones range in price according to the functions they perform, a person usually chooses a cell-phone that performs the functions he or she desires and has a cell-phone plan that he or she can afford.

 For many people, a cell-phone is not a luxury, but a necessity. According to Trenholm (2011), “Mobile phones are an affordable, highly transportable way to stay in touch with friends and family” (p. 312). Indeed, cell-phones can be used in locations where landline phones cannot reach. For example, a person whose car gets broken on a highway can use a cell-phone to call a friend to pick him up. Also, in an emergency situation a cell-phone can be used to call 911.

 Cell-phones play a major role in telecommuting jobs. Roebuck (2006) writes in her book that, “Wireless phones are among the most important tools we have, as their portability enables us to work from anywhere” (p. 3). Indeed, it would be difficult to conduct business without a cell-phone. Because cell-phones are able to perform the same functions as computers, they are used in telecommuting jobs to store, retrieve, and transmit data from virtually any place in the world. A cell-phone is also easier to carry and to transport than a full-sized computer.

(Source: Google Images)

Skype is a relatively new communication technology that is available through the Internet. This technology has made a tremendous impact on the progress of today’s global communication tools. Hart (2011) writes that, “Skype is a free communications and collaboration tool to be downloaded and installed on your computer. You can use it to have text and voice message conversations with others who have Skype for free” (para. 1). Skype has allowed people from different locations on the planet to communicate in real time while transmitting both verbal messages and visual images. This innovative technology has enabled participants who are separated by a great distance to communicate in real time free of charge.

The Skype technology can be used in business to conduct video and audio conferences between two or more company offices that are located in different countries. According to Roebuck (2006), “ Videoconferencing still has a cost factor and a complexity for scheduling that causes it to be used less often than audioconferencing, but it is more cost effective and cheaper than getting the parties together via airlines” (p. 8). The Skype technology can eliminate the cost of expensive audio and video conferencing equipment, while providing the same efficient service for free. Skype helps businesses to save money on expensive equipment and travel. These features make Skype the best solution for your business.

References:

Hart, J. (2011). Top tools: Skype. Centre for Learning and Performance
     Technologies. Retrieved September 13, 2012, from http://c4lpt.co.uk/top-tools/top-100-tools/top-
     tools-skype/
Rauch, P. (2005). Cell phone culture. Mit Communications Forum. Retrieved
     September 13, 2012, from
     http://web.mit.edu/commforum/forums/cell_phone_culture.htm
Roebuck, D.B. (2006). Improving business communication skills. (4th ed.). Upper
     Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Trenholm, S. (2011). Thinking through communication: An introduction to the study
     of human communication. (6th ed). Boston, MA: Pearson.
UNESCO. (1995-2012). Communication and Information. Statistics on radio.
     Retrieved September 13, 2012, from  
     http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-
     and-information/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/world-radio-
     day/statistics-on-radio/

My Communication Skills

In the modern world, the ability to communicate with other people not only provides opportunities for better relationships with the people in my life, but also opportunities for professional development and advancement. Communication skills are important in every area of my life. Whether I communicate with the members of my family, with the members of my church small group, or with my co-workers in the organizational setting, my communication affects those people around me. Interpersonal communication skills, group communication skills, and organizational communication skills demonstrate my overall level of competency, as well as point out the areas I need to work on in order to become a professional communicator.

Verbal Communication

Spoken language skills are important in daily interpersonal communication. Without spoken language skills, verbal communication is impossible. In fact, as Sarah Trenholm (2008) points out that, according to the social constructionist model of communication, “we construct our world through communication” (p. 28). We learn about the world we live in from other people, like parents, teachers, and friends. Thus, our knowledge about the world we live in comes mainly from the community by which we are surrounded. According to the social constructionist model of communication, “If everyone around us talks about the world in a certain way, we are likely to think of the world in that way and fail to question whether we are seeing things accurately” (Trenholm, 2008, p. 29). For example, when I was growing up in Belarus, the cultural traditions and values, the knowledge of the social norms were explained to me by my family members, teachers, and friends in the language that I could understand. This knowledge served as the foundation for understanding the society I lived in. Language, then, as Sarah Trenholm (2008) points out, “has powerful effects on the ways that we think about and experience the world” (p. 73).  Not only do the verbal communication skills help us to learn about the world around us, these skills are also essential in order to initiate friendships and build relationships.

Verbal communication skills are useful when it comes to creating and maintaining human relationships. Based on my ability to start and maintain a conversation, as well as maintain the existing relationships in my life, I would say that my verbal communication skills are strong. My verbal communication can differ significantly depending on how well I know the person who I communicate with and the level of trust and self-disclosure that exists between us. For example, I do not use the same communication skills when communicating with a stranger that I use when communicating to people I have known for a long time. When I meet someone for the very first time, I try to keep the level of self-disclosure at the minimum level, while engaging the person into a small talk. Usually, small talk leads to discovering what the stranger and I have in common. Discussing common interests, in turn, may eventually lead to a friendship. Gerard Millerand and Mark Steinberg (cited in Trenholm, 2008) maintain that people communicate differently with each other based on how well they know each other and their social involvement with each other (p. 134). When two strangers start a conversation, according to Miller and Steinberg (cited in Trenholm, 2008), they use cultural-level rules that “tell us to use polite, fairly formal form of address” (2008, p. 134). This conversation often involves a small talk and a very insignificant level of self-disclosure. When I communicate with a stranger, I use formal language and try to do my best to leave a favorable first impression. The cultural-level rules are especially important during a job interview.

Sociological-level rules replace the cultural-level rules in the communication situations involving people who belong to the same social group. Thus, when I communicate with my co-workers at work, I use this set of rules, that according to Miller and Steinberg (cited in Trenholm, 2008), is characterized by less formal language and involves people who often share the same interests (p. 134). When I communicate with my co-workers, we usually discuss issues related to work. The level of self-disclosure in these relationships although slightly higher than that between complete strangers, is not quite significant. For example, I do not share my problems with my co-workers because the personal information is likely to be shared with other people, and I do not want other people gossiping about me behind my back.

The last set of rules, is called psychological-level rules. According to Miller and Steinberg, these rules are intended to use among people who know each other personally. The best part about these rules, in my opinion, that the communicators have freedom to “make up the rules” (Trenholm, 2008, p. 134). Family members and friends take me for who I am; therefore, when I communicate with them, I can use informal language and even words that only people who are close to me can understand. Also, I have an unlimited choice of topics when I communicate with my family members and friends. The level of self-disclosure between family members and friends is high. In fact, these are the people who I can completely confide in and trust.

Romantic and intimate relationships are governed by psychological-level rules. Unlike friendships, these relationships require more trust and a high level of self-disclosure. The quality of friendships and marriages depend largely on verbal communication skills. According to Terri Orbuch, a research scientist at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, “Research consistently has shown a link between happy marriages and “self-disclosure,” or sharing your private feelings, fears, doubts and perceptions with your partner” (cited in Schoenberg, 2011). The more information my husband and I share with each other, the closer our relationship grows.

Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication is used to complement the verbal communication. According to the author of the article Miramichi Leader (2011), “When we speak to another person, they receive two messages. One of the messages is sent in the words we have spoken. The other is in the way the message is delivered.” When the verbal message is contradicted by the non-verbal message, a miscommunication can occur. For example, when I say hello to my husband when he gets home from work, but my head is turned in the opposite direction, he may think that I am saying hello to the neighbor. Thus, when communicating with other people, it is important that my non-verbal messages do not contradict the verbal messages.

When I communicate with somebody, I develop a certain set of personal characteristics about that person that are called constructs. Sarah Trenholm (2008) defined constructs as personal “characteristics that we notice on a daily basis about others” (p. 48). When communicating with people, I pay attention to intellectual, descriptive, which can be subdivided into positive and negative, appearance-oriented, and gender characteristics. These characteristics are important in order to remember people whom I socialize with.

Non-verbal communication is especially important in intimate relationships. According to a study (cited in Schoenberg, 2011), non-verbal communication, such as “affective affirmation,” which is defined as “behavior that makes your partner feel loved, cared for or special” contributes to healthy and happy relationship between the spouses. For example, when I give my husband a hug and a kiss when he comes home after a long day at work, he feels loved and appreciated. Simple actions, like hugs and kisses, speak louder than words.

The Importance of Listening

Listening skills are also important in interpersonal communication. Not only do I listen to verbal communication, but I also pay close attention to non-verbal communication. Listening to verbal and non-verbal clues is important in order to understand what the speaker is really trying to say and to interpret the message correctly. According to one study, (cited in Janusik, Fullenkamp, & Partese, 1996), “In a spoken message, 55% of the meaning is translated non-verbally, 38% is indicated by the tone of voice, while only 7% is conveyed by the words used.” Another study (cited in Janusik, Fullenkamp, & Partese, 1996) determined that “Spoken words only account for 30-35% of the meaning. The rest [of information] is transmitted through nonverbal communication that only can be detected through visual and auditory listening.” By listening carefully to the nonverbal message as well as to the speaker’s words, one can make sure that the personal constructs I create about others are correct.

Using listening skills helps me to enlarge my understanding of the speaker’s message as well as to expand my cognitive complexity about the people I communicate with. According to Sarah Trenholm (2008), “cognitive complexity occurs when an individual has a large, rich, and varied set of personal constructs to combine seemingly contradictory characteristics in creative ways, realizing that people are not all good or all bad” (p. 49). Cognitive complexity enables me to communicate with people who in my perception are different than me. This is one area of communication that I would like to improve. By improving social complexity I hope to minimize the biases that I might hold toward others. Holding biases toward others, in my opinion, is the main reason that prevents me from establishing meaningful friendships. Using cognitive complexity skills will help me to establish a positive impression of a person and possibly to find common interests with that person. Thus, cognitive complexity can be a very helpful communication tool using which will enable me to become a better communicator.

Relationships and Conflicts

Verbal and nonverbal communication skills, listening skills, and cognitive complexity skills are helpful to initiate and establish and maintain healthy and stable relationships with others. Based on my ability to initiate, establish and maintain relationships with others, I would say that my relationship skills are better than average. Although there are successful intimate relationships, all intimate relationships face certain tensions from time to time that are called, according to Leslie Baxter and William Rawlins (cited in Trenholm, 2008), “the expressive-protective, the autonomy-togetherness, and the novelty-predictability dialectics” (p. 136). How couples deal with these tensions determines the success or failure of their relationships.

All three of the dialectical tensions have a potential to lead to conflicts that may ruin relationships. Fortunately, in my relationship with my husband we do not experience any tensions mainly because we communicate about any issue that carries a potential threat to our relationship. Interpersonal communication skills, in my opinion, provide the key to dealing with these tensions and saving the relationships. One communication technique that I find the most useful in my marriage is the problem solving. According to Sarah Trenholm (2008), “problem solving means sitting down together, directly expressing interests, defining problems clearly, and finding positions that best serve everyone’s interests” (p. 155). Problem solving leads to win-win conflict resolution.

Group Communication 

 Group communication skills are also important for daily interactions. Whether I am communicating with my family group, my co-workers, or people from church, I use my group communication skills. Based on the way different groups confirm my self-perception, I would say that I have good group communication skills. When talking about certain characteristics that I possess when I communicate with my group at work, other group members may call me knowledgeable, detail-oriented, result-driven, innovative, and problem-solution-seeker. Based on these qualities, I usually strive to take conflict-solving roles within a group.

The group roles that I usually take include those of opinion giver, harmonizer, orienter, initiator-contributor, and compromiser. According to the role descriptions provided in the textbook, by using my initiator-contributor role effectively, I “suggest new ideas to group or offer new way of regarding group problem” (Trenholm, 2008, p. 176). I enjoy being the one coming up with creative ideas and solutions. By being an opinion giver, I usually comment on other member’s opinions and tell them how much I appreciate them. By being a harmonizer, I try to keep peace in the group among the group members. My communication skills help me to find an adequate solution for any conflict that may arise. Sometimes, it is a good idea to find a compromise when I do not agree with a solution that another member has proposed. As an orienter, I usually paraphrase the group agenda to make sure that everyone understands the information, and what is expected of the group members.

I find open communication between the group members very important. One research study has pointed out that, “Communication openness [in a group] is important for effective decision making” (Breen, Fetzer, Howard, & Preziosi, 2005, p. 216). When working as a group, each member contributes his or her own opinion and idea. Taking into account every idea and opinion when looking for a solution to a problem, leads to well-informed decisions and successful plans of actions. Overall, as a group, we can find better solutions and come up with better ideas than what a single person could come up with.

To be successful in an organization, I have to possess certain work-related, personal, and technology-related skills that would show my current and potential employer that I have essential knowledge and ability to perform my job-related tasks in a professional and efficient manner. The more work-related skills I have under my belt, the easier it will be for me to begin a career as an interpreter, or a public relations specialist in the future.

In my current position as a part-time store sales associate, I have to exhibit such work-related skills as customer service skills, new employee training skills, and cash register operating skills. By performing my work-related tasks successfully combining them with my personal attributes, such as strong attention to detail, interpersonal communication skills, and good time management skills, I often receive cash incentives and appreciation from the store management team. Using my work-related skills and my personal attributes together, thus, increases my chances of getting a job promotion in the future.

Interpersonal communication skills, group communication skills, and organizational communication skills are helpful when it comes to interpersonal, group, and organizational interactions. Using the interpersonal communication skills, group communication skills, and organizational communication skills successfully demonstrates my professionalism in communication. The communication skills that I already possess and the ones that I am yet to acquire during my studies here at Ashford University will make me a valuable asset to any organization that I may work for in the future. Whether I am communicating to a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or a group of people, communication skills help me to establish meaningful and productive relationships with other people, as well as provide successful conflict resolution strategies. Communication, thus, plays a vital role in my daily life.

References:

Anonymous. (2011, September 12). Non-verbal communication. Miramichi Leader, B.6.
     Retrived September 19, 2011, from ProQuest database. (Document ID: 2448358321).
Breen, V., Fetzer, R., Howard, L., & Preziosi, R. (2005). Consensus Problem-Solving
     Increases Perceived Communication Openness in Organizations. Employee
     Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 17(4), 215-229. Retrieved September 19, 2011, from
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Janusik, L. PhD., Fullenkamp, L, & Partese, L. (1996). Listening facts. International
     Listening Association. Retrived August, 25, 2011, from http://listen.org.
Schoenberg, N. (2011, February 6). Can we talk? Researcher talks about the role of
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Trenholm, S. (2008). Thinking through communication: An introduction to the study of
      human communication (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education.