The Role of Communication in Maintaining Relationships
Introduction
The importance of communication cannot be understated. Indeed, according to Lunenburg (2010), every administrative function and/or activity involves some degree of direct or indirect communication. Hence, effective communication is not only important for the success of individuals, but also organizations. So how exactly is communication defined? According to Keyton (2011), communication can be defined as the process of exchanging information between two or more parties. In essence, Keyton (2011) argues that for communication to occur, a common understanding must be reached from the exchange of information. Typically, the communication process involves the following; encoding, decoding, and translation of information (Lunenburg, 2010). According to Lunenburg (2010), these three elements often determine the quality of communication – a problem in any of them has the potential to severely limit communication effectiveness. Unfortunately, despite its perceived importance, communication has been accorded a surprisingly limited attention, especially as it pertains to relationships. This paper explores the importance of communication and argues that it plays a significant role in maintaining relationships because it promotes integration and decreases the risk of mistakes. Communication Promotes Integration According to Kolucki & Lemish (2011), effective communication promotes behavioral change and ultimately motivates social change. This is especially true in parent-children relationships. According to Grey Owl Aviation Consultants (1997), when children are young, they communicate freely; but this tends to change during adulthood depending on the kind of communication environment they interact with. For example, if children are exposed to a negative communication environment, whether at home or at school, they tend to develop low-self-esteem resulting in their inability to communicate effectively. In contrast, a positive communication environment tends to have the reverse effect, equipping the child with high self-esteem and the capacity to communicate assertively. In essence, Grey Owl Aviation Consultants (1997) argue that if children are assisted in maintaining a positive attitude, they essentially become effective communicators. The importance of communication in promoting integration, especially in the family setting lies in the fact that it promotes the strengths of the most vulnerable members of the family; children. …show more content…
According to Kolucki & Lemish (2011) strength-based communication focuses on nurturing the strengths of children, rather than highlighting the weaknesses. The rationale of strength-based communication is founded on the need for child participation. In essence, it largely subscribes to the belief that children should be encouraged to seek solutions to their problems independently. As such, children essentially become confident and develop morals and principles such as equality, fairness, and respect for others (Kolucki & Lemish, 2011). More importantly, children are empowered to contribute to social change through active participation in interpersonal relationships. Communication Decreases the Risk of Mistakes Research shows that 55% of how we communicate is by body …show more content…
In their analysis, relationship breakdown due to lack of effective communication has resulted in the communication of improper instructions thereby increasing the risk of mistakes. This is partly due to the lack of trust among competing departments, which means that even when communication is prompt, it may not be genuine. A case study into the crash of a commuter aircraft revealed that a lack of communication between two shifts resulted in the aircraft being released with a total of 47 screws missing (Grey Owl Aviation Consultants, 1997). The lack of communication was mostly due to improper attention during the communication process, which meant that vital information was
Introduction
The importance of communication cannot be understated. Indeed, according to Lunenburg (2010), every administrative function and/or activity involves some degree of direct or indirect communication. Hence, effective communication is not only important for the success of individuals, but also organizations. So how exactly is communication defined? According to Keyton (2011), communication can be defined as the process of exchanging information between two or more parties. In essence, Keyton (2011) argues that for communication to occur, a common understanding must be reached from the exchange of information. Typically, the communication process involves the following; encoding, decoding, and translation of information (Lunenburg, 2010). According to Lunenburg (2010), these three elements often determine the quality of communication – a problem in any of them has the potential to severely limit communication effectiveness. Unfortunately, despite its perceived importance, communication has been accorded a surprisingly limited attention, especially as it pertains to relationships. This paper explores the importance of communication and argues that it plays a significant role in maintaining relationships because it promotes integration and decreases the risk of mistakes. Communication Promotes Integration According to Kolucki & Lemish (2011), effective communication promotes behavioral change and ultimately motivates social change. This is especially true in parent-children relationships. According to Grey Owl Aviation Consultants (1997), when children are young, they communicate freely; but this tends to change during adulthood depending on the kind of communication environment they interact with. For example, if children are exposed to a negative communication environment, whether at home or at school, they tend to develop low-self-esteem resulting in their inability to communicate effectively. In contrast, a positive communication environment tends to have the reverse effect, equipping the child with high self-esteem and the capacity to communicate assertively. In essence, Grey Owl Aviation Consultants (1997) argue that if children are assisted in maintaining a positive attitude, they essentially become effective communicators. The importance of communication in promoting integration, especially in the family setting lies in the fact that it promotes the strengths of the most vulnerable members of the family; children. …show more content…
According to Kolucki & Lemish (2011) strength-based communication focuses on nurturing the strengths of children, rather than highlighting the weaknesses. The rationale of strength-based communication is founded on the need for child participation. In essence, it largely subscribes to the belief that children should be encouraged to seek solutions to their problems independently. As such, children essentially become confident and develop morals and principles such as equality, fairness, and respect for others (Kolucki & Lemish, 2011). More importantly, children are empowered to contribute to social change through active participation in interpersonal relationships. Communication Decreases the Risk of Mistakes Research shows that 55% of how we communicate is by body …show more content…
In their analysis, relationship breakdown due to lack of effective communication has resulted in the communication of improper instructions thereby increasing the risk of mistakes. This is partly due to the lack of trust among competing departments, which means that even when communication is prompt, it may not be genuine. A case study into the crash of a commuter aircraft revealed that a lack of communication between two shifts resulted in the aircraft being released with a total of 47 screws missing (Grey Owl Aviation Consultants, 1997). The lack of communication was mostly due to improper attention during the communication process, which meant that vital information was